Apex Park, a popular mountain biking and hiking destination in the foothills west of Golden, Colorado, and just a short drive from Denver, is temporarily closed following reports of aggressive bear activity in the area.
Jefferson County Open Space shut down the 797-acre park while Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) monitors conditions. No reopening timeline has been announced. The closure affects 10.1 miles of trails, including technical singletrack and routes ascending Lookout Mountain.
The closure comes during a notably active bear season statewide. CPW has recorded 1,192 bear activity reports across Colorado as of June 12th. Wildlife officials attribute the rise in encounters in part to a warm, dry winter that reduced natural food sources for bears.
“Most conflicts between people and bears begin when bears gain access to food, garbage or other attractants left by people. Properly storing food, securing trash and pet food, and keeping campsites clean helps protect both people and bears.” – CPW Area Wildlife Manager Tim Kroening.
Colorado’s black bear population is estimated between 17,000 and 20,000 animals, most of them living in terrain where humans regularly recreate. Wildlife managers say human behavior is the primary driver of bear conflicts as readily available food and trash can override a bear’s natural wariness of people.
CPW advises recreators throughout the state to carry bear spray, make noise on trails, never run from a bear, and store food and trash in bear-resistant containers. Anyone encountering a black bear that makes physical contact should fight back rather than play dead.
Apex Park sits minutes from downtown Golden and draws significant mountain bike traffic for its technical terrain and elevation gain. Jeffco Open Space said the park will reopen when conditions are deemed safe.
