Denver Off The Beaten Path

One of the best things about Denver is its proximity to Rocky. In fact, its less than a two hour drive from the tall buildings of the city to the towering mountains and sweeping views of the park. Rocky Mountain National Park is open all year, although some portions of the park are closed in the winter due to snow.

From Denver, take I-25 north to hwy 34 west. For more information, visit my Rocky Mountain National Park page.

Green Mountain is the first mountain to rise from the plains and become the foothills of the Rockies. This mountain is practically in the city of Denver which makes it a popular destination for hikers, runners, and mountain bikers. The area is protected from devolpment but the large number of users are leading to erosion issues - so stay on the trails. After the 2.7 mile trail takes you to the top you have a commanding view over Denver and a front row seat to the Rockies. To get there take 6th ave west from Interstate 25, take the Kipling street exit and head south on Kipling. From Kipling take a right onto Alameda and you are now heading west again. Alameda takes a soft left around Green Mountain. You will not have much warning that the parking area is coming up but a sign does exist. It will be on your right. Remember to remove all valuables from sight inside of your car.

Riverside Cemetery is the oldest cemetery in Denver, founded in 1876. It occupies a 77-acres on Brighton Blvd. Hundreds of local historical figures are buried here. These include congressman James B. Belford (1837 - 1910), Hiram Pitt Bennet (1826 - 1914), Henry P. H. Bromwell (1823 - 1903), ,Job Adams Cooper (1843 - 1899), Colorado governors John Evans (1814 - 1897), Frederick Walker Pitkin (1837 - 1886), John Long Routt (1826 - 1907), early baseball pros John Bass and Oliver Marcelle and many others. Sadly the cemetery is falling into a state of disrepair due to lack of funding.

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This is a small community close to Vail and it is worth a visit for seeing the preserved old town strip of buildings. Georgetown has/had the fame of having the Royal Gorge RR come form here to go down to the south. Now I am not sure if it runs or not. The shops and the retail are nice to visit. The weather here is brutal in summer, or especially winter. Being in a valley that is surrounded by high mountains, it gets gusts of winds beyond imagination. The local tour operator told me it gets easily to 70-80 MPH winds through here and it starts in early fall. Summers also gets a breeze, but not as fierce.

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Gold was discovered in 1859 and the mining continued in earnest through the first decade of 1900's. They still dig today, and Arco Gold Mine is in the middle of the town, but most of it is for tourism .
The town is only 1,900 people, and most all are in retail connection some how. Store fronts stretch for a good mile down the old highway, now Miner St. The summers bring many to relax and take in the surrounding mountains. Due to them having a backyard of mountains, the town cannot expand north or south where there also is US 70 blocking the growth. So they are spreading out west. The town has a lot of old time cabins and motels form the original tourism era back in 1950-60's. It looks interesting to stay there.

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This community of 6,500 people cater to the traffic coming off of US 70 on the way to or from Denver. Between there, not many places are available to stay. In my opinion, it is easier to stay the night here and go on to Denver in the morning. It is less hassle and easier to find a spot you can trust is clean. Downtown Denver seems not to show many attractive type facilities that area easily located off the highway, and the alternative is to go way west to suburbs to find a chain motel.
The town has been a mecca for travelers for many years, and it also has some decent restaurants, like the one below, South Side Food-Drink. Prices are right and the quality and volume of food favorable. A 2 piece chicken dinner includes a full all you can eat salad bar for $7 and an 8 oz beer $1.40-wow that is reasonable.

In 1970, Denver City Council dedicated Babi-Yar Park. "--IN MEMORIAM--to the two hundred thousand victims who died. Babi Yar, Kiev, Ukraine, USSR--September 29, 1941-November 6, 1943. The majority Jews with Ukrainians and others."

The part of Kiev's history
On September 25, 1941 thousands of Jews were summoned by Nazi authorities to the corner of Melnikova and Degteryevska Streets. They asked to have with them their documents, valuables and money, as well as warm clothes, underwear. Those who didn't comply were threatened by execution. Thousands of Jews came thinking about Nazi's plan of relocation, but nobody knew that they would be strip down, shoot with gun machine and their bodies would be thrown into deep ravine. In the report by SS it was noted that 33,771 people were massacred. This was how "the final solution of the Jewish problem" was carried out in Kiev.

The same fate awaited the Gypsies. Later this became a place for the execution of prisoners from Syrets concentration camp, members of the communist underground. The total number of victims was about 100 thousand.

In 1976 an official monument in memory of murdered Soviet citizens was built between the Yar and the site of the Syrets concentration camp. Sculptor M. Lysenko.

The reason I have a tip about this park is because I am a native Kievan and it is a great pleasure for me to have a piece of my native city Kiev here in Colorado.

Babi-Yar Park is located in southeast Denver at Havana St. and Parker Road.

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Get out of the city for a little bit and enjoy nature! In 20 minutes you can be in Idaho Springs with many shops and good eats (Take I-70 west until you get to the third exit of Idaho Springs). Beau Jo's pizza is a must if you've never had Colorado pizza. There are also other good places like Mainstreet for breakfast, a buffalo place for lunch, and then pizza for dinner. For drinks, you can go to the local micro brewery, Tommy Knockers. The new hot store in town is Woodland Park Gifts and Gallery.

A great hike is only a short drive up Mt Evans. About 13 miles up St Rt 103 is Echo Lake. For you flat landers you might just want to walk around the lake and call it a day. But, if your tough (which is an easy hike for someone who lives at altitude) there is a trail that starts on the backside of the lake and goes back to Idaho Springs Reservoir (2.5 miles). If you are really tough you can continue back to Twin Chicago Lakes (another 2.5 miles). Start early; clouds tend to roll in during the afternoon. Also, drink plenty of water. Altitude sickness is no joke!