Fast Facts:
- Denver's only mountain park in Douglas County
- 1,000 acres (405 ha), donated by Miss Florence Martin (1920, 1937)
- Scenic views of the Front Range, from Pike's Peak to Long's Peak
- Bison herd established from the Genesee herd (1939)
Features:
- Historic 1920s ranch outbuildings retain original character
- Daniels Park Road was early territorial road (before 1864)
- Tall Bull Memorial Grounds (Native American site)
- Stone shelter designed by J.J.B. Benedict (1922)
- Diverse wildlife habitat and topography
- Kit Carson's Last Campfire (monument)
Overview:
Daniels Park, Denver's representative of the Plains ecosystem, adds ecological and historical diversity to the Mountain Parks system. With elevations ranging from 6,240 to 6,582 ft (2,000 m), it is (with Red Rocks Park) one of the lowest elevation parks in the system. Most of the park is devoted to the 800-acre (324 ha) preserve for the buffalo herd; another parcel is dedicated to Native American ceremonial use. Picnic grounds and public parking and use areas are at Wildcat Point and in the upper reaches of Big Dry Creek, aka Riley's Gulch.
In recent years, the Castle Pines subdivision has been built immediately adjacent to the eastern boundary of Daniels Park.
Location and Facilities:
Daniels Park is 21 miles (34 km) south of Denver and about 5 miles (8 km) from Sedalia. The Park can be reached via I-25 south to Castle Pines Parkway (Exit 188) or via Santa Fe Drive (Hwy 85). Daniels Park Road is about 2 miles (3 km) west of Exit 188 and 2.5 miles (4 km) east of Sedalia.
Facilities in the park include picnic areas, charcoal grills, bison enclosure, scenic overlooks.
The Denver Mountain Parks system is on the National Register of Historic Places as a multiple properties listing. All parks are considered natural areas, and all wildlife and plants are protected and preserved.