Westminster Hills Open Space
Nature preserve
1,035 acres19.5 mi of trail
Westminster Hills TrailGreenway TrailPower Line TrailWestminster Hills Loop Trail
Dogs allowed
Directionsto the parking lot
Photo: Nyttend · Public domainA+Outdoors
Outdoors in Westminster
Westminster has 94 miles of mapped trails, 3.0 for every square mile of land
34% of Westminster’s land is conserved, about 6,910 acres. 99% of residents live within a half mile of a park. The biggest trail networks: Westminster Hills Open Space (19.5 mi), Big Dry Creek Open Space (6.9 mi), Metzger Farm Open Space (2 mi).
Ahead of 98% of U.S. towns · #14 of 159 in Colorado. What drives it
Conserved land
34%
6,910 acres · of 31.6 sq mi of land
Trails
94 mi
3.0 per sq mi of land
Park land
3,895 ac
34 acres per 1,000 residents
Near a park
99%
of residents within ½ mile
Bike routes
98 mi
34 mi lanes · 61 mi paths
Lakes & rivers
19
5 beaches · 5 boat launches
What kind of outdoors town is Westminster?
Read from the map. The page puts what stands out first.
Outdoors grade
How much outdoors does Westminster have?
On conserved land, trails, park land and how close residents live to a park, Westminster is ahead of 98% of U.S. towns, #14 of 159 in Colorado. All four inputs are above most U.S. towns; trail miles rank highest, park acres per resident lowest.
A+
OutdoorsA character grade: shown, never part of Westminster’s overall grade.
Conserved land34% of the land · typical CO town 7% · U.S. 4%A+Trails3.0 miles of mapped trail per square mile of land (94 mi) · CO 1.3 · U.S. 0.4A+Park land34 acres of park per 1,000 residents (3,895 acres) · CO 14 · U.S. 13B+Parks close to home99% of residents within a half mile of a park · CO 97% · U.S. 72%A
All U.S. towns we grade (21,298)Ahead of 98%
LessMore
Colorado towns of 2,500+ (159)Ahead of 92%
Among the 400 U.S. cities of 100,000 or more, Westminster ranks #5 on Outdoors.
Colorado towns conserve more land than most (a typical one, 7%; the U.S., 4%), so Westminster’s 34% is ahead of 96% of Colorado towns, while its trails per square mile lead 85% of them.
Water is 7% of Westminster’s area (2 of 34 square miles), so every share here is of land; over land and water together, the conserved share would read 32%.
How sure. Graded on any three of the four inputs instead, the letter would still be A+. Trails and many small parks come from OpenStreetMap, mapped by volunteers, so coverage varies from town to town; the half mile is a straight line from each census block, so a river or highway in the way isn’t counted against it.
PAD-US, OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors), Census 2025 Gazetteer and 2020 blocks; details in Sources below. How TownRatings grades the outdoors →
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 Westminster Hills Open Space, with 19.5 miles. Directions go to the nearest trailhead or public parking.
Big Dry Creek Open Space
Nature preserve
793 acres6.9 mi of trail
FRCC College TrailsHome Farm TrailPanorama TrailWestcliff Trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
Metzger Farm Open Space
Nature preserve
151 acres2 mi of trail
Metzger Farm OS
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
Westminster Station Park & Nature Playground
Park
32 acres2 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lotWebsite ↗
McKay Lake Open Space
Nature preserve
126 acres1.3 mi of trail
McKay Lake Trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
Tanglewood Creek Open Space
Nature preserve
60 acres0.4 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
Mushroom Pond Open Space
Park
30 acres0.4 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto Mushroom Pond Trailhead
All 55 parks & preserves
Westminster Hills Open Space1,035 acres · 19.5 mi of trail
DirectionsBig Dry Creek Open Space793 acres · 6.9 mi of trail
DirectionsMetzger Farm Open Space151 acres · 2 mi of trail
DirectionsWestminster Station Park & Nature Playground32 acres · 2 mi of trail
DirectionsMcKay Lake Open Space126 acres · 1.3 mi of trail
DirectionsPeter Pan Park9 acres · 0.9 mi of trail
DirectionsTanglewood Creek Open Space60 acres · 0.4 mi of trail
DirectionsMushroom Pond Open Space30 acres · 0.4 mi of trail
DirectionsFaversham Park27 acres · 0.4 mi of trail
DirectionsFarmers High Line Canal Open Space25 acres · 0.4 mi of trail
DirectionsBig Dry Creek Park21 acres · 0.4 mi of trail
DirectionsBishop Square Park7 acres · 0.4 mi of trail
DirectionsCircle Point Park2 acres · 0.4 mi of trail
DirectionsWestglenn Park4 acres · 0.3 mi of trail
DirectionsCaroll Butts Park35 acres · 0.2 mi of trail
DirectionsWestfield Village Park27 acres · 0.2 mi of trail
