Westminster offers three distinct starting points for planning a trip: extensive trails, historic sites, and nature exhibits. If you’re looking for a hotel in Westminster, you can first consider which of these themes you’d like to shape your stay. That way, your choices begin with your own plans rather than simply a list of attractions.
Trails on different scales
The Farmers' High Line Canal Trail stretches 10.3 miles (16.5 kilometers). Its route runs from near Standley Lake east to EB Raines Park in Northglenn and beyond to Thornton. Westminster also has more than 126 miles of multi-use trails. These figures describe two different scales: a named trail with specific places identified, and the city’s trail network as a whole.
The Little Dry Creek Trail connections also provide a sense of direction beyond individual city boundaries. The trail connects Westminster to Denver’s regional trail network and continues to the Clear Creek Trail and the South Platte River Trail. The Big Dry Creek Trail is designated a National Recreation Trail. Alongside the longer Farmers' High Line Canal Trail, these offer additional named trails and connections to choose from. For your specific plans, check which sections and connections you’d like to include.
History and remembrance
The Farmers' High Line Canal itself was originally built by the Arapahoe Ditch Company in the 1860s. Its history thus reaches back to the region’s early development. The Bowles House also offers a tangible connection to local history: it is a museum and one of the few surviving buildings from the original downtown area dating to before Westminster.
Another historic landmark is Westminster Castle, which was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979. The Armed Forces Tribute Garden offers a different focus. This permanent memorial includes a central water feature, seating areas, granite columns, and pathways with engraved pavers. The city holds a special ceremony there every year on Armed Forces Day. If you’d like to plan your visit around it, check the event dates and details.
Nature attractions and getting to the Butterfly Pavilion
The Butterfly Pavilion has five exhibit areas, including four indoor exhibit halls as well as outdoor gardens and nature trails. Indoor and outdoor areas are thus distinct parts of the experience. If you’d like to include nature attractions in your trip plans, you can consider this site as a separate focus alongside the trails and historic sites.
The Butterfly Pavilion is served by RTD bus route 104. The route connects it to the Westminster Center Park-n-Ride and the Flatiron Flyer (FF1/FF2), with connections from Denver and Boulder. Transit routes and schedules can change, so check current connections before setting out.
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