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The Odometer: Roughly 29 miles, one way from Denver (40 minutes)
Although it’s just a short jaunt away from Denver, Evergreen feels a world away from city life. Nestled at 7,165 feet, this quaint mountain town is famous for its outdoor recreation, but visitors shouldn’t rush back down to the Mile High. From delicious restaurants to live music and unique shops, with cozy places to stay, Evergreen is calling you to kick back, relax, and stay awhile. Here’s how to make the most of your trip.
Jump Ahead:
What to Do in Evergreen
Experience Evergreen Lake
Though Evergreen Lake is just a piece of 420-acre Dedisse Park (once ranch land owned by early pioneer Julius C. Dedisse), it’s arguably the highlight. The 55-acre site includes easy hiking along the park’s 1.25-mile trail, complete with views of the surrounding mountains, as well as the historic Evergreen Lake House and the Evergreen Audubon & Nature Center. Those with a Colorado fishing license can cast a line year-round for rainbow trout (they’re stocked) and the occasional brookie that makes its way in from Bear Creek.
Getting out on the water is another great option, whether ice skating in the winter or helming your choice of watercraft in the summer. Visitors can rent stand-up paddleboards ($25 per hour), canoes ($40 per hour), and kayaks ($25 per hour for a single, $40 per hour for a double). Personal watercraft are acceptable too, as long as you have a valid day pass ($10 per day Monday through Thursday, $15 per day Friday through Sunday) and pass an aquatic nuisance species test. That said, don’t get in the water. No swimming is allowed—and that includes Fido too.
Read More: The 15 Best Lakes Around Denver
Tune Into Evergreen’s Live Music Scene
One thing locals will tell you about Evergreen: It has a solid (and sometimes raucous) music scene. That reputation is largely built on the Little Bear Saloon and restaurant, which has been a town mainstay for more than 40 years, hosting such famed musicians as Neil Young, Gregg Allman, Willie Nelson, and Bonnie Raitt. Bands from around the world still vie for the chance to perform in this authentic Western saloon, which hosts live music from Wednesday to Sunday (and some Tuesdays too). Stop by for a show, learn about the spot’s history (it was once a church, a dance hall, and a drugstore), sip your Coors, and maybe even sing along.
That’s not to say Little Bear is the only show in town. The Woodcellar Bar & Grill hosts singer-songwriters, Allman Brothers cover bands, open mic nights, and more. There’s also the annual Evergreen Jazz Festival in late July and the newly established Mountain Music Fest, which has the Bacon Brothers as this August’s headliner.
Consider yourself a free spirit who likes their tunes a little more, well, free? Evergreen’s summer concert series, held every Wednesday evening from mid-June to mid-August at either the Buchanan Park Field or Evergreen Lake House, is for you.
Browse the Shops
Some mountain towns are filled with T-shirt shops, others prioritize boutiques where even a keychain is out of budget unless your last name is Bezos or Kardashian. Evergreen’s retail offerings, however, deliver a tasteful mix of local gifts, fashionable (but affordable) apparel, and an impressive art scene. Along the 0.3-mile stretch between the Holly Berry (check out their whimsical air plant collection) and Black Fox Provisions (a collection of local, high-quality artisanal goods), you’ll find trendy wide-leg denim at Sweetwater Boutique, woodsy candles at Evergreen Clothing and Mercantile, and farmhouse chic home goods at Oma’s House. Art collectors—and admirers—should pop into Stoneheart Gallery for Evergreen-based Julianne Miller’s rich oil paintings of thoughtful grizzlies and autumn trees.
Where to Eat in Evergreen
After you’ve lapped Evergreen Lake, you’ll want something fresh and nutritious but not lacking in flavor. In other words, you’ll be ready for Kiki’s Health Cafe. With a motto of “Earth given, taste driven,” Kiki’s serves up poke bowls featuring English cucumber, pickled Japanese seaweed, and sweet ginger, as well as acai bowls topped with mango, blueberries, and toasted coconut drizzled with Colorado honey. For something heartier, visit the rustic Wildflower Cafe, which has wooden tables and stools out front perfect for posting up, people-watching, and planning out your afternoon.
Supper deserves a splurge at Evoke 1923, a recently opened eatery housed in a dining room more than a century old. Guests are welcomed by the friendly maître d’, guided past a pianist (if it’s a Friday or Saturday) covering the musical spectrum from “Eleanor Rigby” to Dave Brubeck’s “Take Five,” and seated either along the windows with clear views out to Mt. Blue Sky or near a crackling fire in the main dining room. Either way, the walls feature exposed timbers of local evergreen, which perfectly compliment chef (and owner) Rand G. Packer’s likewise hyperlocal menu. A slice (or two) of the house-made garlic rosemary focaccia is divine—and the essential conduit for soaking up the last dregs of dashi tonjiru broth from your matcha dumplings. For your main, choose between French-inspired Asian fusion fare like peppermint grilled elk loin, herb-roasted duck breast and leg confit, and vegan-friendly winter vegetable and mushroom duxelles Wellington.
Where to Drink in Evergreen
Muddy Buck Cafe is the place for your morning pick-me-up. Housed in a historic hotel and featuring a cozy back nook that exposes where the building was carved into the rock, this coffeehouse roasts its beans on-site.
When it’s time for a different type of brew, stop by Lariat Lodge Brewing, where the craft beer line-up includes lagers, IPAs, and even a raspberry chocolate stout. Grab a spot in their dog-friendly beer garden, and just try to resist the made-from-scratch pretzel on the menu.
Where to Stay in Evergreen
Although Evergreen is only a 40-minute drive from Denver, there’s so much to do that you might as well stay the night. At the Highland Haven Creekside Inn, which impressed former guest Johnny Depp, you’ll find a collection of guestrooms, sleeps-three-to-six suites, and even a treehouse with a “champagne bubble” Jacuzzi. After a breakfast of sliced fruit and egg casserole (a staff member will drop the fresh vittles by at your chosen time), grab your novel and stake a claim on one of the Adirondack chairs along Bear Creek, which winds through the property.
Read More: Colorado’s First Treehouse Hotel Is Open (and Gorgeous)
If You Do One Thing…
Forget tiptoeing through the tulips; explore in the evergreens. Head to the East Trailhead at Alderfer/Three Sisters Park and set out for a roughly two-mile loop connected by Sisters Trail and Ponderosa Trail around South and Middle Sister peaks. Add on the spur trail to Brothers Overlook (another 0.2 mile, one-way) for a panoramic overlook over town and out to Mt. Warren and Rogers Peak.
