South Platte Park and Carson Nature Center

This is one of my favorite parks outside of Highlands Ranch! It houses picnic tables for those who enjoy a Mountain View with their meal, and a wonderfully soothing river where ducks lazily float by. From bike trails to bird watching, this place is perfect for a family getaway. While it gives strong vibes of a pleasant oasis tucked away, it’s actually within walking distance to food and shopping. My husband and I picked up bowls from Vibe just down the street and had a relaxing lunch in the shade of an ancient tree. Green buds are breaking through the tips of branches, heralding spring. Strongly recommend a visit!

We found a nature trail [dirt] that splits off to the left of the asphalt path. This is going south and just before you cross the bridge right at Mineral and Sante Fe. It was a really cool nature walk and saw all sorts of birds, ducks, and beaver dams. I will probably walk it again tomorrow.

This is a fantastic place for a stroll. We absolutely adore the Plate River Trail and are gradually working on walking it in sections. This week, we started from the trailhead and the nature center near Santa Fe Avenue. The nature center was incredibly interesting and had some really cool exhibits. Plus, there were public restrooms there, which was a nice touch. Just a heads up, you’ll need to be careful of the cyclists. They can sometimes go a bit too fast, but most of them are pretty considerate. The trail goes both north and south, and we decided to go south. We walked all the way down to the bird blind and the small marshy area. Now, for getting back to the trailhead, you have two options. You can either go back the way you came or you can walk west around the lake to Mineral Avenue. We chose to walk around the lake. Just a warning, though - you’ll need to exit the park at Mineral Avenue. The gate there isn’t working, but if you’re flexible enough, you can slide under it. If not, you’ll have to backtrack. Also, don’t be fooled by the path that heads east around the lake - it’s a dead end. Be careful crossing Mineral Avenue to get to the Mineral Trail Path/Sidewalk. It’s a short and easy walk from there to the trailhead. I highly recommend this walk!

Chaperoned for a school field trip and was blown away by the scenery and experience. Our guide was incredibly kind and the kids loved him!

We love this trail along the South Platte River. The views of the foothills are beautiful. We’ve seen various wildlife, including coyotes, water snakes, bull snakes, geese, ducks, herons, etc. The small water falls are relaxing to enjoy. When there’s enough water, the tubers, kayaks, and paddle boards are exciting to watch.