Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge (Commerce City, CO) – trailmap
Trails traveled: Legacy Trail, Discovery Trail, Lake Mary Loop Trail, Lake Ladora Loop Trail, Locust Loop Trail, Army Historic Trail, Rattlesnake Hill Trail, Difficulty: Green (Easy)
Out-and-Back Trail, 5.5 miles round-trip
Time: 2 hours, 20 minutes
Weather: 80 °F, Overcast, Partly Cloudy

Hike Recap:

• Grasslands
• Lakes
• Woodlands
• Buggy
• Songbirds
• White-tailed Deer
• Prairie Dogs
• Flat
• Fishing
• Boardwalk
• Army

The Rocky Mountain Arsenal is a historic military site that also has a controversial past. The arsenal was erected within one year after the bombing of Pearl Harbor in World War II. It was given the highest honor for war service by the U.S. Army and Navy, an “E” status for excellence because it was constructed in record time.

The controversy surrounding the site was that it was a site for producing chemical weapons such as mustard gas, napalm, white phosphorus, lewisite, chlorine gas, and sarin gas. Due to the presence of byproducts of the chemical weapons produced at the site and later the pesticides and insecticides manufactured, the Colorado Department of Public and Environmental Health still considers the site a hazardous waste site. What is scary is that there are several lakes on-site stocked with fish, and fishing is ongoing, despite the presence of these contaminants.

After some initial cleanup of the site, the government designated the site as a Wildlife Refuge in 1992. Roaming the grounds today include prairie dogs, mule and white-tailed deer, bison, bald eagles, black-footed ferrets, coyotes, various songbirds, migratory birds, and many other species. The site is now managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Throughout the park, deer roam in herds everywhere. The other prominent resident are the prairie dogs, whose holes if you are not paying attention, seem to spring up all around. There are some peaceful lakes and trails that take you through woodlands, which this time of year are still bare awaiting the promise of Spring, that is, more rain and sun to come.

At the far North point of the park accessible by foot, is the Rattlesnake Hill Overlook, just North of the Refuge Administration Building, that offers a beautiful view of both Downtown Denver and the front and back range Rocky Mountains, which at this time of year are still covered in snow. There are over 10 miles of hikes, most of which are flat, which is perfect for a visitor to town, not already adjusted to the mile-high altitude.

If you would rather stay in the car, there are roads that take you to every part of the park to enjoy the landscape and see the fauna. The Visitor Center is also a great place to stay cool and learn about the wildlife in Colorado and the Rocky Mountains. There is also an exhibit near the Visitor Center containing two black-footed ferrets that you can check out. There is a flat and easy hike that is a 1-mile loop starting and ending at the Visitor Center, that is perfect for kids who need to get the stink blown off.

The hike may not have been as challenging as some of the other hikes I’ve done recently, but I did learn something new about the site in my “backyard,” and my legs are still sore from all the walking. Next time I want to try the drive around the park to see if I can find a bald eagle or bison. I did have some close-up encounters with the deer though.

– Jason