Denver City Park
Denver's biggest historic park, where the skyline lines up perfectly with the Rockies behind it.
About Denver City Park
City Park covers about 330 acres just east of downtown Denver, roughly a mile long and three-quarters of a mile wide. It holds the Denver Zoo, the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, Ferril Lake with its historic Prismatic Fountain, Duck Lake, a golf course next door, and a series of grand entrance monuments and fountains.
The museum sits on the park's highest ground, and the view west from there is one of the most famous in the city: Ferril Lake and the park in front, the downtown skyline in the middle, and the Front Range from Longs Peak to Mount Blue Sky on the horizon.
It is the easiest place in Denver to put city and mountains in a single frame.
The city's flagship regional park, home to the Denver Zoo, the Museum of Nature and Science, an IMAX theater, two lakes, and enough sports fields and playgrounds to fill a whole weekend on their own — without ever driving out of the city. The classic shot here is the downtown skyline reflected across Ferril Lake, with the mountains lined up behind it on a clear day.
History
The state legislature authorized the land in 1878, and the park is dated to 1880, with construction beginning in 1886. Reinhard Schuetze, a German-born landscape architect, gave it its formal carriageways and gardens, and George Kessler was among the designers who shaped it in the early 1900s City Beautiful era, when monuments like the Sullivan Gateway and Thatcher Memorial Fountain were added.
The Prismatic Fountain in Ferril Lake dates to 1908, the same year the museum opened to the public. City Park was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1986 as part of the Denver Park and Parkway System.
Photographing Denver City Park
Best light: Sunset and blue hour from the museum terrace or the east shore of Ferril Lake, when the sun drops behind the mountains and the skyline lights come up. Winter, with snow on the Front Range and clear air after a storm, gives the sharpest mountain backdrop; calm mornings bring reflections on Ferril Lake.
Shots to look for
- The classic: downtown skyline backed by snowy peaks from the Denver Museum of Nature & Science steps, 70-200mm to compress the layers
- Ferril Lake reflections of the skyline from the east shore on a still evening
- The Prismatic Fountain lit up at dusk with the city behind
- Thatcher Memorial Fountain or Sullivan Gateway with fall cottonwoods
- Waterfowl on Duck Lake with a telephoto
Photo tips
- Clear, dry air after a cold front gives the crispest mountain view; summer haze often hides the peaks.
- Use a telephoto to stack the skyline against the mountains; a wide lens makes the peaks tiny.
- Parking near the museum is easiest for the overlook; the lot gets busy on event days.
- Check Denver Parks and Recreation rules before flying a drone.
Know before you go
- City parks in Denver have overnight closure hours; check posted times for blue-hour shoots.
- Summer concerts and events can make parking and crowds heavy.
- The zoo and museum have their own hours and admission.
Prints from Denver City Park
Every photo is available as a print on metal, canvas, wood or fine art paper.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the best Denver skyline view with mountains?
One of the best is from the Denver Museum of Nature & Science at the east end of City Park, looking west across Ferril Lake to downtown and the Front Range.
How big is City Park in Denver?
About 330 acres, making it one of the largest parks in the city.
Is City Park free?
Yes, the park itself is free. The Denver Zoo and the museum inside it charge admission.
Combine it with
Denver Museum of Nature & Science · Denver Zoo · Denver Botanic Gardens · Cheesman Park
More Colorado spots
Sources & further reading: en.wikipedia.org · dmns.org. Conditions, fees and rules change; check with the managing agency before you go.