Rocky Flats National Wildlife Refuge, National Wildlife Refuge in Jefferson County, Colorado
Rocky Flats National Wildlife Refuge is a protected nature area in Colorado combining rolling prairie grasslands with woodland patches and wetland zones. The landscape opens toward views of the Rocky Mountains Front Range and provides diverse habitats across its expanse.
The site operated as a nuclear weapons production facility from 1952 through 1994 before undergoing major remediation. Following an extensive cleanup effort, the former industrial land was transformed into a wildlife refuge open to the public.
The area contains traces of Native American presence visible through artifacts found scattered across the grasslands and preserved areas. These remains tell of peoples who lived here long before the land's recent industrial history.
The refuge features multiple marked trails totaling more than 20 miles available for hiking, biking, horseback riding, and winter sports. Access is available from Highway 128, and visitors should prepare for open terrain with changing weather conditions.
The refuge preserves one of the largest remaining expanses of xeric tallgrass prairie, a landscape type that has largely disappeared elsewhere in the country. This rare ecosystem supports an exceptional variety of specialized plants and animals adapted to dry prairie conditions.
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