From 1952 to 1994, Rocky Flats Nuclear Weapons Plant was home to manufacturing facilities for both nuclear and non-nuclear weapons, including triggers manufactured from the highly radioactive elements uranium and plutonium. After a series of issues (the plant was actually raided by the FBI in 1989 after claims of environmental crimes) followed by permanent ceasing of production, Rocky Flats was shut down. Unsurprisingly, what was left behind was a contaminated mess.
It was designated a Superfund site and billions of dollars were poured into clean up. Buildings and structures were torn down, roads were removed, detoxification procedures were under way, and slowly – as happened at nearby Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge – nature began to take over. In 2007, after being declared satisfactorily decontaminated, Rocky Flats was designated a National Wildlife Refuge.
You can see before and after photos and learn more about Rocky Flats here.
Today, Rocky Flats supports a herd of elk, deer, many bird, rodent, and insect species, and occasional other small and large visitors. Three types of prairie are also preserved here – xeric tallgrass, tallgrass, and mixed grassland. I’m far from an expert on grasses or grasslands, but some research informs me that of these three, the existence of a xeric tallgrass prairie is the most important. Xeric tallgrass prairies have existed since the last Ice Age, though today it is a highly endangered type of ecosystem. Apparently, the fact that there are multiple types of grasslands in the same area is also a rather unique feature of Rocky Flats.
Eleven years after receiving its National Wildlife Refuge designation, Rocky Flats opened to the public in 2018. The former site of the actual weapons manufacturing facilities remains closed, but the surrounding buffer zone has been shown to be safe for human presence, with very low levels of residual plutonium and other contaminants. Regular monitoring of the site continues to this day.
(That being said, it’s not at all difficult to find various individuals and groups fighting against the existence of Rocky Flats and making claims as to its level of contamination. These claims have so far all been disproven by the actual scientific evidence.)
Despite being open to the public, Rocky Flats is very undeveloped. It’s unstaffed and free to visit. There are a couple trailheads and about 11 miles (17.7 km) of hiking/biking/horseback riding trails, and that’s it. I think there’s eventually supposed to be a visitor center – and I hope they build one because there’s so much history they could share. It would be really interesting.
In the meantime, Rocky Flats is a nice place for a leisurely hike. Chelsea and I met here on a Saturday morning in November to catch up and hike and enjoy some sunshine. We parked at the northern entrance off Route 128 and headed out to Lindsay Ranch, which combines the Walnut Creek and Lindsay Ranch Loops into a 6.3 mile (10.1 km) roundtrip hike with just 265 feet (81 m) of elevation gain. While we didn’t see much in the way of wildlife – it was the middle of the day in November – there were views aplenty.
And also wind. It’s so windy on the Colorado plains.
Luckily, we found some reprieve from the wind when we turned onto the Lindsay Ranch Loop and dropped down into a depression where we found the remnants of an old cattle and horse ranch. The ranch operated for many years before being purchased by the Atomic Energy Commission upon creation of Rocky Flats Nuclear Plant. One of the buildings was open, but it looked very unstable so we didn’t go past the doorway.
If you’re looking for some grub after your hike, you could head up the road to Flats Beer Garden for some burgers and sweet potato fries and drinks in their outdoor seating area. Definitely get the sweet potato fries. They’re so good!
And that’s really all there is to say about this one. This is far from the most exciting hike in the Denver area, as evidenced by the near complete lack of people… something that’s essentially unheard of nowadays. But if you’re looking for something not too challenging, away from the crowds, with mountain views and the chance to see some wildlife… head on over to Rocky Flats for a stroll!
Up next: Four Days in Phoenix, Arizona
The Important Stuff:
- Getting there: there are two entrances to Rocky Flats; one on the north and one on the south. Here is a refuge map
- Fees and passes: none!
- Hiking: there are 11 miles (km) of trails at Rocky Flats. We hiked the Walnut Creek to Lindsay Ranch Loop, which is 6.3 miles (km) round trip with 265 feet (m) of elevation gain
- Other: there is no shelter at Rocky Flats… no trees, no place to take cover from the weather. Come prepared for wind, rain, snow, sunshine, and everything in between
Handstands Around the World 
I do find this landscape appealing Diana, very calming. Love that opening shot from the Walnut Creek Trail. I always enjoy stumbling upon and exploring ruins and these look intriguing. Though I guess you did the right thing if it seemed dangerous to poke around. I’m so glad they did what was necessary to make the place hikeable, thanks for bringing me along. And I didn’t have to suffer the wind.
