My recent trip to North Dakota, the legendary home of the bison, got me thinking that while places like this and Yellowstone are known for their roaming bison, there are plenty of places to see bison in Colorado.
But first…is it bison or buffalo?
When I visited the National Buffalo Museum in Jamestown, North Dakota they claimed to have answered the age-old question, “Is it bison or buffalo?” Their explanation essentially said North American bison is commonly known or referred to as buffalo, or an American buffalo. They are different than the cape buffalo and water buffalo found in African countries and parts of Asia. The confusion lies in the fact we (Americans) commonly refer to the American bison as buffalo.
So, really bison are what we have here in America and buffalo is what you will find in Africa and Asia. For the sake of the article, I will be using the names given for each location, whether it says bison or buffalo.
Now.. Places to see bison in Colorado
Buffalo Herd Overlook at Genese Park
Driving along I-70 heading west, it’s hard not to get distracted by two things: the beautiful mountain views of the James Peak Group and the herd of bison that dot the landscape at Genesee Park. As the first mountain park acquired by the city of Denver, the park welcomed its first herd of bison in 1914. The first few members of the herd came from the Denver Zoo and soon after a few more came from Yellowstone National Park’s herd.
Today, there are two to three dozen roaming bison in the Genesee Park herd. To see the bison, aside from the side of the highway, is to take exit 254 with signs saying, “Buffalo Herd Overlook.” Most of the time, bison are visible from the road but if not, there are several trails in the park that offer views of the animals.
Daniels Park in Highlands Ranch
Resting in the foothills in the suburban city of Highlands Ranch, roughly 30 minutes from Denver’s city center, Daniels Park is actually a Denver Mountain Park. Best known for its vista views of the Front Range, Daniels Park is also known for its herd of bison.
Denver Parks and Recreation, which also maintains the Genessee Herd also maintains the Daniels Park herd. In fact, this herd was populated and shared with the herd at Genesee Park. While the majority of the land in the park is devoted to the bison preserve, the park is also home to several historic sites from the land’s early days as a ranch, including the Kit Carson Memorial — the site of Carson’s last known campfire.
There are several well-maintained walking trails that take you on either side of the road. Sometimes the herd is grazing on the west side or the east side. You can get great views of the bison from the trails but do not approach the fence and still keep your distance.
Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge
An often overlooked destination outside of Denver, the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge is one of the best places to see bison in Colorado. While the land has changed hands many times over the years, most notably as a WWII weapons arsenal to an agriculture-chemical plant, it is now home to a thriving population of bison, deer, a few black-footed ferrets, and bald eagles.
One of the many reasons I love visiting this site is its less-crowded trails (20 miles to be exact) and its killer views of downtown Denver and the mountains. To view the bison, take the drive along the 11-mile Wildlife Auto Tour. The drive gives you an overview of the park and you can safely view the bison from inside your car.
Located in Commerce City, the refuge lies just 10 minutes outside of the Denver city limits. It makes for a great day destination and the best part is it’s FREE! They’re open year-round, sunrise to sunset, seven days a week (except major holidays), so anytime is a good time to go.
Wolf Springs Ranch near Westcliffe, CO
A few years back when making my way through the Wet Mountain Valley via HWY 69, on my way to Westcliffe, I spotted a herd of bison from the highway. I later learned these were the bison of Wolf Springs Ranch. There isn’t much I can find about the ranch except for Facebook posts about the 16,379-acre ranch being bought in 2017 with 300+ bison and 200+ cattle.
This is private property and by no means is this open to the public. But if you are passing through the area, keep your eye out and you might see their herd of bison. And if you have a great telephoto lens you might be able to snap a few photos from the road.
Hartsel, Colorado – HWY 24
Another great place to see bison in Colorado is near the town of Hartsel, off HWY 24 in Park County. A large ranch is home to a large herd of bison you can often see from the road, along with the super-rare white bison. So rare in fact, that this occurs only in one in 10 million births. I have not yet seen the white bison but if you look it up there are several photographers and travelers who have witnessed this rarity.
Interested in receiving more travel tips like this directly to your inbox? Sign up for the Small Town Stops Monthly Newsletter for your next travel adventures.
