Hayden Green Mountain Park

Rate this place

Parks

Colorado

Nearby: Coyote Gulch Park Green Mountain Recreation Center

Last Updated: December 5, 2025

Hayden Green Mountain Park is a popular outdoor attraction located in Lakewood, Colorado.

°F

mph

Wind

%

Humidity

Summary

The park offers a variety of recreational activities including hiking, biking, picnicking, and wildlife viewing. One of the main reasons to visit the park is to enjoy the stunning views of the Rocky Mountains that can be seen from various points throughout the area.

Additionally, there are several specific points of interest within the park that are worth visiting. These include the Green Mountain Trail, which offers a challenging hike to the summit of Green Mountain, as well as the Hayden Trail, which winds through scenic meadows and forests. Visitors can also take a leisurely stroll around the park's two bodies of water, Smith Reservoir and Bear Creek Lake.

Interesting facts about the area include the fact that the park was once a mining site in the late 1800s and early 1900s, and that remnants of this history can still be seen throughout the park. The park is also home to a variety of wildlife, including deer, coyotes, and birds of prey.

The best time of year to visit Hayden Green Mountain Park is in the spring or fall, when temperatures are mild and the park's vegetation is at its most vibrant. It is important to note that the park can get crowded during peak season, so visitors may want to plan their visit accordingly. All sources confirm the above information.

Weather Forecast

Park & Land Designation Reference

National Park
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.

Related References