Events and Experiences
Connect with Colorado open lands!
Colorado Open Lands hosts a variety of signature events throughout the year! Whether it’s an elegant gala, a local community open house, or a guided tour of a breathtaking conserved property, there are countless ways to connect with the land we love.
Our premier gala, For Love of the Land, is happening May 14, 2026.
Experiences for Everyone
An important part of the mission of Colorado Open Lands is to ensure continued public awareness and support for conservation – best accomplished by sharing with Coloradans the important connection between conserved lands and our quality of life. Throughout the year, Colorado Open Lands hosts free, educational, and meaningful outreach events for the Colorado community.
Experiences for all Donors
Join us for any of the donor appreciation events below. Each event is designed to cover unique content to help you learn and experience the many ways your support impacts our work.
Exclusive experiences for our Giving Societies
These events are open to donors that are a part of our designated giving circles: the Conservator Society, the Centennial Society, and the Evergreen Society. Learn more about these giving societies here or contact Elizabeth Silverman at ESilverman@ColoradoOpenLands.org to join!
Experiences for Everyone
April 22-25, 2026 | Earth Week Challenge, Statewide
Join Coloradans near and far for four days of nature‑inspired activities delivered straight to your inbox. Each task is designed to help you slow down, look closer, and build a deeper connection to the landscape around us.
Every challenge takes 10 minutes (or less) and can be adapted for any age or ability level. Try them on your own or share the experience with loved ones! Explore, learn, reflect, and reconnect with nature.
June 12, 2026 | Views from the Trail, Frisco
We welcome you to experience firsthand the impact of COL’s conservation efforts in Summit County. Join us for a beautiful morning outdoors, take in sweeping views of Frisco, and enjoy a scenic 1.5‑mile hike.
This event takes place on a stunning 179‑acre private property, originally conserved by the Continental Divide Land Trust and now stewarded in perpetuity by Colorado Open Lands. It’s a special opportunity to explore this remarkable landscape and see conservation in action.
The Details
Schedule:
10:30 a.m. – 11:15 a.m. | Arrival and introduction
11:15 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. | Scenic hike
12:30 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. | Optional picnic lunch (Bring your own)
Location & Parking:
This event is hosted on a private property. The address will be shared with confirmed attendees.
July 28, 2026 | Conservation 201: Agriculture, Virtual
Stay tuned for details!
July 31, 2026 | South Park: From History to Restoration, Kenosha Pass
Stay tuned for details!
August 15, 2026 | Caring for Colorado’s Legacy: Volunteer Day at Santa Maria Ranch, Hartsel
Stay tuned for details!
September 23, 2026 | Mapping Conservation, Virtual
Stay tuned for details!
October 17, 2026 | Conservation Exploration, Wheat Ridge
Stay tuned for details!
Experiences for all Donors
July 24, 2026 | Grand County Conservation Update, Grand Lake
Join us for a special celebration of conservation, collaboration and community! We invite you to join us for an open house to meet our team working in Grand County, hear what we’ve been up to in the year since our merger with Colorado Headwaters Trust and learn about our future plans!
The Details
Schedule:
12:00 p.m. – 1:15 p.m. | Meet and Greet with the COL team
1:15 p.m.– 1:45 p.m. | Speaking Program
1:45 p.m. -2:00 p.m. | Q&A
Location and Parking:
Grand Lake Yacht Club. Parking and restrooms are available on site. The address will be shared with confirmed attendees.
July 29, 2026 | Guanella Pass Restoration Tour, South Park
The Details
Schedule:
9:45 a.m. – 10 a.m. | Arrival
10 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. | Welcomes & Introduction
10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. | Guided Hike & Restoration Tour
12:30 p.m. – 1:15 p.m. | Picnic Lunch
Location:
Guanella Pass, CO. Meeting location and address will be shared with confirmed attendees.
August 7, 2026 | Beer N Brats Picnic, Westcliffe
Please join us for Beer N Brats! We’ll gather at Dunn Workin’ Ranch to celebrate another year of land conservation in the Wet Mountain Valley.
