Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Observatory Park

    4.5 (19 reviews)

    Observatory Park Photos

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - Observatory Park

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Cold and snowy today.
    Stephen K.

    Observatory Park is a quiet, peaceful, cheery park replete with trees, copious grass, a few paths, and like the name suggests, is home to a pair of observatories -- the full-size Chamberlin Observatory structure, and the "little brick outhouse"-sized Chamberlin Auxiliary Observatory, about 100 yds to the SSW of the main building. You can usually find parking around here pretty easily at most hours of the day, although Fillmore St (west side) is often filled with both vehicles from residents as well as park visitors. It's a great place if you want to do some star-gazing after hours to bring your own equipment, from binoculars to full telescopic setups. Otherwise during the day it's fairly small, unassuming and arguably underutilized, in one of the most peaceful, well-maintained and safe areas in Denver, University Park, just a half-dozen blocks east of DU proper. Nice place to catch some summer rays. :) Heading north across Warren towards Evans, the park is extended and contains many brushy pines, restroom facilities, and an extensive and artsy playground for any kiddos. [There is also an area called a "Star Loop" there which has facts about the sun and it's relationship to Earth (and presumably, other celestial bodies) embedded in sidewalk squares in that area.

    Looks like a great spot to bring the wee ones!

    See all

    9 months ago

    Helpful 17
    Thanks 5
    Love this 19
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Jeremy J.
    1819
    6429
    74964

    11 months ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 1
    Love this 3
    Oh no 1

    8 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Colin M.
    65
    44
    25

    17 years ago

    Helpful 7
    Thanks 0
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0

    18 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 5
    Oh no 0

    12 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    12 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    19 years ago

    Helpful 6
    Thanks 0
    Love this 5
    Oh no 0

    11 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Adam A.
    33
    45
    2

    15 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    18 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Tara S.
    81
    57
    5

    14 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    18 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    15 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    13 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Ask the Community - Observatory Park

    Review Highlights - Observatory Park

    How cool is it that the telescope is almost 90% original to the 1880's!

    Mentioned in 3 reviews

    Read more highlights

    You might also consider

    Verify this business for free

    People searched for Observatories 524 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

    Verify this business

    DU's historic Chamberlin Observatory - The base of the telescope

    DU's historic Chamberlin Observatory

    (4 reviews)

    University Park, Southeast

    I visited the Chamberlin Observatory about two weeks ago for the first time, and it was such a neat…read moreexperience! It's tucked away in a super dark park near DU. It actually looked closed when I first pulled up, but that's just to keep the light pollution down. The Tour: The night kicked off with a fascinating presentation by Dr. John Everette. He walked us through the entire evolution of the field. From what it was like to be an astronomer in the 1930s, manually tracking and hand drawing every observation. All the way up to the cutting edge technology used today. It was so neat to see how the profession has transformed while the passion for the stars has stayed the same. The volunteers were sincerely excited to share this history and were so open to everyone's questions. The Inside Scoop on Tours: If you want to see the big 1894 Alvan Clark telescope, there are two ways to do it: - Public Nights: These are the $4 ticketed events with the presentation (what I did). You need to book these months in advance on the Denver Astronomical Society website. - Open Houses: Once a month, they have a Star Party on the lawn. The lawn is FREE, but you can pay a $2 donation to head inside the building and look through the giant telescope without a reservation. Overall: The clouds moved in by the time our talk was over. So I didn't get to look through the lens this time but the education and the energy of the staff made it 100% worth it. I'm already planning my next trip back!

    Routinely they have an open house to share knowledge about the sun, moon, stars, orbital patterns…read moreand other astronomical interests. You get to go up inside the observatory and see the telescope. If it's not cloudy you can see the stars even. We went down to the basement to see the massive pier that the telescope actually sits on. Lots of science and history. Great docent led tours. Fascinating stuff. Loved it all.

    Red Rocks Amphitheatre - Cool clouds

    Red Rocks Amphitheatre

    (1.6k reviews)

    $$

    One of the most famous music venues to discover and attend a show in my opinion. The acoustics and…read morescenery is unlike anything. There are ample bars and bathrooms + it's pretty fun to tailgate ahead of a show. You can walk the grounds for free when they don't have a concert which is cool.

