Rocky Flats refuge trails sit just west of Broomfield

Just west of Broomfield sits the Rocky Flats National Wildlife Refuge, a stretch of open prairie managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. It has public hiking trails, and it is not a city park, so the rules are its own.

A refuge is set up first to protect wildlife and habitat, and visitor access comes second. At Rocky Flats that means you stay on the designated trails. The rest of the refuge is closed to visitors. The designated trails and parking areas are open from sunrise to sunset, and there are particular rules to know before you go. One that surprises people: dogs and other pets are not allowed at all. Only trained service animals are permitted, and they must stay on leash. These rules come from the federal agency, not from Broomfield.

The site also carries a serious past. This is the location of the former Rocky Flats nuclear-weapons plant, which has been through a long cleanup. Some people choose to visit and some do not, and both are reasonable. If that history matters to you, read the agency’s own material rather than rumor.

The simplest move before a first visit is to check the refuge’s official trail map, hours, and rules on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service site. That tells you what is open, what is closed, and what to expect when you arrive.