Since 1912 the city of Denver has owned parks in the mountains west of the city limits. Today there are 22 developed parks and 24 conservation parks comprising 14,141 acres in the Denver Mountain Parks system. From Genesee to Red Rocks to Echo Lake, parks large and small have invited urban visitors seeking relaxation in the mountains for over a century. Most visitors don’t even realize these parks belong to Denver, but without these parks, many scenic mountain ridges would be covered with subdivisions today. Author Mike Butler has explored all 22 developed parks and created this guide to help visitors find the parks and enjoy the historic features of each park. With location maps and lists of activities provided for each park, travelers will want to carry this handy guide along with them on trips to Denver Mountain Parks.