Landscape Information
Figuring prominently in Frederick Law Olmsted, Jr.’s 1914 acquisition plan for Denver Mountain Parks, this scenic 298-acre parcel was secured two years later. Situated in a canyon 24 miles west of Denver, the park occupies the riparian corridor surrounding an oxbow on Bear Creek. Ponderosa pine and Douglas fir dominate the south-facing slope of Bear Creek Canyon while mixed shrubs comprise the north slope vegetation. Dramatic rock outcroppings and steep cliffs lie adjacent to the rapidly-flowing creek.
Beginning in the late nineteenth century, the earliest visitors to the site were miners and loggers, during which time Old Bear Creek Canyon Drive followed the meandering path of the stream. By the early part of the twentieth century, the route was realigned and straightened to accommodate increased traffic brought on with the growing popularity of the park. In 1918 improvements included the construction of a rustic, native stone rubble and wood shelter with enclosed sides and an open front framing picturesque views of the creek and mountains. Though a stone fireplace, well, and pedestrian bridge were also constructed at this time, the majority of the park was left in its natural state. Trailheads and picnic areas are accessible from parking areas along Bear Creek Canyon Drive, which bisects the park. In 1990 Corwina Park, along with the contiguous lands of the adjacent Pence and O’Fallon Parks, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
