Jefferson County is the fourth-largest county in Colorado. Its citizens make their homes on mountain tops as well as in suburban communities. Jefferson County is a place where the great plains meet the Rocky Mountains with some of the most magnificent scenery in the country. It features rolling grasslands and craggy rock formations, natural foothills, rugged mountains and tumbling mountain streams. The unincorporated areas are home to many communities including:
Bradford K8 North • Bradford K8 South • Chatfield High • Coronado Elementary • Deer Creek Middle • Falcon Bluffs Middle • Mortensen Elementary • Shaffer Elementary • Stony Creek Elementary • Ute Meadows Elementary
Blue Heron Elementary • Colorow Hills Elementary • Dakota Ridge High • Mount Carbon Elementary • Powderhorn Elementary • Summit Ridge Middle • Westridge Elementary
There are numerous miles of cycling trails and paths throughout the county, including the 50-mile Urban Trails Loop that takes cyclists throughout the county and the metro Denver area.
Climbers of all levels and interests can choose from more than 1,000 routes and countless boulder problems spread across Jeffco Open Space lands. Clear Creek Canyon Park and Cathedral Spires Park are legendary climbing destinations, and climbers have long enjoyed scaling the Golden Cliffs at North Table Mountain Park, accessed by the Golden Cliffs Trail on the southern part of the mesa.
Jefferson County is ranked fifth in the state in golf courses per square mile. There are three golf courses located in the southern part of the county – Deer Creek Golf Course, The Meadows Golf Course, and Racoon Creek Golf Course.
Outdoor lovers have many Jefferson County Open Space (JCOS) Parks, three national forests and two state parks from which to choose. JCOS boasts over 260 miles of trail throughout the county including nine regional trail connections through JCOS parks. From concrete trails in suburban parks to rough and rocky surface trails in the foothills, Jeffco parks have trails to fit varying abilities, experiences, and recreation types.
Pine Valley Ranch Park and Crown Hill Park have lakes that are open for fishing and parks like Clear Creek Canyon Park and Lair o’ the Bear Park offer rivers for fishing. Recreational gold prospecting is allowed in Clear Creek within Clear Creek Canyon Park.
