Morrison Nature Center at Star K Ranch | What’s happening in Denver

Morrison Nature Center at Star K Ranch

Address: 
16002 E. Smith Road
Aurora , CO , 80011
Phone: 303-739-2428
39° 45' 13.5396" N, 104° 48' 3.33" W
Contact name: 
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What our organization offers: 
Subjects / Categories: 
Ages for which our activities are most appropriate: 
Enjoy birding at our songbird feeding stations, or peruse our seasonally changing exhibits on local plants and animal life. Costumes, blocks, puppets, kids' books, and live animal exhibits make Morrison Nature Center for kids, too.

Exhibits

Morrison Nature Center and the surrounding Star K Ranch provide hours of indoor and outdoor fun for everyone. Be brave and introduce yourself to our resident bull snake, box turtle and tiger salamander - they'll be glad to meet you!

MNC inside

Curl up in comfy chairs and couches and read about these and other animal species and other topics in the library filled with kids’ books, field guides, reference manuals and natural history favorites and explore the seasonally changing interpretive exhibits on local plant and animal life.

Feeling dramatic? Kids of all ages can dress up in animal costumes, play with hand-made wooden puzzles and blocks and put on a puppet show!

More natural discoveries exist outside throughout Star K Ranch. Dog-friendly trails and a wetland observation area are all close by. Take the kids on a self-guided sensory tour or bring your friends and enjoy the self-guided history tour – maps are available in the Morrison Nature Center or at the kiosk just southeast of the Nature Center and parking area.

Programs

Join us for a naturalist-guided walk and talk. View the Aurora nature News for a current program schedule. We can also come to you – schedule a naturalist talk on a hot topic of your choice for your HOA, civic or social club. Call 303.326.8445 to discuss program options.

Wildlife
Star K Ranch "regulars" include mule deer, painted turtles, snapping turtles, red-tailed hawks, American kestrels, western meadowlarks, great horned owls, blue jays and coyotes.

Trails
MNC trail

The Star K Ranch trail system is open daily, dawn to dusk. It consists of Star K Ranch trails and portions of the High Line Canal trail and the Sand Creek Greenway trail.

Facilities
Plenty of hassle-free parking, a bike rack, courtesy horse corral, trailside benches, large shelter with picnic tables, indoor restrooms, outdoor port-a-lets and pet pick-up-bag stations.

Open hours: 
Sunday: 9:00 am-4:30 pm
Monday: Closed
Tuesday: Closed
Wednesday: 12:00 pm-4:30 pm
Thursday: 12:00 pm-4:30 pm
Friday: 12:00 pm-4:30 pm
Saturday: 9:00 am-4:30 pm
History, Science, Nature/Outdoors