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Colorado, United States

City Park

A slow Jan 1: Colfax breakfast, a lake walk with the mountains, the museum and the lights. This guide pulls together 1 sight, 2 activities and 1 outdoor spot from our curated routes.

Plan City Park with friendsBrowse 7 places
City Park, Colorado, United States
Places
7

1 See · 2 Do · 1 Outdoors · 2 Eat · 1 Shop

Curated routes
1

Denver New Year's Eve

Best season
Dec 30 – Jan 1

from our route notes

Warmest month
July

33°C / 92°F avg high

Coolest month
December

7°C / 44°F avg high

Wettest month
July

about 62 mm rain

Climate: NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages for Denver, the nearest city we track.

Things to do in City Park

7 places from our curated routes, grouped by what you will do there. Each one has its own page with the address and full notes.

See

The landmarks we would not skip in City Park.

  • Denver Museum of Nature & Science in City ParkPhoto: Sarbjit Bahga · CC BY-SA 4.0
    See

    Denver Museum of Nature & Science

    Natural history museum with dinosaur halls, wildlife dioramas, a planetarium and an IMAX theater.

    Tip It closes only on Christmas Day, so it is one of the few big sights reliably open on Jan 1.

    • City Park
    • $$
    • 2.5 hr
    • Afternoon

Do

Hands-on ways to spend time in City Park across City Park and Cheesman Park.

  • Do

    Zoo Lights at Denver Zoo

    The zoo's evening light trail through City Park, typically running from late November into the first week of January.

    Tip Buy a timed entry for just after dark and dress for an hour outdoors.

    • City Park
    • $$
    • 1.5 hr
    • After dark
  • Do

    Blossoms of Light

    Denver Botanic Gardens' winter light display, which typically runs from late November to mid-January.

    • Cheesman Park
    • $$
    • 1.5 hr
    • After dark

Outdoors

Trails, views and open space in and around City Park.

  • City Park and Ferril Lake in City ParkPhoto: Sarbjit Bahga · CC BY-SA 4.0
    Outdoors

    City Park and Ferril Lake

    Denver's largest park, with a loop around Ferril Lake and a classic view of the skyline against the Front Range.

    Tip The best view is from the museum's west steps, looking across the lake to downtown and the peaks.

    • City Park
    • Free
    • 60 min
    • Morning

Eat

2 places to eat in East Colfax, picked for groups who care about the food.

  • Eat

    Pete's Kitchen

    Long-running Greek-American diner on East Colfax, known for breakfast burritos and late-night hours.

    Tip Hours have been trimmed from the old 24/7 schedule; check before going late.

    • East Colfax
    • $
    • 45 min
    • Morning
  • Eat

    Denver Biscuit Company

    Biscuit sandwiches and gravy at the East Colfax location, two blocks south of City Park.

    Tip Expect a wait at New Year's Day brunch; put your name in and walk to the park.

    • East Colfax
    • $
    • 60 min
    • Late morning

Shop

1 shop in East Colfax for browsing and souvenirs.

  • Shop

    Tattered Cover Colfax

    Branch of Denver's best-known independent bookstore, in the old Lowenstein Theater on East Colfax.

    • East Colfax
    • $
    • 45 min

How to fit City Park into a trip

City Park is stop 2 of 2 on our Denver New Year's Eve route. Follow it as-is or lift City Park into your own plan.

Weather by month, based on Denver

Our climate figures for City Park come from Denver, about 4 km (2 mi) away. Average daily highs run from 7°C / 44°F in December to 33°C / 92°F in July. July is the wettest month, with about 62 mm of rain. Outlined months fall in the best season on our routes.

Average daily highs, NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages for Denver. Denver weather (covers City Park) →

Near City Park

7 other destinations from our guides within about 400 km (249 mi), measured in a straight line.

City Park questions, answered

How many days do you need in City Park?

On our Denver New Year's Eve route it is stop 2 of 2 in a 3-day trip. Split evenly, that is about 2 days here, an estimate rather than a rule. The listed visit times for our 7 places add up to roughly 9 hours, before travel between them, so you will need to choose.

What is City Park best known for?

A slow Jan 1: Colfax breakfast, a lake walk with the mountains, the museum and the lights. Standouts on our list: Denver Museum of Nature & Science (Natural history museum with dinosaur halls, wildlife dioramas, a planetarium and an IMAX theater); City Park and Ferril Lake (Denver's largest park, with a loop around Ferril Lake and a classic view of the skyline against the Front Range); Zoo Lights at Denver Zoo (The zoo's evening light trail through City Park, typically running from late November into the first week of January).

When is the best time to visit City Park?

Our Denver New Year's Eve route is best Dec 30 – Jan 1. NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages for nearby Denver put the warmest highs in July (33°C / 92°F), the coolest in December (7°C / 44°F) and the most rain in July (about 62 mm).

What are the best things to do in City Park?

Start with City Park and Ferril Lake, Denver Museum of Nature & Science, Zoo Lights at Denver Zoo and Blossoms of Light. Our guide lists 7 places in all, from 1 sight, 2 activities, 1 outdoor spot, 2 places to eat and 1 shop.

Where should a group eat in City Park?

Our picks: Pete's Kitchen (East Colfax); Denver Biscuit Company (East Colfax). Hours have been trimmed from the old 24/7 schedule; check before going late (Pete's Kitchen).

What is near City Park?

The closest destinations in our guides are Denver (about 4 km / 2 mi), Downtown Denver & 16th Street (about 4 km / 2 mi) and Rocky Mountain NP (about 91 km / 57 mi). Distances are straight-line estimates, not road distances.

Plan City Park with your crew

Open the Denver New Year's Eve route in TripsCircle, invite friends with a link, settle which of these 7 places make the cut with a quick poll, then split costs and share one packing list.

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