DirectionsSheridan Green15 acres · 0.2 mi of trail
Nottingham Park13 acres · 0.2 mi of trail
DirectionsHampshire Park7 acres · 0.2 mi of trail
DirectionsWolff Run Park30 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
DirectionsRyan Park15 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
DirectionsWindsor Park14 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
DirectionsDover Square Park8 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
DirectionsFoxshire Park5 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
Mayfair Park5 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
DirectionsEngland Park5 acres · 0.1 mi of trail · City of Westminster
DirectionsWestminster T-Ball Complex2 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
DirectionsCarstens Park1 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
Oakhurst Park25 acres
DirectionsWalnut Creek Open Space22 acres
DirectionsSquire's Park18 acres
DirectionsQuail Creek Open Space12 acres
DirectionsValley View Park11 acres
DirectionsAmherst Park10 acres
DirectionsOrchard Park10 acres
DirectionsRanch Creek Open Space9 acres
DirectionsCobblestone Park9 acres
Cotton Creek Park8 acres
DirectionsRanch Park6 acres
DirectionsStratford Park5 acres
DirectionsCountry Club Village Open Space5 acres
DirectionsWestbrook Park5 acres
DirectionsWestminster Hills Park5 acres
DirectionsWestbury Open Space4 acres
DirectionsKing Mill Park4 acres
DirectionsMaulis Park3 acres
DirectionsChelsea Park3 acres
Aerostat Park3 acres
DirectionsOakwood Park3 acres
Second Baseball field2 acres
DirectionsWillowbrook Park2 acres
DirectionsTorii Square Park1 acres
Kensington Park1 acres
Terrace Park1 acres
West Creek Meadow Park1 acres
Who protects it
6,910 conserved acres
34% of Westminster’s land. Water is left out: Westminster has 31.6 square miles of land and 2.3 of water, so the share counts land only. Who manages Westminster’s conserved land, from the USGS Protected Areas Database. Approximate, because parcels can overlap.
Town or city6,646 ac
County335 ac
Regional agency255 ac
Private owners196 ac
Land trusts & nonprofits29 ac
Joint1 ac
Not recorded9 ac
Local Park · 3,085 acLocal Other or Unknown · 2,660 acLocal Recreation Area · 877 acOther Easement · 443 acPrivate Recreation or Education · 191 ac
Good to know
Conserved doesn’t always mean open to visitors. 290 acres are conservation easements, usually private land. Public access isn’t recorded for 4 of 210 parcels. The walks above are places people visit.
The biggest protected parcels
| Parcel (PAD-US) | Managed by | Acres | Public access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standley Lake Regional Park Local Park | Town or city | 2,292 | Open |
| Westminster Hills Open Space Local Other or Unknown | Town or city | 925 | Open |
| Big Dry Creek Open Space Local Other or Unknown | Town or city | 833 | Open |
| Hyland Hills Golf Course Local Recreation Area | Regional agency | 249 | Restricted |
| Heritage Golf Course Local Recreation Area | Town or city | 199 | Restricted |
| Legacy Ridge Golf Course Local Recreation Area | Town or city | 177 | Restricted |
| The Ranch Country Club Private Recreation or Education | Private owners | 151 | Restricted |
| Westminster City Park/Christopher Fields Local Park | Town or city | 149 | Open |
| McKay Lake Local Other or Unknown | Town or city | 99 | Open |
| Lower Church Lake Open Space Local Other or Unknown | Town or city | 71 | Open |
5 smaller protected places aren’t shown.
Things to do
148 places to go in Westminster
Beaches, playgrounds, peaks, falls and more. Pick a kind.
Beaches in Westminster
5 beaches without a name on the map. Tap “Show all on map” to see them.
Public pools in Westminster
Westbrook Community Pool
DirectionsPlus 1 public pool without a name on the map. Tap “Show all on map” to see it.
Playgrounds in Westminster
106 playgrounds are on OpenStreetMap in all; the list shows named ones from the first 30.
Dog parks in Westminster
Big Dry Creek Dog ParkIn Big Dry Creek Park
DirectionsLittle Dry Creek Dog Park
DirectionsWestminster Hills Dog ParkIn Westminster Hills Open Space
DirectionsWestminster Hills Open SpaceIn Westminster Hills Open Space
DirectionsPlus 6 dog parks without a name on the map.
Boat launches in Westminster
5 boat launches without a name on the map.
Fishing spots in Westminster
3 fishing spots without a name on the map.
Scenic views in Westminster
1 scenic view without a name on the map.
Picnic areas in Westminster
7 picnic areas without a name on the map.
Campgrounds in Westminster
Coyote Gulch Campground
DirectionsTipi Village
DirectionsDisc golf in Westminster
7 disc golf without a name on the map.
