2026 NPM Spring Wildflower Walk at Roxborough SP -May 1, 9:00-1:00pm

Roxborough State Park starts waking up with beautiful early spring, native wildflowers in a gorgeous setting. Join your instructors Dina Baker and Lisa Mason for a fun and informal tour in the park to identify and learn about the native plants that will be just popping up and flowering at this time. This walk is geared towards native plant enthusiasts and beginners alike. Basic botany concepts and plant families will be emphasized, so prior knowledge in these areas will be helpful, but not required. Please bring your Flora of Colorado book by Jennifer Ackerfield if you have one (not required) and a hand lens.

Please note: this one day wildflower walk does not count towards a Native Plant Master certification.

TRAINERS:

Dina Baker received her Native Plant Master certification in 2018 and will be teaching her first full Native Plant Master course this year at Roxborough State Park. She has led numerous native plant programs in the past for her own company, as well as the Colorado Native Plant Society, Evergreen Audubon, and Denver Audubon. She loves connecting kids and adults with nature as well as learning and teaching about the exciting relationships between native plants, birds, insects and more.

Lisa Mason is the Horticulture Specialist for Colorado State University Extension in Arapahoe County. She has a Master’s Degree in entomology and an undergraduate degree in forestry and theatre from CSU. She is the founder and leads Native Bee Watch, a community science program where volunteers are trained to observe bees visiting flowers in Colorado. Her professional interests include Extension education, and community science in the areas of horticulture, entomology, native plants, and pollinator conservation.

NATIVE PLANT MASTER:

This wildflower walk does not count towards a Native Plant Master certificate. Please see our other 3-day NPM certification courses if you would like to become a certified Native Plant Master. Learn more about Foothills to Plains Native Plant Master program here.

WHEN & WHERE TO MEET:

Meet at 8:45am at the small parking lot on the left before you get to the main Vistor Center, as class begins at 9:00am sharp. The image below shows a yellow arrow pointing to where you should park. The Visitor Center is approximately 1.5 miles in on Roxborough Park Road. Bring park pass or purchase daily pass at the Kiosk at the park entrance ($10 per car). The class fee does not include this parking fee. Restrooms are at the Visitor Center .

DIRECTIONS from Wadsworth and C-470:

Take Wadsworth south past Chatfield State Park. Turn left on Waterton Road (just before the entrance to Lockheed Martin.) Continue on Waterton Road—crossing the South Platte River, until it ends at North Rampart Range Road (1.6 miles) Turn right (south) on North Rampart Range Road. Continue south past Roxborough Village and the Foothills Water Treatment Plant. (2.3 miles) At the intersection of North Rampart Range Road and Roxborough Park Road (just before the entrance to Arrowhead golf course), turn left onto Roxborough Park Road. Take the next right on East Roxborough Drive(about 50 yards away) to enter the park.

DIRECTIONS from Santa Fe and C-470:

Head south on Santa Fe (Highway 85) to Titan Road. (4.2 miles south of C-470 intersection.) Turn right (west) on Titan Road. Continue heading west on Titan Road. It will curve and begin to head south - becoming North Rampart Range Road (3 miles). Continue south on North Rampart Range Road past Roxborough Village and the Foothills Water Treatment Plant (3.5 miles). At the intersection of North Rampart Range Road and Roxborough Park Road, turn left onto Roxborough Park Road. Take the next right on East Roxborough Drive (about 50 yards away) to enter the park.

WHAT TO BRING:

Notebook, pencil, hand lens, daypack, water, snack, rain gear, sun and wind protection, personal items you will need on the trail where there are no restrooms, etc. Please come prepared for moderately strenuous walking on hot, cold, windy, rainy or snowy days. (~1.5 mile hike on uneven terrain with hills. Bringing hiking poles is encouraged if they would make you more comfortable on the trail.)

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