Waking up this morning, we weren’t sure what we wanted to do. Something outside with the kids was definitely in store, but what? I was inspired to go hiking, found the perfect family hike, and then looked at the weather forecast – it looked like going to rain in that area, so we opted for something a little closer to home – the Lookout Mountain Nature Center.

There are two ways to get to the Lookout Mountain Nature Center from where we live. We took the beautiful, winding road on the way up, and the quicker, less scenic route on the drive down. Either way, at the top, we were pleasantly surprised.

The Lookout Mountain Nature Center has a gorgeous building made from recyclable materials. The volunteer on duty explained that the floors were made from recycled boxcars and the ceilings from pressed Aspen shavings that would otherwise have been thrown out. Other parts of the building were made from recycled glass and recycled rubber. It is really an amazing building that everyone should see.

Inside the Lookout Mountain Nature Center, there are hands-on exhibits that teach visitors about the natural habitat of local animals and conservation. Throughout the building, there are reminders of ways to conserve, recycle, and reuse various items. It is a great educational experience for people of all ages.

There are two loop trails at the Lookout Mountain Nature Center, as well. The Forest Loop and the Meadow Loop can be done separately, or combined into one large loop. The hike was nice with plenty of beautiful flowers. The best part was my young children could walk the vast majority of it on their own – about 1 ½ miles. The hardest part of the entire hike was that my one-year old daughter wanted to stop and point out EVERY SINGLE flower on the trail.

Although there are so many remarkable hikes in Colorado, sometimes it is nice to find a hidden gem in your own backyard. We will definitely be returning. Something new and something fun for everyone – all at Lookout Mountain Nature Center in Jefferson County, Colorado.