The best Denver parks for a mental health walk are the ones you will actually return to: a flat, well-marked loop near home, such as Washington Park, City Park, Cheesman Park or Sloan's Lake, plus a quieter nature area like Bluff Lake or the Rocky Mountain Arsenal refuge for days when you want fewer people. Below are ten options with distances taken from official park maps.
A walk is not a treatment for a mental health condition, and nothing here replaces care from a clinician. What research does suggest is that time in green space is associated with better mood and well-being for many people, and that walking can be a practical way to put therapy skills into practice. We cover both below. If you are in crisis, call or text 988, or call 911 if you are in immediate danger.
1. Washington Park
Wash Park is the easiest place in Denver to match a walk to your energy level. Denver Parks and Recreation's trail map shows five marked loops: Smith Lake Loop (0.6 mile), Grasmere Lake Loop (0.8 mile), Meadow Loop (0.9 mile), the Roadway Loop (2.2 miles) and the Outer Loop (2.5 miles). On a low day, one lap of a lake is a real win.
It is also one of the busiest parks in the city, especially on weekend afternoons. If crowds raise your anxiety, try an early morning or a weekday.
- Loops: 0.6 to 2.5 miles (Denver Parks and Recreation map)
- Two lakes, restrooms and a boathouse on site
2. City Park
City Park, which Denver's park plans describe as 320 acres, has the city's signature Mile High Loop at 3.1 miles and a shorter Ferril Lake Loop at 0.9 mile. The city also publishes a self-guided arboretum tree walk: it says the park holds over 3,000 trees of hundreds of species, with selected specimens labeled along the 3.1-mile route.
Looking for labeled trees gives a restless mind a gentle task, which makes this a good fit for a mindful walk (see the skills section below).
- Mile High Loop: 3.1 miles; Ferril Lake Loop: 0.9 mile
- Home to the Denver Zoo and the Denver Museum of Nature and Science
3. Cheesman Park
Cheesman is compact and open, with the historic Cheesman Pavilion on its east side. Denver's trail map shows an Inner Loop of 1.1 miles and an Outer Loop of 1.4 miles, so a full lap fits into a lunch break.
It sits right next to Denver Botanic Gardens, so you can pair the two on the same outing.
- Inner Loop: 1.1 miles; Outer Loop: 1.4 miles (Denver Parks and Recreation map)
4. Sloan's Lake Park
Sloan's Lake is the go-to walk for west Denver. The city's map shows a single 2.6-mile loop around the lake, which makes it simple: no route decisions, just one lap.
- Sloan's Lake Loop: 2.6 miles (Denver Parks and Recreation map)
- Several parking areas, playgrounds and restrooms around the lake
5. Bluff Lake Nature Center
Bluff Lake is a wildlife refuge and environmental education center. Its rules are what make it restorative: the center says bikes and pets, even leashed, are not allowed, and visitors are asked to stay on trails and walk quietly. The result is one of the calmest places to walk in Denver.
It is open sunrise to sunset every day of the year. Bring binoculars if you have them; the center lists birdwatching and photography among the main activities.
- Open sunrise to sunset, 365 days a year
- No pets or bikes (service animals allowed)
6. Denver Botanic Gardens (York Street)
The Gardens cover 24 acres at York Street, with themed gardens that change through the year. It is ticketed, with timed entry booked online, and the Gardens publish regular free days.
Because there is so much to see, smell and hear, it is an easy place to practice noticing your surroundings instead of your thoughts.
- Paid admission with timed tickets; check the Gardens' site for prices and free days
Visit Denver Botanic Gardens (York Street) (opens in a new tab)
7. High Line Canal Trail
Denver Water describes the trail along the High Line Canal as 71 miles long, running from the South Platte River east-northeast to the Green Valley Ranch area. It passes through Highlands Ranch, Greenwood Village, Cherry Hills Village, Denver and Aurora, among others, so there is likely an access point near you.
Because it is linear, you choose the length: walk out for 15 minutes and back for 15. Trail maintenance is shared among seven local recreation agencies, so conditions vary by segment.
- Length: 71 miles in total
- Uses: walking, cycling, horseback riding and nature viewing
8. Cherry Creek State Park
Colorado Parks and Wildlife lists 35 miles of multiuse trails here, including 15 paved miles. The paved Cherry Creek Trail (4.75 miles) is ADA accessible, and the Prairie Loop Nature Trail (0.25 mile) is hiking only, which makes it a good short option.
It is a state park, so a daily vehicle pass is required. CPW lists it at $10 to $15.
- 35 miles of trails, 15 paved
- Daily vehicle pass: $10 to $15 (per CPW)
9. Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service says visiting the refuge is free, and it lists 20 miles of easy hiking trails. Bison live here, and the refuge asks visitors to stay at least 75 feet away from them. Pet dogs are not allowed, which keeps the trails quiet.
