9 Wildlife Watching Spots In Colorado That Feel Private

Colorado’s wilderness offers incredible opportunities to witness animals in their natural habitats away from the crowds. Beyond the popular national parks lie hidden treasures where nature enthusiasts can enjoy peaceful wildlife encounters without bumping elbows with other visitors. These Colorado secluded spots provide authentic experiences where you can observe everything from majestic moose to elusive foxes in tranquil settings that feel like your own personal discovery.

1. Upper Beaver Meadows: Elk’s Secret Gathering Place

While Rocky Mountain National Park draws crowds, this montane meadow remains surprisingly serene. Elk herds graze peacefully here, especially during early morning hours when most visitors haven’t yet arrived. A gentle trail winds through wildflower-dotted grasslands where marmots whistle warnings from rocky outcrops. Golden eagles and red-tailed hawks circle overhead, hunting for small mammals that dart through the grasses. Visit on weekdays in late September to witness bull elk bugling during the rut without the weekend crowds. The meadow’s location on the eastern side of the park means fewer tourists venture here, leaving you with magical moments of wilderness connection.

2. Ridgeline Open Space: A Badger’s Paradise

Tucked away in Castle Rock, this 370-acre haven boasts panoramic vistas and surprising solitude despite its proximity to town. Morning hikers might spot American badgers digging burrows or bobcats stalking through the underbrush.

The 8-mile trail network rarely feels crowded, especially on weekdays when locals are at work. Bring binoculars for golden eagles soaring overhead and a telephoto lens for coyotes traversing distant ridges.

Fall brings spectacular wildlife activity, with animals preparing for winter against a backdrop of golden aspens. A dawn visit increases your chances of having the trails entirely to yourself.

3. Brush Hollow State Wildlife Area: Waterside Wonders

Just west of Penrose lies this 400-acre sanctuary centered around a shimmering reservoir where wildlife gathers at dawn and dusk. Arrive early to claim one of the few parking spots, virtually guaranteeing a private experience away from fishing enthusiasts who arrive later. Great blue herons wade in the shallows while bald eagles perch in dead cottonwoods, scanning for fish. The surrounding scrubland hosts mule deer and wild turkeys year-round. Spring brings migrating waterfowl in impressive numbers, making March through May prime viewing season. A spotting scope will enhance your experience at this hidden gem that many Colorado tourists overlook.

4. Bluff Lake Nature Center: Urban Wildlife Refuge

Hidden within Denver’s city limits, this 123-acre sanctuary along Sand Creek offers surprising isolation despite its urban setting. A network of well-maintained trails winds through diverse habitats where red foxes hunt and great horned owls nest. The boardwalk extending over wetlands provides intimate views of painted turtles sunning on logs and muskrats swimming through cattails. Unlike crowded city parks, weekday mornings here often mean encountering more wildlife than people. Winter brings bald eagles fishing in partially frozen waters, while spring welcomes migratory songbirds in colorful profusion. The nature center’s limited hours and membership program help maintain this spot’s peaceful atmosphere.

5. Guanella Pass Scenic Byway: Mountain Goat Highway

Mountain goats reign supreme along this 23-mile alpine route near Georgetown. Unlike heavily trafficked wildlife viewing areas, pull-offs along this byway offer personal encounters with Colorado’s white-bearded mountain residents. Drive slowly around dawn when bighorn sheep gather near the roadside to lick minerals from the soil. The less-visited northern section provides glimpses of pikas gathering wildflowers and marmots sunbathing on rocky outcrops. Weekdays after Labor Day bring spectacular fall colors without the weekend leaf-peepers, creating perfect wildlife photography conditions. Pack layers regardless of season – mountain weather changes rapidly, but the solitude remains constant year-round.

6. State Forest State Park: Moose Watching Paradise

Nicknamed “Moose Headquarters,” this remote park near Walden harbors over 600 moose yet receives a fraction of the visitors that flock to more famous Colorado parks. The North Michigan Reservoir area offers particularly secluded wildlife viewing from shoreline trails where moose wade in shallow waters. Early mornings reveal bull moose with magnificent antlers feeding in willow thickets. Patient observers might spot pine martens darting between trees or golden eagles soaring above alpine meadows. Winter transforms the landscape into a snow-covered wonderland where wildlife tracks tell stories of nocturnal activity. Rent snowshoes from the visitor center and venture into areas too remote for casual tourists, virtually guaranteeing a private nature experience.

7. South Platte River Trail: Eagle Sanctuary

Winter transforms this riverine corridor into one of Colorado’s most spectacular yet uncrowded eagle watching destinations. Over a hundred bald eagles roost in towering cottonwoods, yet the extensive trail system means you’ll rarely encounter other wildlife enthusiasts. Dawn reveals eagles diving for fish in the misty waters while beavers make final adjustments to their lodges. The Chatfield State Park section offers particularly secluded viewing areas where patient observers might spot river otters playing in backwater channels. Bring a thermos of hot chocolate and set up a portable blind near the river bends for intimate wildlife photography without disturbing these magnificent birds. Weekday mornings in January provide the perfect combination of eagle activity and blissful solitude.

8. Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge: Bison Country

Once a chemical weapons manufacturing facility, this transformed refuge now hosts roaming bison herds just minutes from downtown Denver. Unlike Yellowstone’s crowded bison jams, here you can often enjoy these magnificent creatures without another car in sight. The 11-mile Wildlife Drive features numerous pull-offs where black-footed ferrets peek from prairie dog towns and white-tailed deer browse in tall grasses. Early weekday mornings find the refuge nearly deserted, with mule deer still active and coyotes hunting in golden morning light. Winter brings spectacular raptor viewing as bald eagles and ferruginous hawks hunt across snow-covered plains. The refuge’s size and limited entry points naturally disperse visitors, creating pockets of wilderness solitude.

9. Pawnee National Grassland: Prairie Wildlife Haven

Far from Colorado’s mountain tourist routes, these 193,000 acres of shortgrass prairie offer wildlife encounters reminiscent of pre-settlement times. Swift foxes dart through prairie dog towns while ferruginous hawks soar overhead hunting for rabbits. The remote eastern sections near the Pawnee Buttes see few visitors, especially on weekdays. Here, pronghorn antelope – North America’s fastest land mammals – sprint across wide-open spaces that feel straight from a frontier painting. Spring brings spectacular bird migrations, including mountain plovers and Colorado’s state bird, the lark bunting. Pack water and sunscreen for this exposed landscape where the absence of trees creates unobstructed wildlife viewing across vast distances that few modern humans experience.