If you are in the Denver area, here are some attractions near Highlands Ranch that your teens will love. From hiking to an amusement park, there are things to do outdoors all summer long.
3 Attractions Near Highlands Ranch Your Teens Will Love
Highlands Ranch is a master-planned community south of Denver, where you can enjoy convenient access to the city while relaxing in a rural environment that feels a world away. Popular among residents for the active lifestyle it provides, Highlands Ranch is equally enticing to visitors. If you’re looking for a quiet place to stay during your Denver vacation, this is the ideal escape. Keep your teens out of their phones and engaged with your vacation by including some of these top highlights in and around Highlands Ranch in your visit.
Backcountry Wilderness Area
One of the premiere highlights of Highlands Ranch, the Backcountry Wilderness Area covers 8,200 acres. Get your teens away from the allure of their screens and back to nature with activities like archery, hunting, and horseback riding. The Backcountry Wilderness Area features 26 miles of trails, with something suitable for every skill level. The Wildcat Trail System has five-and-a-half trails, suitable for beginning to intermediate hikers, accessible from Rocky Heights Middle School. Start at Mountain Vista High School to reach the intermediate Highlands Point Trail System.
Wild Cat Mountain Trail
Pack comfortable shoes and layered clothing, so you’re prepared for a long day outdoors in the Backcountry Wilderness Area. This destination offers the ideal opportunity to get away from it all. Though you can camp in the backcountry, you may prefer to book a comfortable Highlands Ranch hotel nearby, so you can return to modern comforts and a hot shower when the day is done.
Elitch Gardens Theme & Water Park
Image via Flickr by brookscl
If you’re looking for a wild ride to keep your teens engaged during your vacation, grab tickets for Elitch Gardens Theme & Water Park. The park features a variety of thrill rides for the bold and brave, such as the seven-story Brain Drain roller coaster or the 17-story Star Flyer that flings you out above the Denver skyline. If you want something milder, there are plenty of family-friendly options as well, like the spinning Tea Cups or interactive Ghost Blasters haunted house.
Open seasonally, the accompanying water park is accessible from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Thrills here include tube slides, speed slides, and multiperson raft slides. Admission to the water park is included with all tickets to Elitch Gardens.
Chatfield Farms
The 700 acres of Chatfield Farms is a refuge for native plants. Visitors of all ages can enjoy the stunning scenery available in the farm’s many gardens. Explore the colorful highlights of the Cut Flower Garden, browse the delicious delights in the herb garden, or take in the innovative low-water plants in the Plant Select Garden. Grape trellises, fruit trees, and vegetables from the Market Garden all highlight the possibilities available with small-scale agriculture. If your teens have an interest in sustainability and going green, this is an essential stop during your vacation.
If you’re looking for a quiet place to stay with your teens during your trip to Denver, head down to Highlands Ranch where you can enjoy a beautiful landscape and plenty of outdoor activities within a 30-minute drive of downtown Denver.
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