- Free entry; 20 miles of easy trails
- Only service dogs allowed
Visit Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge (opens in a new tab)
10. Red Rocks Park
Red Rocks is not a flat stroll. The park's Trading Post Trail is 1.4 miles through rock formations, valleys and a meadow, and the park lists its trails at roughly 6,280 feet above sea level, with narrow, rough sections. The Mt. Vernon Creek Trail is about 1 mile.
Amphitheatre access depends on the event schedule, so check before you go. Pets must be leashed.
- Trading Post Trail: 1.4 miles; elevation about 6,280 feet
- Wear sturdy shoes; weather changes quickly
What the research says, and what it does not
Studies of nature and mental health are encouraging but modest, and most show association rather than cause. In a 2015 study published in PNAS, Gregory Bratman and colleagues found that healthy adults who took a 90-minute walk in a natural area reported less rumination afterward, and showed reduced activity in a brain region linked to it, compared with people who walked in an urban setting (Bratman et al., 2015).
A larger 2019 study in Scientific Reports, based on survey data from roughly 20,000 people in England, found that spending at least 120 minutes a week in nature was associated with a higher likelihood of reporting good health and well-being (White et al., 2019). The authors note it was an observational study.
Taken together, this suggests regular time outdoors may support well-being. It does not show that walking treats depression, anxiety or any other condition, and it is not a substitute for professional care.
Using a walk to practice CBT and DBT skills
Walking fits naturally with two skills taught in evidence-based therapy.
Behavioral activation (CBT). Depression tends to shrink your world: you stop doing things that once gave you energy, which deepens the low mood. Behavioral activation, a core part of CBT for depression, works by scheduling small, specific activities before motivation returns rather than waiting for it. A 10-minute loop at a set time is an ideal starter activity. Our depression treatment and CBT therapy pages explain how this fits into treatment.
Mindfulness (DBT). DBT teaches mindfulness as practical drills: observe, describe, participate. On our DBT techniques page, the one-mindfully skill is summed up as "When you're walking, just walk." Try naming five things you can see, then three sounds, then the feeling of your feet on the path. When your mind drifts, notice it and return. These skills are taught step by step in structured DBT skills groups.
- Set the walk in advance: a day, a time and a park.
- Make it small enough to succeed on a hard day.
- Rate your mood from 0 to 10 before and after, and write it down.
- Leave your headphones off for the first five minutes and practice observing.
Practical tips for Denver walks
- Denver sits about a mile above sea level; carry water and sun protection, even in winter.
- Afternoon thunderstorms are common in summer, so morning walks are often more comfortable.
- Busy parks can feel overwhelming. Bluff Lake and the Arsenal refuge are quieter alternatives.
- Walking with a friend adds connection, which matters too.
When a walk is not enough
If low mood, anxiety or stress has lasted for weeks, or is getting in the way of work, school or relationships, it is worth talking to a professional. Our guide to finding the right therapist in Denver can help you start. If you are thinking about suicide or are in crisis, call or text 988 now, or call 911 if you are in immediate danger.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best park in Denver for a short walk to clear your head?
For a short loop, Washington Park's Smith Lake Loop (0.6 mile) or Cheesman Park's Inner Loop (1.1 miles) are easy options, according to Denver Parks and Recreation maps. Bluff Lake Nature Center is a good pick if you want quiet.
Can walking in nature help with depression or anxiety?
Research links time in nature with better mood and well-being, but it is not a treatment on its own. In therapy, walks are often used as part of behavioral activation or mindfulness practice alongside professional care.
How long should a mental health walk be?
Start with whatever you can do consistently, even 10 minutes. One large study found that about 120 minutes a week in nature, spread however you like, was associated with better reported well-being.
Which Denver-area parks do not allow dogs?
Bluff Lake Nature Center and the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge do not allow pets; service animals are permitted at both, per their official sites.
Related reading
- Depression Treatment in Denver
- CBT Therapy in Denver
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) Techniques You Can Start Using Today
- DBT Groups in Denver
- Anxiety Treatment in Denver
Talk to someone
Mountainside Behavioral Health offers DBT and CBT for adolescents, adults, couples and families in Greenwood Village and by telehealth across Colorado. Consultations are free, and we will tell you if another provider is a better fit. Call (720) 762-4619 or request a consultation.
If you are in crisis, call or text 988 to reach the 988 Colorado Mental Health Line (free, confidential, 24/7). If you are in immediate danger, call 911.
Sources (13)
- Denver Parks and Recreation — Washington Park loops map
- Denver Parks and Recreation — City Park loops map
- Denver Parks and Recreation — City Park arboretum tree walk
- Denver Parks and Recreation — Cheesman Park loops map
- Denver Parks and Recreation — Sloan's Lake loop map
- Bluff Lake Nature Center — visiting
- Denver Botanic Gardens — York Street
- Denver Water — High Line Canal
- Colorado Parks and Wildlife — Cherry Creek State Park trails
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service — Rocky Mountain Arsenal NWR
- Red Rocks Park — recreation
- Bratman et al. (2015), PNAS — Nature experience reduces rumination
- White et al. (2019), Scientific Reports — 120 minutes a week in nature