Greeley's Newest Natural Area

Greeley’s Newest Natural Area is a 978-acre expanse of prairies, bluffs, and arroyos located between Greeley and Windsor. Visitors experience magnificent plateaus and stunning mountain and valley views. This place is home for a diversity of wildlife.

A portion of the property is now open to visitors! Click here for information to plan your visit to the new natural area.

Click here to view a map showing Greeley's Newest Natural Area.

Possibility

The property is a blank slate in terms of recreation opportunities. Due to its location and size, this natural area will draw visitors from across northern Colorado. People will find a unique, close-to-home recreation experience. The same geography that excites visitors also provides homes for many wildlife species. White-tail deer, bald eagles, and coyotes have all been spotted on site. Check out the pictures and links to the right to see some of the critters who call this place home. The needs of both people and wildlife must be carefully balanced as the project moves forward.

Growing Greeley’s Natural Areas

The purchase of land on Greeley’s west side doubles the City’s acres of public natural areas for the community to enjoy. Greeley Natural Areas & Trails has a vision to provide equal access to nature for all Greeley residents. The long-term goal is for everyone to live within a 10-minute walk to nature. This new natural area moves us closer to that goal. The project was jointly funded by the Trust for Public Land, Great Outdoors Colorado, the Land and Water Conservation Fund, the Town of Windsor and the City of Greeley. Click here to read more about this property.

Making the Dream Happen

This project would not be possible without strong partnerships and community input. Together, the City of Greeley, Mundus Bishop, and Trust for Public Land are putting the community's voice first in this project. Typically, a natural area is opened after all the trails have been built and the design is finished. We are doing things differently here. We are bringing you, the community, into the process at the beginning. We want to know what your vision is for this place. Please take part and share your ideas.

Creating a Vision

This long-range project includes several phases, such as analysis, community input, design, and the creation of a master plan. The master plan is a road map, guiding the management of the property into the future. It will take many years before this natural area becomes the vision described in the master plan - see the Lifecycle timeline on this page. Budget and staff capacity will determine the work that can be done. We need your help to make this community vision a reality. Please take a moment to share your ideas and vision by clicking the various tabs below. We want to hear your ideas!

Visiting the Natural Area

Several events were held on site in fall 2022 to give folks a sneak peek of the property. The natural area is currently closed for the winter and will open for regular hours starting in 2023. When the site opens in 2023 it will still be a work in progress. Only a small number of trails will be open at first. Trail construction and amenity installation will be limited until dedicated funding is secured.

NOTE: Missile Site Park is closed to all public access until further notice.