Evergreen, Colorado

Evergreen is one of the closest mountain towns to the capital. Naturally, many locals commute to work to the Denver Metro. The historic section of Evergreen has a charming strip of small shops and restaurants. Before the town became a hot spot for outdoor recreations, the town used to be a hunting ground for the Ute Indians.

By 1860 settlers had converted the land to farms and ranches and the people created an economy based on lumber trade. Eventually, Evergreen became known for its proximity to nature and scenic landscape. It was a popular getaway for celebrities of Old Hollywood including Greta Garbo and Teddy Roosevelt.

Today the town features everything from arts and culture, dining and sports, to fun annual festivals.

Main Attractions

Evergreen Lake CO Lakehouse — Evergreen Lake, Colo. Photo: Rob Lee

Evergreen Lake – A large lake situated in downtown Evergreen. It’s popular year-round for recreation including wake-less boating in the summer and ice skating in the winter. The Lake House rents boats, including canoes, paddleboats, kayaks, sailboats, and fishing boats from early May to mid-September.

Recreation

Mt Evans Byway Biking — Biking up Mt. Evans Byway. Photo: F Delventhal

Camping:

Echo Lake has an eighteen-site campground, with spots for RV’s and tents only. From downtown, take CO 74 north to Squaw Pass Rd. Follow for seventeen miles to the campground.
Golden Gate Canyon State Park has several nice campgrounds, about 45 minutes away.
Read about the camping near Evergreen and Mount Evans.

Fishing:

Evergreen Lake, in the heart of Evergreen, offers fishing year-round.
Echo Lake is a windy, scenic 20-mile drive from Evergreen. It’s stocked annually with trout. In the summer you can continue a scenic drive up Mt Evans Byway, which closes in late Sept/early Oct and reopens in late May. Summit Lake, further up the byway, freezes over too long to keep trout.

Golfing:

Evergreen Golf Course is located directly across from Evergreen Lake. This picturesque course is well known for its abundant wildlife and challenging alpine holes.

Hiking:

Some of the area’s best hiking is right in town. There is a paved trail that follows Bear Creek from downtown up past Evergreen Lake.
Mount Evans Wilderness is nearby, offering both backpacking and day hiking opportunities. Take the Mount Evans Trail to the top.

Evergreen Golf Course Deer Colorado — Evergreen Golf Course, Jefferson County, Colorado. Photo: Kent Kanouse

Accommodations

Booking.com

Hotels and lodging:

Read about the best hotels in Evergreen.

Dining

Beau Jo’s Colorado Style Pizza offers Colorado-style pizza, noted for its fat crust and whole milk mozzarella. If you’re in a hurry, go to Da Kind Soups for their extensive selection of made-from-scratch soups, as well as sandwiches. Vietnamese, Thai, and Chinese cuisine are served at the Saigon Landing. Tin Star Smokehouse is a discreet BBQ cafe on the boardwalk in town.

Image of BBQ at Tine Star Smokehouse in Evergreen, Colorado — BBQ. Photo: Tin Star Smokehouse

For beers go to Cactus Jack’s Saloon, a laid-back biker bar with regular live music and good burgers. Or head to Little Bear Saloon, an Old West bar with live entertainment six days a week. Try Creekside Cellars, for house-made wine.

Special Events

Jun – Evergreen Rodeo – Two days of rodeo performances and a Saturday parade held over Father’s Day Weekend in mid-June.

Jul – Evergreen Jazz Festival – Three-day traditional jazz festival in a beautiful mountain setting, with nearly a dozen bands and numerous intimate venues.

Jul – Evergreen Summerfest – Thousands attend this festival in Buchanan Park. It showcases arts, crafts, concerts, and beer and wine tastings over two days.

Nov – Evergreen Winterfest – Head over to Evergreen High School’s mock “Main Street” for hallways lined with arts and crafts vendors. Pick up something one-of-a-kind to gift to someone for the upcoming holidays.

Welcome to Evergreen.