Rocky Mountain Arsenal NWR, Commerce City
Bison, bald eagles and the Denver skyline in one frame, on a former chemical weapons site turned wildlife refuge.
About Rocky Mountain Arsenal NWR
Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge covers roughly 15,000 acres of restored prairie, wetlands and lakes in Commerce City, about 8 miles northeast of downtown Denver. It's one of the largest urban wildlife refuges in the country, and it's free to visit.
The heart of the experience for photographers is the 11-mile Wildlife Drive, where you can watch a growing bison herd graze with downtown Denver and the Front Range behind them. Deer, prairie dogs, raptors and waterfowl are common, and in winter the refuge is known for its bald eagles.
About 20 miles of trails wander past Lake Mary, Lake Ladora and the prairie, including the 0.6-mile Lake Mary Loop with a boardwalk and piers. The visitor center on Gateway Road has exhibits and a Junior Ranger program for kids.
A former chemical weapons manufacturing site turned 15,000-acre National Wildlife Refuge, with a genuine bison herd roaming grassland just minutes from downtown Denver — an odd and striking juxtaposition that's hard to find anywhere else in the country. Shoot wide enough to get both the bison and the skyline in frame, and you have a shot that immediately reads as uniquely Denver rather than generic prairie.
History
The U.S. Army built the Rocky Mountain Arsenal in 1942 to manufacture chemical weapons, and after the war part of the facility was leased to Shell Chemical Company to make agricultural chemicals. The site became a federal Superfund cleanup, a project that ran to roughly $2.1 billion and was completed in 2010. In 1986, biologists discovered a winter communal roost of then-endangered bald eagles on the property, a turning point in the site's story. Congress designated it a national wildlife refuge in 1992, and the Army began transferring land to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in 2004. Sixteen bison arrived from the National Bison Range in Montana in March 2007.
Photographing Rocky Mountain Arsenal NWR
Best light: Open from sunrise, so early morning gives you low side light on the bison with the skyline and mountains to the southwest and west. Winter is prime for bald eagles, and spring brings bison calves.
Shots to look for
- Bison grazing in the foreground with the downtown Denver skyline behind, compressed with a 200-500mm lens
- A wide shot of the herd on open prairie with the Front Range snowcapped on the western horizon
- Lake Mary boardwalk and piers at golden hour, with reeds and reflections
- Bald eagles perched in cottonwoods near the lakes in winter, using a long telephoto from a respectful distance
Photo tips
- You must stay in your vehicle when viewing bison; use your car as a blind and bring a window mount or bean bag
- Hours are sunrise to sunset most of the year, extended to 8 pm from May 1 to August 1; check current hours and holiday closures
- Heat shimmer over the prairie softens long-lens shots by midday, so shoot early or late
- Only service dogs are allowed, so plan to leave pets at home
Know before you go
- Free entry; check current refuge hours, which vary by season
- Stay in your vehicle around bison and stay on designated trails
- Only service dogs are permitted on the refuge
- Swimming and wading in refuge lakes are not allowed
Frequently asked questions
Is Rocky Mountain Arsenal free?
Yes. Entry to the refuge, the Wildlife Drive and the trails is free.
Can you see bison at Rocky Mountain Arsenal?
Yes. The 11-mile Wildlife Drive passes through bison range; visitors must stay in their vehicles while viewing them.
Are dogs allowed at Rocky Mountain Arsenal?
No, only service dogs are allowed on the refuge.
Featured in: Winter Photography Spots in Colorado · Photography Spots Near Denver · Where to Photograph Wildlife in Colorado
Combine it with
Barr Lake State Park · Two Ponds National Wildlife Refuge · Denver · Keenesburg (Wild Animal Sanctuary)
More Colorado spots
Sources & further reading: fws.gov · fws.gov · en.wikipedia.org. Conditions, fees and rules change; check with the managing agency before you go.