easy urban outdoors: denver's bluff lake nature center

Here in Denver, there are ample opportunities for recreation nearby. There are innumerable hikes and parks along the front range, and venturing deeper into the mountains offers even more avenues for outdoor exploration. Our family loves going hiking and camping, and we’re working on increasing our winter activities (I grew up skiing but haven’t tackled taking our kids yet!).

But all that said, most of you know I’m not the biggest fan of driving, so I’m always on the hunt for easy places close to the city to get our outdoor adventure fix.

One of our favorite places to take a short nature walk is Bluff Lake Nature Center. Here’s what I love about it:

There’s one clearly defined loop trail, so you don’t need to think too much about where to go.
From the main trail, there are several places to veer off and let the kids explore. These include wooden walkways out onto the lake.
The loop is only about 1.5 miles, so it’s doable even when someone is whiney or hangry.
Even though it’s in the city and close to a residential neighborhood, if you look the right direction you can see mountains and other vistas.
There’s water - a lake and a stream. And some muck throughout!
It’s stroller-friendly (a BOB or similar would be best).
No bikes allowed. (You all know I love biking, but keeping my littles out of the way of mountain bikes is one of my least favorite parts of hiking some trails!)

Other notes:

NO DOGS allowed, even on a leash.
They run a Forest School and outdoor summer camps here.
There are several other naturalist activities offered for families, kids and individuals. Check out their website!
There are bathrooms by the parking lot.
Bike parking is scarce. Last time I was there with the cargo bike I had to lock to a sign post.

Have you been to Bluff Lake? What do you enjoy about it?