Denver Botanic Gardens

Denver Botanic Gardens features North America’s largest collection of plants from cold temperature climates around the world. The park is located a short drive from downtown in the Cheesman Park area of Denver.

There are actually three locations for the Denver Botanic Gardens:

York Street
Chatfield Farms
Mount Goliath Natural Area & Dos Chappell Nature Center

York Street

Image of a pavilion at the Denver Botanic Gardens — A sitting area at DBG. Photo by: Denver Botanic Gardens Facebook

York Street is the main location, open year-round with its lush indoor and outdoor gardens. The facility contains a conservatory, lots of theme gardens, and a sunken amphitheater, which hosts concerts throughout the Summer.

During the month of December, the Gardens are open nightly and feature a winter wonderland glittering with lights.

Denver Botanic Gardens Flower Bug Love — Bug love at the Denver Botanic Gardens. Photo by: Ken Lane

For dining, Offshoots at the Gardens features breakfast and lunch items, like fresh pastries and soups. The Monet Deck Cafe features burgers, salads, and sandwiches. From mid-November to early January, witness the dazzling Blossoms of Light holiday event. See the botanic gardens lit up with light like never before.

Chatfield Farms

Image of people working at the Denver Botanic Garden's Chatfield Farm — Chatfield Farm. Photo by: Denver Botanic Gardens Facebook

The second site, Chatfield, is near Chatfield State Park and features natural meadows, a historic farm, and homesteads. Home to a 700-acre plant refuge, this working farm in Littleton has a minimal entrance fee for those who are not members. Some of the gardens and areas within Chatfield include:

Iris Garden
Herb Garden
Market Garden
Cut Flower Garden
Plant Select Garden
Mary Washburne Orchard
Janice Ford Memorial Dye Garden
Pumpkin Patch & Corn Maze (Seasonal)
Community Supporting Agriculture (CSA) Fields

Mt. Goliath Natural Area

Image of flowers at the Denver Botanic Gardens — Flowers at the DBG. Photo: Denver Botanic Gardens

Home to the highest cultivated garden in the United States, Mt. Goliath, on route to Mount Evans, is situated along hiking trails. Just outside of Idaho Springs, in the Arapaho National Forest, this garden can be explored during the summer. An entry reservation must be booked in advance to save your spot.

For those hiking, please note that the trails can be steep and rocky in addition to experiencing rapid weather changes. Make sure to stay on the path and leave with everything you arrived with.