A stay in Evergreen can focus on very different things: time at Evergreen Lake, hikes in the parks, or cultural offerings with their own opening hours or event dates. When planning your trip, it helps to decide first whether water, longer trails, local history, art or a seasonal festival matters most. The offerings differ in whether season, opening hours or weather play a role.
Lake, trail and fishing at Evergreen Lake
Boat rentals at Evergreen Lake are offered on a first-come, first-served basis. The service is seasonal and weather-dependent; if you are planning a boat trip, check that it will be operating on your visit date. In addition to boat rentals, the lake has a 1.25-mile hiking trail. Fishing is also possible: the lake is stocked with trout and can be fished with a state fishing license. This gives visitors three different options at one body of water: boating, a single named hiking trail, or fishing. The trail has a specific stated length, while the parks have larger trail networks.
Trails and scenery in the parks
Alderfer/Three Sisters Park features distinctive rock formations and more than 15 miles of trails open to the public. The Summit Trail offers views of the Continental Divide. Elk Meadow Park has a trail network of more than 16 miles, with trails of varying difficulty. Aspen groves are also part of the landscape there; the park offers the best chance in Jefferson County to see herds of elk. This makes the differences between the two parks clear when choosing an outing: Alderfer/Three Sisters combines rock formations with views from the Summit Trail, while Elk Meadow offers trails of varying difficulty, aspen groves and the possibility of spotting elk. If you choose to go hiking, you can consider both the type of scenery you want and the stated trail length.
History, art and events
The Hiwan Museum preserves and shares the history of the families who lived at Camp Neosho and on the Hiwan Ranch. Free guided tours are offered during opening hours. As opening hours may change seasonally or for operational reasons, it is advisable to check them before planning a visit. This makes it easier to fit a museum visit into your stay rather than assuming a tour will be available regardless of opening times.
Sculpture Evergreen displays sculptural art, mostly outdoors, at locations that are freely open to the public every day of the week. Individual sculptures may change. The Evergreen Rodeo takes place every year in summer on Father’s Day weekend; the exact date varies from year to year. Both the parade and the rodeo are organized by local volunteers. If you are planning your trip around the festival, check the date for the relevant year. A historical connection to music adds to these offerings: the first Evergreen Jazz Festival was held in 2001.
Discover more destinations: Edgewater, Wheat Ridge, Golden, Coal Creek, Lakewood, Arvada.
Back to the regional travel overview: Jefferson.
