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.
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 [email protected] to join!
Experiences for Everyone
July 28, 2026 | World Conservation Day Webinar
Step inside a working ranch where conservation is just the beginning! Join us for an inspiring, behind-the-scenes look at regenerative ranching with Christy Wyckoff, owner and operator of Redwing Ranch, a woman-led, conserved ranch in Huerfano County. You’ll hear how Christy and her team have approached land stewardship by integrating adaptive livestock management, ecological stewardship, and hands-on education to build a resilient and profitable ranching operation. Come experience a powerful example of how land, livelihood, and learning can thrive together.
The Details
Schedule:
12:00 p.m. – 12:45 p.m. | Presentation
12:45 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. | Q&A
Zoom Link:
This event is hosted via Zoom. The link will be sent to registered participants. All registrants will be sent a recording of the webinar.
This event has limited spots available. Registration Required.
July 31, 2026 | South Park: From History to Restoration, Kenosha Pass
Have you driven through Park County on Highway 285, marveled at all the wide-open spaces, and been curious about the local history and its future? Do you want to learn more about land and water conservation in this area and across the state? This is an opportunity for you!
The expanse of open space on either side of Highway 285 in Park County didn’t happen by accident. COL’s 40+ years of conservation and restoration work has created a network of wild and working lands that will stay open, forever. Your grandkids’ grandkids will be able to enjoy the same sweeping views you’ll see on this outing!
Please join us for an engaging chat and 2-mile hike on the Colorado Trail, leading to an iconic view of the valley floor below. Come spruce up your knowledge as we share the rich conservation history of the beautiful landscape visible from the overlook. Protecting this landscape has been a major accomplishment for COL and, seeing it firsthand, you’ll easily understand why! By the end of our hike, we hope that you’ll understand the importance of land and water conservation and appreciate why we work to protect this beautiful place.
If you’d like to extend your visit to Kenosha Pass, bring your own lunch to eat amongst new friends! There are even some additional nearby trails we can recommend for you to explore in your own time.
The Details
Schedule:
9:30 – 9:50 a.m. | Introduction & Light Breakfast Snacks
9:50 – 11:30 a.m. | Guided Hike
11:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. | Optional Lunch at Campsite (Bring Your Own)
Trail Info: This 2-mile out and back established trail (dirt, single-track) is considered easy to moderate difficulty with an elevation gain of 300 feet. We will take it easy, stopping along the way, and taking small rest breaks. The beginning altitude is almost 10,000 feet.
Location & Parking: We will meet on Kenosha Pass, about 1:15 hours’ drive time from Denver. Plenty of parking is available in a lot off of Highway 285. There is a pit restroom available on-site. The precise location will be shared with confirmed attendees.
What to Bring:
Hiking shoes, warm layer, waterproof layer, sun protection, water bottle, and a willingness to learn! Bring your camera for the incredible view at the trail end. If you are staying for lunch, don’t forget to bring it.
Register here by July 27th!
This event has limited spots available. Registration Required.
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:
9:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. | Welcomes & Introduction at the Duck Creek Picnic Area
10:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. | Carpool to Kirby Gulch
10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. | Guided Hike, Restoration Tour and Picnic Lunch
12:30 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. | Carpool to Duck Creek Picnic Area
1:00 p.m. | Farewells
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
[email protected] or 303-988-2373 ext. 216
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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