Roxborough State Park

State Park in Roxborough, CO

Hours:

Park: Daily, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.  

Office: Daily, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. from May through November. Closed on Mondays from December through April.

Entrance Fees:

Daily Vehicle Pass: $​10
Individual Daily Pass: $4

Animals Permitted:

  • Service Animals
  • Leashed Dogs
  • Horses

Park Address:

4751 East Roxborough Drive
Roxborough, CO 80125
United States

Contact:

303- 973-3959

[email protected]

Roxborough State Park

State Park in Roxborough, CO

Hours:

Park: Daily, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.  

Office: Daily, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. from May through November. Closed on Mondays from December through April.

Entrance Fees:

Daily Vehicle Pass: $​10
Individual Daily Pass: $4

Animals Permitted:

  • Service Animals
  • Leashed Dogs
  • Horses

Park Address:

4751 East Roxborough Drive
Roxborough, CO 80125
United States

Contact:

303- 973-3959

[email protected]

Navigate to:

Roxborough State Park

Roxborough State Park

Welcome to Roxborough State Park

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Just a short drive southwest of Denver, Roxborough State Park is a popular urban getaway. With close to 3,413 acres, the park is filled with dramatic red rock formations, distinct plant communities and a variety of wildlife ranging from black bears to mule deer.

3,413

acres

145

species of birds

8

picnic sites

15

miles of trails

Directions

Accessing the Park

From Denver
Head south on Santa Fe Drive (Highway 85) to Titan Road (4.2 miles south of C-470 intersection). Turn right (west) on Titan Road. Continue heading west on Titan Road. It will curve and begin to head south, becoming North Rampart Range Road (3 miles). Continue south on North Rampart Range Road past Roxborough Village and the Foothills Water Treatment Plant (3.5 miles). At the intersection of North Rampart Range Road and Roxborough Park Road, turn left onto Roxborough Park Road. Take the next right on East Roxborough Drive (about 50 yards away) to enter the park.

    The Roxborough Visitor Center is located past the last parking lot heading into the park.

    Hours: Daily 9 a.m. To 4 p.m. December-April closed on Mondays.

    Groups of 10 or more wanting to visit the park must submit a Special Activity Agreement and receive approval from the park manager prior to arrival. To limit the impact on trails and facilities, groups this size will not be approved for weekends during the months of May through October.

    Rideshare or taxi drop-offs will need a prearranged ride for leaving the park, or will need to hike 3+ miles to exit the park in order to find a ride that will drive out to the area.  In addition, plan to hike the 2.5 mile entrance road to reach the trails, as many rideshares drop off at the park entrance. Cell phone signal is extremely limited throughout the park.

    Fees and Passes

    Daily Vehicle Pass

    Single vehicle and its occupants

    1 Day

    $10

    Individual Daily Pass

    For individual entry on foot, bicycle, horseback, etc at select parks

    1 Day

    $4

    Keep Colorado Wild Pass

    DMV vehicle registration renewal option for Colorado residents

    12 Months

    $29

    Annual Vehicle Pass (Affixed)

    Pass for a single vehicle and its occupants

    12 Months

    $80

    Family Annual Pass (Hang Tag)

    Members of the same household

    12 Months

    $120

    Aspen Leaf Annual Pass

    Visitors 64+

    12 Months

    $70

    Centennial Pass

    Income-eligible Colorado residents

    12 Months

    $14

    Columbine Pass

    Colorado residents with disabilities

    12 Months

    $14

    Veterans License Plate

    DMV vehicle registration renewal option for military veterans (disabled veterans or purple heart plates)

    Lifetime

    Free

    Independence Lifetime Pass

    Colorado resident veterans with disabilities

    Lifetime

    Free

    Blue Spruce Pass

    Colorado resident first responders with disabilities

    Lifetime

    $10

    Nature and Wildlife

    Roxborough offers a plethora of wonders, from large rock formations and wildlife to small plants and insects, inviting exploration of both the grand and intricate aspects of nature.

