Arapaho National Forest
Managed by United States Forest Service
211 acres1.7 mi of trail
Eureka Gulch
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lotWebsite ↗
Photo: Hustvedt · CC BY-SA 3.0–Not graded
Outdoors in Central
Few parks or trails are on the map in Central
The biggest trail networks: Arapaho National Forest (1.7 mi). 8% of Central’s land is conserved, about 136 acres. 123 acres are parks and preserves, 234 per 1,000 residents.
Conserved land
8%
136 acres · of 2.8 sq mi of land
Trails
8.1 mi
2.9 per sq mi of land
Park land
123 ac
234 acres per 1,000 residents
Near a park
1%
of residents within ½ mile
Highest peak
8,940 ft
Bobtail Hill
Lakes & rivers
1
The map
Conserved land, trails & bike routes
Tap a number to zoom to a park. Tap a layer to hide it.
Easements protect land from building but are usually private.© OpenStreetMap contributors · USGS PAD-US
Places to walk
Pick a walk
The longest trail network is Arapaho National Forest, with 1.7 miles. Directions go to the nearest trailhead or public parking.
Who protects it
136 conserved acres
8% of Central’s land. Who manages Central’s conserved land, from the USGS Protected Areas Database. Approximate, because parcels can overlap.
Town or city128 ac
U.S. Forest Service9 ac
Local Other or Unknown · 128 acNational Forest · 9 ac
The biggest protected parcels
| Parcel (PAD-US) | Managed by | Acres | Public access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central City City Land - General Local Other or Unknown | Town or city | 128 | Open |
| Arapaho National Forest National Forest | U.S. Forest Service | 9 | Open |
Things to do
7 places to go in Central
Beaches, playgrounds, peaks, falls and more. Pick a kind.
Playgrounds in Central
1 playground without a name on the map. Tap “Show all on map” to see it.
Peaks in Central
Bobtail Hill8,940 ft elevation
DirectionsMammoth Hill8,862 ft elevation
DirectionsCentral Hill8,661 ft elevation
DirectionsBates Hill8,517 ft elevation
DirectionsPicnic areas in Central
1 picnic area without a name on the map.
Campgrounds in Central
Denver West/Central City KOA
DirectionsTrails & water
1 named trail and 1 lakes & rivers
Named trails
Unpaved · 4.8 mi
Eureka Gulch0.7 mi
Lakes & rivers tap for directions
History along the way
History →3 places on the National Register, one a National Historic Landmark
The country’s official list of places worth saving (National Park Service). The map also marks 2 historic points from OpenStreetMap: plaques, memorials and old buildings.
When to get out
The best walking months in Central: June to August
NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals for the town and the daylight at its latitude. Outlined months have long days, highs of 59 to 86 °F and little rain for the place.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daylight (h) | 9.6 | 10.6 | 11.8 | 13.2 | 14.4 | 15.0 | 14.7 | 13.7 | 12.4 | 11.1 | 9.9 | 9.4 |
| High (°F) | 35 | 36 | 43 | 49 | 58 | 70 | 75 | 73 | 66 | 55 | 43 | 35 |
| Rain (in) | 0.7 | 0.9 | 1.8 | 2.6 | 2.5 | 1.9 | 2.4 | 2.2 | 1.7 | 1.2 | 0.9 | 0.7 |
December is the driest month (0.7 in) and July the warmest (highs of 75 °F). 2.6 inches fall in April, the wettest month. The climate in Central →
Next door
Central and its neighbors
Central has the second most mapped trails of the 3 towns around it. Tap a town to see its outdoors.
| Town | Conserved of land | Trail mi per sq mi | Park acres per 1,000 | Near a park ½ mile | Outdoors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
| Black Hawk | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
| Idaho Springs | 2% | 2.7 | 8 | 99%+ | A− |
The four inputs of the Outdoors grade, from the engine; shares are of land, not water.
Questions about parks and trails in Central
Where can I hike in Central?
The longest trail networks: Arapaho National Forest, 1.7 miles. Each one is on the map above, with directions to the nearest trailhead or parking.
Are dogs allowed on Central’s trails?
Arapaho National Forest doesn’t have dog rules recorded on the map; check the signs at the trailhead.
Is there public land near Central?
114,513 acres of parks and open public land lie inside Central or within 10 miles of it (PAD-US), 161 of them inside the city line.
Trail talk
Conditions, parking and favorite walks from Central neighbors.
Share a tip
Sources
Where this page comes from
Conserved and public land: USGS Protected Areas Database of the United States (PAD-US), service updated July 2026. Parks, trails, playgrounds, beaches and other places: OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), map data as of 2026-10-28. Land and water area: Census 2025 Gazetteer. Residents near a park: 2020 Census blocks. National Register: National Park Service. How TownRatings grades the outdoors →