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Evergreen Colorado
Downtown Evergreen, CO.

Evergreen, Colorado

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Evergreen is one of the closest mountain towns to the capital. Naturally, many locals commute to the Denver Metro area for work. The historic downtown area sits at an elevation of 7,165 feet and has a charming strip of boutique shops and restaurants.

Because of its proximity to both the mountains and Denver, Evergreen is a small but charming hub for any type of person. You can find everything from arts and culture, dining, and sports, to fun annual festivals in this charming town nestled in the foothills of Jefferson County. 9,307 people called the townhome as of 2020.

History

Heritage park
Hiwan Heritage Park in Evergreen, CO. Photo by: Jefferson County

Before the town became a hot spot for outdoor recreation, it used to be a hunting ground for the Ute Indians. By 1860, settlers had converted the land to farms and ranches and the residents created an economy based on lumber trade.

Eventually, the area became known for its proximity to nature and scenic landscape, which inspired the name Evergreen. When the dam was constructed in 1928 and the Evergreen Reservoir was created, the town gained even more popularity. It became a notable getaway for celebrities of Old Hollywood including Greta Garbo and Teddy Roosevelt.

Main Attractions

Evergreen Lake CO Lakehouse
Evergreen Lake, CO. Photo by: 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, paddle-boats, kayaks, sailboats, and fishing boats from early May to mid-September.

Hiwan Heritage Park – This National Registry of Historic Places member is located within a ponderosa grove in town. It is a great place to explore and learn more about Evergreen’s history.

Read about the top things to do in Evergreen.

Recreation

Mt Evans Byway Biking
Biking up Mt. Evans Byway. Photo by: 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 Mestaa’Ėhehe 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 is further up the byway and freezes over too long to keep trout.
Evergreen Golf Course Deer Colorado
Evergreen Golf Course, Jefferson County, Colorado. Photo by: Kent Kanouse

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’s a paved trail that follows Bear Creek from downtown up past Evergreen Lake. Mount Evans Wilderness is also nearby, offering both backpacking and day hiking opportunities. Take the  Mount Evans Trail to the top of this 14er. Three Sisters Park East Trailhead is also close to town and has a vast system of trails for hiking and biking.

Accommodations

Rustic interior of hotel
Room interior at Highland Haven Creekside Inn in Evergreen, CO. Photo by: facebook.com/highlandhaven

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The Cabins at Country Road – These beautifully decorated riverside cabins are a great retreat from downtown. The cascading waters will be right in your backyard, and you will receive a complimentary breakfast each morning.

Comfort Suites Golden West – This hotel will surprise you with how nature-oriented it is. Each room is designed to allow maximum natural light in, there are private balconies with gorgeous views, and even hot tubs to enjoy.

Highland Haven Country Creekside – Guests at this outdoor haven can choose from 8 different types of accommodation, ranging from cottages to simple guest rooms.

Juniper Mountain House – Boutique hotel tucked away in the woods with incredible mountain views and a handful of rooms for rent, two of which are pet-friendly.

Read about the best hotels in Evergreen.

Dining

Image of BBQ at Tine Star Smokehouse in Evergreen, Colorado
BBQ platters from Tin Star Smokehouse, located in downtown Evergreen, CO. Photo by: Tin Star Smokehouse

Beau Jo’s Colorado Style Pizza – Offers Colorado-style pizza, noted for its fat crust and whole milk mozzarella.

Da Kind Soups – Known for their extensive selection of made-from-scratch soups and sandwiches.

Saigon Landing – Serving up classic Vietnamese, Thai, and Chinese dishes.

Tin Star Smokehouse – A discreet BBQ cafe on the boardwalk in town with big flavor.

Cactus Jack’s Saloon – A laid-back biker bar with regular live music, good burgers, and cold beer.

Little Bear Saloon – Old West bar with live entertainment six days a week.

Creekside Cellars – Stop by for house-made wine and a huge selection of thoughtfully made Italian dishes.

