Things To Do in DEN Airport Area
Wildlife Drive at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal
Rates above the average for things to do near DEN Airport Area — one of 40 we've tracked here.
Things to Know
Wildlife Drive at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal is a free 11-mile scenic loop through a wildlife refuge near Denver known for viewing bison herds, bald eagles, prairie dogs, and mule deer, located just minutes from Denver International Airport.
This completely free, year-round wildlife drive delivers surprisingly excellent animal sightings—including hundreds of bison and bald eagles—making it an easy, must-do Denver-area experience with no entrance fees or passes required.
- ✓Guaranteed sightings of hundreds of bison, mule deer, prairie dogs, bald eagles, and coyotes
- ✓Completely free with no entrance fees, passes, or state park passes needed
- ✓Open 365 days a year and accessible year-round from dawn to sunset
- ✓Mile-by-mile companion podcast available to enhance the drive experience
- ✓Bonus trails and visitor center parking area for additional exploring
- ⚠Visitor center closed Mondays and Tuesdays, though the refuge itself stays open
- ⚠You must stay in your vehicle the entire drive—no getting out allowed for safety reasons
- ⚠Best wildlife viewing requires timing your visit for early morning or sunset hours
Based on Google reviews · AI summarized
What Visitors Say
Raja Sekar
5 months ago
This is a 11 Mile one way drive inside Rocky mountain arsenal wildlife refuge Park. You can see lot of deers, hundreds of bisons, prairie dogs, bald eagles, coyotes and some other birds. Plan your drive either early morning or around sunset time for better chances of seeing all together. Don't get down from vehicle, it's highly dangerous. Must visit place in Colorado, no entrance fee, pass, State pass required. They're are open till sunset. Lot of parking space and trails outside wildlife drive. Walking not allowed inside this one way drive.
David LaVerne
2 months ago
Amazing place for birding or general wildlife viewing. Actually huge but right in Denver. Best thing; it's free! Visitor center closed Monday and Tuesday but Refuge open 365 days a year. 10 mile wildlife drive. Got my life Ferruginous hawk there. Highly recommend!
Simon Robson
5 months ago
The summary above does a good job of describing the wildlife refuge center. Nice drive and there is a companion pod cast describing the drive mile by mile. Look at the wildlife website for the link. Most centers are shutdown because of the government shutdown.
Rahat Bhalla
5 months ago
If you’re in one of the hotels living close to the Airport definitely go for this 11 mile drive. It’s an opportunity to enjoy some local fauna in this wildlife refuge and the trail from the Visitor center is perfect for an evening walk.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Wildlife Drive at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal worth it in DEN Airport Area?
This completely free, year-round wildlife drive delivers surprisingly excellent animal sightings—including hundreds of bison and bald eagles—making it an easy, must-do Denver-area experience with no entrance fees or passes required. Known for: free wildlife viewing right near denver.
What do visitors love about Wildlife Drive at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal?
Guaranteed sightings of hundreds of bison, mule deer, prairie dogs, bald eagles, and coyotes Completely free with no entrance fees, passes, or state park passes needed Open 365 days a year and accessible year-round from dawn to sunset Mile-by-mile companion podcast available to enhance the drive experience Bonus trails and visitor center parking area for additional exploring
Is there anything to know before visiting Wildlife Drive at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal?
Visitor center closed Mondays and Tuesdays, though the refuge itself stays open You must stay in your vehicle the entire drive—no getting out allowed for safety reasons Best wildlife viewing requires timing your visit for early morning or sunset hours
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