    Be on the Lookout for Birds

    Can you spot all the resident and visiting bird species? Download the Bird List Brochure (PDF).

      Birds You Might Find

      • Burrowing Owl
      • European Starling
      • Lazulii Bunting
      • Ovenbird
      Sparrow

      Mammals You Might Find

      • Elk
      • Rock Squirrel
      • Cottontail Rabbit
      • Black-tailed Prairie Dog
      Deer standing in tall grass

      Reptiles and Amphibians You Might Find

      • Prairie Rattlesnake
      • Snapping Turtle
      • Short-horned Lizard
      • Woodhouse's Toad
      Six-lined racerunner

      Geology at This Park

      Roxborough State Park captivates visitors with its prominent Fountain Formation: a breathtaking display of tilted red sandstone that originated over 300 million years ago from the gradual erosion of the Ancestral Rocky Mountains. Standing at a sixty-degree angle, this geological masterpiece represents millions of years of uplift and erosion, exposing rock formations from the Precambrian to Late Mesozoic. At Roxborough, visitors can see the transition between sedimentary rocks of the Great Plains and the crystalline basement rock of the Rocky Mountains, showcasing billions of years of Front Range geology.

      The geological narrative of Roxborough unfolds nearly two billion years ago when ancient sediments transformed into metamorphic rock due to immense heat and pressure from tectonic plate collisions. The park's oldest rocks, the Precambrian crystalline rocks of the Idaho Springs Gneiss and Pikes Peak Granite, emerged 1.7 and 1.2 billion years ago, respectively. The Great Unconformity, a billion-year gap in the rock record, hints at a period of erosion. Around 300 million years ago, the Ancestral Rocky Mountains formed, eroding into sedimentary rocks that later became the oldest layers in the park. Over the next 65 million years, various climate and geologic changes shaped Roxborough's landscape, contributing to its unique rock formations and diverse ecosystems.

      The geological formations at Roxborough include the Precambrian Basement Rocks, the Fountain Formation (300 Ma) with its striking red spires, the Lyons Formation (280 Ma) formed in an ancient desert, the Lykins Formation (250 Ma) representing a harsh tidal flat and the Morrison Formation (150 Ma) deposited during the Jurassic Period. The Dakota Group or Dakota Hogback (100 Ma) is primarily composed of beach and near shore sediments laid down on the west shoreline of a seaway that began to flood the center of the North American Continent around 100 million years ago. Finally, the Pierre Shale (70 Ma) reflects an inundation of the area by a shallow sea. Each formation tells a story of continual change, from mountain-building events and climate shifts to the traces of ancient life.

      Roxborough State Park provides a glimpse into the ever-changing landscape of Colorado and the Rocky Mountain Region, earning recognition as a distinguished Colorado Natural Area, National Cultural District, National Natural Landmark and Leave No Trace Gold Standard Designated Site. Its geological wonders, combined with its biological diversity, make Roxborough a great destination for those eager to explore the geological history and natural beauty of the region.

      Landscape in background

      Habitats and Plants at This Park

      • Gambel Oak
      • Prairie Sandreed
      • Porcupine Grass
      • Boulder Raspberry
      Roxborough State Park sign

      Upcoming Events

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      History

      • 1975: Colorado State Parks acquires 500 acres of Roxborough property, establishing Roxborough State Park.
      • 1979: Roxborough attains State Natural Area status.
      • 1980: The park is recognized as a registered National Natural Landmark.
      • 1983: Roxborough is designated as a National Archaeological District.
      • 1984: Roxborough expands to 1,499 acres.
      • May 15, 1987: Roxborough State Park opens to the public.

      Roxborough State Park has grown to its current size of 3,299 acres thanks to the collaborative efforts of citizens and partnering agencies maintaining its status as a spectacular natural area. Roxborough is a designated National Natural Landmark, a State Natural Area, a National Archeological District and an Audubon Important Bird Area. The park has also been recognized as a Leave No Trace Gold Standard Site by the Center for Outdoor Ethics. More than 1.2 billion years of geologic history can be seen in the park’s stunning red-rock formations.