A new, interactive tool aims to educate first-time visitors to the outdoors around north-central Colorado while also pointing to lesser-known destinations.

A map by a multi-jurisdiction collaboration, NoCo Places, lists several parks, open spaces and trailheads popularly reached from the Denver metro area. Listed, too, are land-stewarding do’s and dont’s and information on flora, fauna, geology, tubing, e-biking and more.

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The selected recreation hubs span across Boulder, Jefferson, Larimer, Clear Creek and Gilpin counties — among land managers making up NoCo Places. Along with the U.S. Forest Service, Colorado Parks and Wildlife and Rocky Mountain National Park representatives, the collaboration formed in an effort to address crowding, degradation and conflicts between people and wildlife increasingly noted around the most populated parts of the Front Range.

A news release mentioned Rocky Mountain National Park starting its seasonal reservation system, some state parks reaching capacity by 9 a.m. and parking lots filling fast across other county parks.

“Visitors to the region can save time and frustration by knowing options and alternative places to visit,” reads the release.

While Chautauqua Park is synonymous with Boulder, the new digital map includes the lesser-known likes of Heil Valley and Walker ranches in the surrounding county. Rather than North and South Table Mountains, Hildebrand Ranch and Meyer Ranch parks are listed under Jefferson County.

In Larimer County, information is posted for the popular Horsetooth Mountain Open Space, as it is for nearby Lory State Park and Devil’s Backbone Open Space closer to Loveland.

St. Mary’s Glacier is a recognizable name mapped around Clear Creek County, the 7:30 Mine and Silver Creek trails less so. Gilpin County maps James Peak Wilderness and Maryland Mountain Quartz Valley.

View the interactive map at: https://tinyurl.com/2p7ebj8r

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