Adams: Discover Trails, Parks and Culture

In Adams County, you’ll find plenty to appeal to nature and culture enthusiasts: trails of varying lengths, open spaces along the South Platte River, parks with lakes or recreational facilities, and art and memorial sites. The selection ranges from designated routes to places whose distinctive features stem from their landscapes, recreational offerings or cultural design.

Trails and their connections

The Clear Creek Trail is 9 miles long, while the Niver Canal Trail is 2 miles long. These two distinctly different lengths give you a starting point for comparing routes as you plan a hike. Adams County’s trails and open spaces are also suited to cycling, wildlife watching and taking in scenic landscapes.

The South Platte River Trail is part of the Colorado Front Range Trail and is connected to Adams County. There are different access points at two parks: Rotella Park provides access to the Niver Creek Trail, while City View Park connects to the South Platte River Trail via the Niver Creek Trail. This lets you distinguish between these specifically named trail connections as you plan, without treating them as a single route.

Parks with lakes, riverbanks and recreational facilities

Rotella Park covers 20 acres and includes a 7-acre lake. The park and its lake offer two clearly identifiable landscape features. Pelican Ponds has a different focus: this 200-acre open space lies along the west bank of the South Platte River and includes trails and walking paths. If you’re looking for a place that combines riverside scenery and paths, these two parks offer different options.

Pelican Ponds also has a nature play area, which was completed and opened for use in October 2020. City View Park has a playground with fitness stations designed for users aged 13 and older. Keep this age requirement in mind when planning to use the facility.

Riverdale Regional Park is connected to the South Platte River Trail and offers access to disc golf and volleyball courts. These add two more recreational options to the trail connections mentioned above. When choosing a park, you can weigh whether you’re most interested in trails and riverside scenery, a lake, a play area, or access to disc golf and volleyball.

Memorials, art and literature

The Adams County Veterans Memorial includes marble monuments honoring the individual branches of the armed forces. The memorial is a replica of the USS Colorado, extending into Mann-Nyholt Lake. Its design brings together the tribute to the branches of the armed forces and a ship replica on the lake. Riverdale Regional Park is also home to a mural by Bimmer Torres on the water tank.

Literature and performing arts are also part of Adams County’s cultural offerings. The Adams County Poet Laureate Program brings poetry, literature and the performing arts to the community through performances, workshops and events. It also supports the creation of original works during the residency. If you’re looking for more than a single work of art, this program offers several forms of artistic expression.

Every year on July 3, Adams County hosts an Independence Day celebration at Riverdale Regional Park. If your trip coincides with this date, you can take it into account when planning.

Places to help you find your way

Gateway Plaza is next to the Federal/Clear Creek Light Rail Station at 60th Avenue and Federal Street. This specific station and intersection information can help you locate the site on a map. Taza Gallery and Coffee House is located in the Adams County Government Center, offering another named cultural site to help you get your bearings in the county.

Discover more destinations: Commerce City, Brighton, Denver, Westminster, Thornton, Northglenn, Watkins, Federal Heights.

For the broader travel overview: Colorado.