Place · Outdoors

Morrison Nature Center at Star K Ranch

When

Visit on your scheduleNature Center: Wed-Fri noon-4:30 p.m., Sat-Sun 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m., closed Mon-Tue; trails dawn to dusk daily; Nature Exploration Area sunrise to sunset daily

Where

Morrison Nature Center at Star K Ranch16002 E. Smith Rd., Aurora, CO 80011Open in Google Maps ↗

Ages

Designed for people of all ages and abilities (Nature Exploration Area)

Cost

No admission fee printed

Organizer

City of Aurora Parks, Recreation & Open Space

Morrison Nature Center at Star K Ranch is Aurora's 250-acre riparian woodland preserve with well-maintained trails (open dawn to dusk, seven days a week; leashed dogs welcome except on the wetland loop). Inside the nature center kids can meet ambassador animals (a western box turtle, bull snake and tiger salamander), read kid-friendly books and field guides, play with animal costumes, wooden puzzles and a puppet theater, and explore seasonal exhibits; outside there are self-guided tour maps, a picnic shelter, and wildlife such as mule deer, great horned owls and red-tailed hawks. The new Richard Gary Black Jr. Nature Exploration Area, designed for all ages and abilities, has a sand pit, building station, obstacle course, a human-sized beaver lodge and Dinosaur Hill, open sunrise to sunset 365 days a year. Nature center hours: Wednesday-Friday noon-4:30 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m., closed Monday and Tuesday. Naturalist programs are listed through the 'Register for Nature Programs' link.