Westminster Hills Open Space

Northwest corner of Simms Street/100th Avenue.

The 1,000-acre Westminster Hills Open Space is the largest open space in the city. Westminster Hills when combined with abutting Standley Lake Regional Park form an over 3,200 acre natural area. Over 15,000 acres of public land including Rocky Flats Wildlife Refuge provide a continuous natural and wildlife corridor extending from Simms Street into the foothills 4 miles to the west. This area is truly Westminster’s “outback!”

Most of Westminster Hills is rolling grassland. There is over 200 feet in difference in elevation from the lowest point at the parking lot at 105th Drive/Simms Street to 104th Avenue/Indiana Street. A few trees can be found along the Church Ditch and around Mower Reservoir. After a wet spring, the wild flower display can be beautiful.

A trail forms a loop through the eastern half of the open space and a longer trail dead ends at 11 acre Mower Reservoir. In the future, this trail will be extended into the Rocky Flats National Wildlife Refuge west of Indiana Street. The Westminster Hills dog park occupies much of the eastern part of the open space which allows dogs to be off-lease if under voice command.

This vast area supports lots of wildlife including badgers, fox, coyote and the occasional mule deer, elk, mountain lion and black bear. The nearby Standley Lake bald eagles and other raptors hunt eagles here. This open space preserves 3810 feet of frontage along Simms Street, 4,300 feet along Indiana Street and 4,050 feet along 100th Avenue. This property was acquired through various acquisitions in 1988, 1995, 1998, 1999, 2003, 2004, 2006 and 2007.

To access Westminster Hills Park in the large parking lot on the west side of Simms Street at about 105th Drive.