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I have to admit, I’m not a big fan of walking in the wind. But with the expansive view you guys had, I might not have cared about the wind. Oh yes, and I love sweaty potato fries … it might just be the right incentive!
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Hey, it’s always a huge plus to not have to deal with the crowds! And it’s kind of nice to shake things up once in awhile in terms of the scenery.
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Peggy and I have spent a fair amount of time wandering around in Southern Nevada where much of the early atom bomb testing took place. (I still remember our parents getting us up early one morning in the 50s when we lived in the California foothills and seeing the whole eastern sky lit up by a nuclear explosion.) Anyway, sections are still closed off there. And monitors are still operating in the area to check for radiation. It’s great to see your area repurposed, Diana. And it is a sad chapter in our nation’s history how nuclear materials were so blatantly mishandled. Thanks for sharing. –Curt
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As long as the birds have no more than two wings apiece, I wouldn’t worry about contamination.
Ain’t no wind like a high plains wind!
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Such an interesting place. I can’t believe its history and the fact it’s now so peaceful and full of nature. Amazing.
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Your post happens to be a timely follow-up to an article I recently read about a protest against reopening the site after the 1989 shutdown. The statistics about environmental impacts and human health effects from toxic and radioactive chemicals are sobering and shocking.
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This story of the reclamation of the land can give us hope for the future of humanity.
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what a change in purpose for this area. Glad they got it cleaned up because it looks like a nice place for a walk. I really love your pictures of the grassy plains
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This was such an interesting read! It was crushing to know about the mess and contamination at such huge extent, but happy to read about nature reclaiming the place 🙂 hope it remains this way. Great pictures too.
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Excellent story as always, Diana, photography too! Rocky Flats is amazing place to visit!
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Thank you!
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Great travel information, and it seems like a peaceful hiking spot!
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I really like the landscape there. Excellent photos.
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Thank you!
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It’s incredible that, within three decades, this part of Colorado went from a nuclear weapons plant to complete nature! The plains are truly a sight to see and evokes the essence of the US “Wild West…” thanks for sharing your time there, and I look forward to reading about your time in Phoenix soon!
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It really is a testament to the resilience of nature!
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Nice to read that nature has reclaimed this land. They are trying to preserve tallgass prairie in Manitoba too, where I grew up.
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Wow, what a unique place to visit, Diana. It’s so good to see such environmentally contaminated sites in ‘before and after’ photos to grasp what can happen in 30 years or so. I am glad to hear that the health organisations are taking soil test results seriously. I mean, it used to be a nuclear weapons plant, and many people who lived nearby experienced unusual illnesses, including specific cancers linked to radiation exposure. Thanks for sharing, and have a good day 🙂 Aiva xx
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So glad they managed to clean the mess up and restore the plains grasslands. We are trying to protect our prairie grasslands here. While not always the most exciting place to hike, grasslands have a beauty all their own, especially against a mountain backdrop. Have a great Wednesday Diana. Allan
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Glad to see nature prevailing! I can’t imagine how much planning and money went into the cleanup. Now you’ve got me craving some sweet potato fries!
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Interesting to read about this since we just watched Oppenheimer last weekend. It may not be the most exciting hike, as you mentioned, but so important that they let it return to a natural state. Fewer humans is probably a good thing in that regard. On a side note, studying prairie grasses for a living strikes me as the most boring job in human history. But hey, that’s just me. Glad there are people out there who find it titillating! 😉
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Oooh I’ve been wanting to watch that! And I agree, it would not be my preferred choice of career.
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Anyway, it is a good thing that this weapon factory has been closed and remediated in the meantime. It is not to be believed that such a factory on the outskirts of Denver once received a permit! Let us hope that the area will now remain designated as a nature reserve forever and ever and that no one will ever have other ideas…..
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When it was built it was further away from the city (which was much smaller at the time). But I agree, it still seems too close.
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