To visit, live in, or play in Basalt means a love of the great outdoors. In our river-valley-mountain town we place a high value on our parks, open spaces, and trails, where we take in the natural scenic beauty and recreate out-of-doors in all four seasons.
Basalt is surrounded by the White River National Forest, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) open space, and has some open space and a shooting range that’s managed by the Colorado Parks & Wildlife (CPW) organization. And the parks and dedicated open spaces that are town-owned and operated are a big part of our interface with nature, too. Read on to learn more.
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Arbaney Park
Arbaney Park serves east Basalt, with restrooms, seasonal outdoor pool, a picnic pavilion, playground, lawn area, and sand volleyball courts. The lawn area hosts younger kids’ sports like t-ball and soccer, and other informal competitions! The park has two heritage attractions: the charcoal kilns and the historic barn.
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Basalt River Park
With natural play areas and water features for kids, to a trail along the river corridor, Basalt River Park is a prime spot for a respite in the middle of downtown.
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Confluence Park and Bridge
Confluence Park is an inviting setting on the Roaring Fork River and is popular with dogs and people alike. The Emma Bridge, which crosses the river, is a popular place to pause and take in the view.
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Crown Mountain Park
The Crown Mountain Park and Recreation District has recreational amenities galore, including soccer fields, baseball fields, playground, tennis courts, and even a BMX track. It also features a top-notch dog park and affords awe-inspiring views of Mt. Sopris and the Roaring Fork Valley.
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Duroux Park
This park includes a boat, kayak, and raft put-in for public access to the river, portable bathrooms, and a picnic table.
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Fisherman’s Park
Set on either side of Two Rivers Road, this busy park features boat access, a picnic table, and bathroom, plus access to the Basalt/Old Snowmass bike trail.
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Gisella Fiou Skate Park
This skate park, proximate to Midland Avenue, provides hours of fun recreation for skateboard enthusiasts.
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Lake Christine, Basalt Highlands Open Space, Wilds Dedication
Lake Christine Wildlife Area and Basalt Gun Range, are owned by Colorado Parks and Wildlife and are outside town limits. This is the area of the fire of 2018 and is a fascinating place to see the natural process of revegetation and rehabilitation after wildfire.
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Lions Park
Centrally located in downtown Basalt, next to town hall and Wyly Art Center, Lions Park is a central gathering spot for performances, farmers markets, and other events. The Town Caboose visitor center is operated by the Basalt Chamber.
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Midland Park
Next to the Basalt Library and the skate park, Midland Park is a favorite in-town place to read and relax near the Roaring Fork River.
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Old Pond Park
Next to the Roaring Fork Confluence, Old Pond Park provides fishing opportunities for kids in a safe environment. People love to experience the riparian river corridor in a natural setting.
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Ponderosa Park
This park serves as a trailhead for a short walk upvalley along the Roaring Fork River. Future plans include a Basalt seed garden and food forest!
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Triangle Park
The site of concerts and community gatherings in the retail core of Willits.
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Willits Linear Park
A small park playground, in residential Willits.
White River National Forest
Comprising a vast 2.3 million acres, White River National Forest is the busiest national forest in the country, largely due to the 11 ski areas on it. But that’s not all: check out all the trails, rivers, lakes, and recreational opportunities on the White River National Forest near Basalt.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
The BLM manages public lands for multiple uses, including energy development, livestock grazing, timber, and recreation. Its mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of public lands for their use and enjoyment now and in the future. The BLM land at Wingo Junction near Basalt is one popular destination.
Colorado Parks & Wildlife (CPW)
Colorado’s 41 state parks are as diverse as our state itself. To find out more, check out the CPW website and download the brochure here.