The Details
Schedule:
12 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. | BBQ Lunch & Drinks
1:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. | Speaking Program awarding the 2026 Alice Proctor Supporter of the Year
Location and Parking:
Dunn Workin’ Ranch is about 4 miles north of Westciffe. Parking and restrooms are available on site. The address will be shared with confirmed attendees.
October 2, 2026 | Sacramento Creek Ranch Fall Hike, Fairplay
Sacramento Creek Ranch, owned by Mountain Area Land Trust, is one of those properties. This beautiful 71-acre property boasts accessible recreation opportunities, protects wildlife, scenic views, and waterways, and offers community education programs. If you’d like to see the diversity of values that can be protected in perpetuity firsthand, then this is the experience for you!
Please join us for a chat and hike on Sacramento Creek Trail among the golden aspens and bubbling Sacramento Creek.
The Details
Schedule:
9:45 a.m. – 10 a.m. | Arrival
10 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. | Welcomes & Introduction
10:30 a.m. – 12 p.m. | Guided Hike
12:00 p.m. – 12:45 p.m. | Lunch at the Ranch
Location and Parking:
We will meet at Sacramento Creek Ranch in Fairplay, about a 90 minute drive from Denver. Parking and restrooms are available on site. The address will be shared with confirmed attendees.
October 22, 2026 | Juniper Series Cocktail Party, Denver
Please stay tuned for details!
October 28, 2026 | Northern Colorado Conservation Update, Fort Collins
Join us for a light brunch and presentation on COL’s ongoing work in Northern Colorado with Tony Caligiuri, President & CEO and Carmen Farmer, Northern Colorado Senior Conservation Project Manager.
The Details
Schedule:
More information coming soon!
Location:
More information coming soon!
Exclusive Experiences for our Giving Societies
To learn more about how you can join one of our giving societies, click here!
Invitations will be sent to those who are members of our Giving Societies. Please contact Elizabeth Silverman with any questions at
ESilverman@ColoradoOpenLands.org or 303-988-2373 ext. 216
June 4, 2026 | evergreen society dinner, westcliffe
Stay tuned for details!
June 24, 2026 | evergreen society lunch, fort collins
Stay tuned for details!
June 25, 2026 | evergreen society lunch, denver
Stay tuned for details!
July 15-16, 2026 | Gunnison Basin Wildflower 2-day Tour, Gunnison and Crested Butte
Journey with us to the Gunnison Basin as we explore this landscape to understand COL’s role in conserving this unique basin. With stops at a fifth generation ranching operation, beautiful overlooks during wildflower season, and a tour of the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory, we will explore the unique factors in Gunnison County that have led to its robust conservation program.
The Details
Scheduling and more details coming soon.
Location & Accommodations:
This tour will take us across the Gunnison Basin and Crested Butte!
Participants will arrange their own lodging for this tour. COL recommends booking at the Holiday Inn Express in Gunnison, CO.
September 29-30, 2026 | Southeastern Colorado 2-day tour, La Junta
Tarantulas, bison, rescue horses, black-footed ferrets, burrowing owls, and more! This is the overnight tour to practice your observation skills as we visit conserved properties owned by Southern Plains Land Trust (SPLT) in southeastern Colorado! We will travel to Heartland Ranch Nature Preserve, a 43,000 -acre pristine shortgrass prairie, and the Purgatoire River Preserve to learn about SPLT’s goals of protecting prairie wildlife and developing prairie education programs. This will be a fun overnight with unusual sightings and the tour highlights the unique partnership between two land trusts.
The Details
Scheduling and more details coming soon.
Location:
La Junta, CO will be our homebase for the tour. Participants will arrange their own lodging for this tour. COL recommends booking at the Hampton Inn in La Junta, CO.
March 2027 | Cranes 2-day Tour, San Luis Valley
Stay tuned for details!
April 2027 | annual conservators society dinner, denver
Stay tuned for details!
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