    When you think of Denver there are a few things that come to mind right away. Denver Broncos,…read moreRocky Mountain National Park, and this world renowned concert venue. We were in town for spring break so we wanted to drop by and check it out. We arrived on a Thursday early evening. Red Rocks Amphitheater is located 10 miles southwest of Denver in the beautiful town of Morrison, CO. Parking is accessible all around the amphitheater. There was no concert scheduled that night. We were hoping to catch the sunset but unfortunately we missed it. The lighting was still great for pictures though. We parked by the Upper South Lot. From there it was a moderate 10 minute walk to the south ramp of the venue. During the walk the views of the valley is stunning. Once we made it inside the outdoor amphitheater, I was in awe of the beauty and ambiance of the Red Rocks amphitheater. The majestic backdrop of the red rocks was definitely something I have never seen before for a concert venue. It was unique and beautiful. We were able to start from the bottom of the stage area and make our way to the top. It was a nice workout climbing up the seats steps. From the top, the different angle view of the amphitheater and backdrop was amazing as well. Overall we enjoyed our time exploring Red Rocks amphitheater. It was a one of a kind experience. Unfortunately the visitor center was closed and we did not see a live concert at the venue. We hope to be back again so we can attend a concert.

    Boulder Fish Observatory

    Boulder Fish Observatory

    (1 review)

    OK, sooooo our experience was higher than 2 stars BUT my reason for the 2 stars was because we are…read morenew to the area and have 4 kids so I enjoy searching for free or cheap things to entertain ourselves during the summer. I can across Boulder Fish Observatory which sounded like fun. Everyone gave it 1 star saying that the windows were filthy and you couldn't see the fish because of it etc. And that it was hard to find because it was behind a hotel. The description I kept reading about this place was suppose to be where you can go and watch these fish and feed them. Since the reviews were from a few years ago, we decided to go check it out because 1. they could have fixed it up since then and 2. we were in the area and had nothing else better to do. The reviewers were very correct. You could not see out the little windows at all. There is a bridge that you can walk on over the creek as well so we went up there and there was absolutely no fish to see either. BUT now comes for the higher stars... Since we were there I told the kids they could take off their shoes and socks and wade around in the water. They had a blast. The water was very shallow and clear so you could see all the way to the bottom. The water was rushing but they had a blast trying to walk through it. We ended up staying there for well over an hour. It was a very beautiful little area. Oh and for the directions.. It is not behind the hotel, it is actually on the side of it.

    Green Mountain Falls Skyspace

    Green Mountain Falls Skyspace

    (2 reviews)

    This is such a fun activity especially if you love watching the sunrise or sunset. Only $5 to make…read morea reservation, then drive out to green mountain falls (about 20 min from downtown Colorado Springs) and take a little hike up a butte to the skyscape. It's fairly steep, but less than 1/2 mile. I believe they have accommodations if you're unable to hike because I saw an older couple get in a little ATV. I came for the sunset show and it lasted 50min. There are bathrooms halfway up the hike that are super nice (very luxurious toilet paper and heated!). It's crazy seeing how the sky changes colors with the light show. Very relaxing and you can even lay down on the benches.

    Spent some time at Skyspace last evening. Had some idea of what to expect, but didn't really know…read morefor sure until I experienced it. Skyspace was interesting and worthwhile. And it only cost me $5! The hike up to the structure was not an easy one. Trust them when they say it is moderate to difficult. There is an ATV available for those who physically cannot make the hike. I wondered on my way up if they could've done a better job of cutting the trail, making more switchbacks, so it wouldn't be as difficult. Even so, do yourself a favor and arrive early enough to walk up. Even if you have to go slowly it's worth it! . I am from the area and had to stop several times, but it gave me the opportunity to take in the beauty of the surrounding area, where I once lived for 15 years. It was lush and green from all the rain and full of summer activity. I encountered two small deer feasting on the ample greenery and was treated to the sound of happy hummingbirds busily buzzing all around me. I thought to myself "this is a Colorado!" Hopefully, GMF maintains it's small, mountain town feel indefinitely. The Skyspace structure is actually quite contemporary, but blends well with the area even so. There is a small vestibule area outside with benches where you can leave your shoes (they require everyone to remove them before entering the main space). The main space is square, with marble floors wooden benches a smooth, domed white ceiling with a square opening. The center square is the focal point. The "show" consists of a series of subtle color changes, reflected off of the ceiling. Those color changes result in color changes to the center square, which is open to the sky, which is also changing color due to the setting, or in some cases, rising, sun. Last night's show was about 50 minutes which, felt a little bit long (many attendees began fidgeting after about 30 minutes). It was quiet, meditative, and, as it turned out, exactly what I needed that evening (even if it did feel a little bit long). The effects of the hour of quiet stayed with me as I drove home and finished my day. It was dark when I hiked back down, but as recommended, I had brought a light with me. I highly recommend bringing a light source with you for the (quicker) hike back down. The light from your cell phone will probably not suffice. They do have flashlights available. Overall, the experience was very good for me. Because of the length of the show, I would recommend bringing something to sit on as the benches are very "bench-like'l and not super comfortable. Had I thought to do that, the show might not have felt long. I love Green Box Arts and the vibe they have brought to this small, mountain community!

    Observatory Park - observatories - Updated May 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...