Read about the top bars in Evergreen.

Special Events

women on horses holding flags
Evergreen Drill Team, one of the groups featured at the Evergreen Rodeo. Photo: Evergreen Rodeo

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

Jun – Hops Drops – Hops Drops, formerly Evergreen Music Festival, is a family-friendly music and beer event with live performances, food vendors, kids’ activities, and plenty of beer from some of Colorado’s best craft breweries.

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 a one-of-a-kind gift for someone for the upcoming holidays.

Evergreen CO Downtown
Welcome to Evergreen.
Evergreen CO Downtown
Looking back the other way.
Evergreen CO Tin Star Smokehouse
Tin Star Smokehouse (red).
Evergreen CO Creekside Cellars
Creekside Cellars.
Evergreen CO Downtown Boardwalk
Downtown boardwalk.
Evergreen CO Little Bear Saloon
Little Bear Saloon.
Evergreen CO BeauJo's Pizza
BeauJo’s Pizza.
Evergreen CO Saigon Landing
Saigon Landing.
Evergreen CO Baskin Robbins Ice Cream
Baskin Robbins Ice Cream.
Evergreen CO Rio Del Sol Restaurant
Rio Del Sol.
Evergreen Mountain Village
Shops in Evergreen Mountain Village.
Evergreen CO Bear Creek
Bear Creek flows through town.
Evergreen CO One World Cafe
One World Cafe.
Evergreen CO Cactus Jack's Saloon
Cactus Jack’s Saloon.
Evergreen CO Shops
Shops outside downtown.
Evergreen CO Shops
More shops.

Activities near Evergreen

Colorado Companies:

  • Old Pine Candle Company

Federal Lands:

  • Arapaho National Forest
  • Echo Lake Mount Park ​(21mi)
  • Mount Evans
  • Mount Evans Wilderness Area

Ghost Towns:

  • Nevadaville (25mi)

Golf Courses:

  • Evergreen Golf Course

Hang Gliding:

  • Airtime Above Hang Gliding

Hiking:

  • Mount Evans Trail

Ice Skating:

  • Evergreen Lake Ice Rink

Landmarks:

  • Mestaa’Ėhehe Mountain Fire Lookout (14mi)
  • Morrison-Golden Fossil Area-Dinosaur Ridge (12mi)

Museums:

  • Buffalo Bill Museum (14mi)

Performing Arts:

  • Red Rocks Amphitheater (10mi)

Public Parks:

  • Evergreen Lake
  • Jefferson County Open Space
  • Red Rocks Park & Amphitheatre
  • Summit Lake Park (31mi)

Restaurants:

  • Beau Jo’s Colorado Style Pizza

Scenic Drives:

  • Lariat Loop Byway
  • Lookout Mountain (14mi)
  • Mt Evans Byway
  • Mestaa’Ėhehe Pass (11mi)

Ski Areas:

  • Arapahoe Basin Ski Area (47mi)​
  • Breckenridge Ski Resort (64mi)
  • Copper Mountain Ski Resort (61mi)
  • Echo Mountain Resort (15mi)
  • Eldora Mountain Resort (42mi)
  • Keystone Ski Resort (52mi)
  • Loveland Ski Area (40mi)
  • Winter Park Ski Resort (49mi)

Snow Tubing:

  • Echo Mountain Tubing Hill (15mi)

State Parks:

  • Chatfield State Park (26mi)
  • Cherry Creek State Park (31mi)
  • Golden Gate Canyon State Park (30mi)
  • Staunton State Park (15mi)

State Wildlife Areas:

  • Mt Evans SWA (10mi)

Towns:

  • Black Hawk (20mi)
  • Central City (21mi)
  • Conifer (9mi)
  • Denver (27mi)
  • Golden (19mi)
  • Idaho Springs (15m)
  • Kittredge (2mi)
  • Morrison (10mi)

Wildlife:

  • Buffalo Herd Overlook (10mi)

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