Trails & water
20 named trails and 19 lakes & rivers
Named trails
Open to bikes · 34.0 miUnpaved · 45.0 mi
Westminster Hills Trail4.2 mi
South Standley Lake Trails3.4 mi
Standley Lake Trail2.1 mi
Greenway Trail1.6 mi
Power Line Trail1.6 mi
Ketner Reservoir path1.4 mi
FRCC College Trails1.4 mi
Metzger Farm OS1.2 mi
I-25 Trail1.2 mi
McKay Lake Trail1.1 mi
10 more trails
Stanley Lake pathway
1.1 miWalnut Creek Path
1.0 miWestminster Hills Loop Trail
1.0 miWestcliff Trail
0.7 miHome Farm Trail
0.7 miPanorama Trail
0.6 miBig Dry Creek Trail
0.4 miLegacy Ridge Trail
0.3 miLoon Lake Trail
0.3 miNiver Canal Trail
0.1 miLakes & rivers tap for directions
Bull ReservoirCity Park PondCobble Stone Park PondpondCollege PondDuck Lake at the Westminster PromenadepondJackson LakeKetner ReservoirreservoirKoleski Reservoir Number 1reservoirLower Church LakereservoirMcKay LakereservoirMetzger PondspondMower ReservoirreservoirMushroom PondStandley LakelakeStratford LakepondWestfield PondWestminster Station PondpondWoman Creek ResevoirSouth Branch Hylands Creek
Biking & sports
98 miles of bike routes
Bike lanes are often missing from the map in smaller towns, so that number is likely low.
34 mi
painted or protected bike lanes
61 mi
off-road bike paths
3.9 mi
shoulders & shared lanes
Big Dry Creek TrailBike route
0.4 miCourts & fields
69Tennis
47Baseball
45Basketball
25Soccer
13Beach volleyball
9Volleyball
8Softball
4Pickleball
Includes school and college facilities, which aren’t always open to the public.
History along the way
History →6 places on the National Register
The country’s official list of places worth saving (National Park Service). The map also marks 1 historic points from OpenStreetMap: plaques, memorials and old buildings.
When to get out
The best walking months in Westminster: April to June
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) | 46 | 48 | 56 | 62 | 71 | 83 | 89 | 87 | 79 | 66 | 54 | 46 |
| Rain (in) | 0.6 | 0.7 | 1.3 | 2.2 | 2.6 | 1.7 | 1.8 | 1.6 | 1.3 | 1.1 | 0.8 | 0.6 |
December is the driest month (0.6 in) and July the warmest (highs of 89 °F). 2.6 inches fall in May, the wettest month. Summer highs reach 89 °F, too hot for the outline. The climate in Westminster →
Next door
Westminster and its neighbors
Westminster has the most mapped trails of the 8 towns around it. Tap a town to see its outdoors.
Westminster94 miArvada51 miBroomfield38 miNorthglenn8.0 miBerkley4.0 miTwin Lakes1.8 miSherrelwood0.8 miShaw Heights0.0 mi
| Town | Conserved of land | Trail mi per sq mi | Park acres per 1,000 | Near a park ½ mile | Outdoors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Westminster | 34% | 3.0 | 34 | 99% | A+ |
| Broomfield | 21% | 1.2 | 29 | 99% | A+ |
| Arvada | 28% | 1.3 | 49 | 99%+ | A+ |
| Berkley | 12% | 1.1 | 23 | 99%+ | A |
| Twin Lakes | 6% | 1.1 | 9 | 99%+ | A− |
| Shaw Heights | 1% | under 0.1 | 1 | 78% | C− |
| Sherrelwood | 3% | 0.3 | 4 | 92% | B− |
| Northglenn | 8% | 1.1 | 10 | 99%+ | A |
The four inputs of the Outdoors grade, from the engine; shares are of land, not water.
Questions about parks and trails in Westminster
Where can I hike in Westminster?
The longest trail networks: Westminster Hills Open Space, 19.5 miles; Big Dry Creek Open Space, 6.9 miles; Metzger Farm Open Space, 2 miles; Westminster Station Park & Nature Playground, 2 miles. Each one is on the map above, with directions to the nearest trailhead or parking.
How much of Westminster is conserved land?
34% of its land, against a typical 7% for a Colorado town and 4% nationally (PAD-US). Conserved doesn’t always mean open to visitors: easements are usually private land.
Are dogs allowed on Westminster’s trails?
OpenStreetMap records dogs as welcome at Westminster Hills Open Space. For the rest, check the signs at the trailhead.
Where can I bike in Westminster?
98 miles of bike routes are on the map: 34 of painted or protected lanes, 61 of off-road paths and 3.9 of shoulders and shared lanes. Named routes: Big Dry Creek Trail.
Is there public land near Westminster?
60,944 acres of parks and open public land lie inside Westminster or within 10 miles of it (PAD-US), 3,895 of them inside the city line.
How much outdoors does Westminster have?
Ahead of 98% of U.S. towns on the Outdoors grade, #14 of 159 in Colorado. The grade combines the share of land that is conserved, miles of mapped trail per square mile of land, park acres per 1,000 residents and the share of residents within a half mile of a park. It’s a character grade, so it isn’t part of the overall grade. How it works.
Trail talk
Conditions, parking and favorite walks from Westminster 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 →