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11 Parks, Secret Gardens and Green Spaces in Ski Country

By Michael Schrantz
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By Michael Schrantz

Ski country is pretty much synonymous with the outdoors. There's no shortage of National Parks, forests, monuments and other public lands surrounding ski towns, but there's also plenty of parks and open spaces in town for quick doses of the outdoors. Relax with a book, take a long lunch, host a picnic. Take advantage of some of these special places set aside for plein air enjoyment. To give you the inside skinny on where the locals hang out and maybe get off the beaten path a little, we've mapped some of the best parks and green spaces in ski country.


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1. Sunset Rock

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123 Mountain Road
Stowe, VT 05672
Sunset Rock is a small, scenic park located in Stowe's historic village. Reach it by the Sunset Trail from Stowe Village.

2. Lionshead Village

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E Lionshead Cir
Vail, CO 81658
This spot in Lionshead Village is a blend of high art and whimsy. Three large nests made of wood, a stainless steel mesh fabric, and other non-toxic materials are interconnected with standard playground features, including a climbing wall, slide, and bridges. At night, the structures transform into art installations, with LED light beams shining from each center steel post.

3. Triangle Park

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400 North 1st Street
Aspen, CO 81611
Set in a quiet, residential section of downtown Aspen, Triangle Park charms with plenty of green space and an adorable playground perfect for kids 5 and under. With a sturdy picnic table and a manicured feel, this Aspen gem is our pick to avoid the touristy crowds that overwhelm Aspen during summer festivals.

4. Totem Pole Park

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Maroon Avenue & 3rd Street
Crested Butte, CO 81224
A slice of green space along Coal Creek, Totem Pole Park really does have a totem pole. Relax on the grass or some of the picnic tables.

5. Snake Island Park

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101 Lincoln Avenue
Steamboat Springs, CO 80487
Snake Island sits in the middle of the Yampa River just south of downtown Steamboat Springs. Where the Yampa River Core Trail cross the island, there are a couple gazebos, some tables and benches along the edges of the island. Horses also are sometimes pastured on the south tip of the island.

6. Town Park

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500 East Colorado Avenue, Uncompahgre National Forest
Telluride, CO 81320
This Telluride beauty on the east side of town is no secret, but we just love the jaw-dropping views and great amenities found in Town Park. A huge list of amenities includes a kid's fishing pond, toddler playground, horse shoe pit, tennis courts, basketball courts, disc golf, sand volleyball court, skate park, bike pump track, and sledding hill.

7. Russ Garaman

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Powderhorn Lane
Jackson, WY 83001
This little pocket park is right off a town path with easy access to Flat Creek. It's location makes it a nice, quit space to kick back and relax.

8. Rotary Park

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Payday Drive
Park City, UT 84060
Everyone knows City Park, but how many have checked out the much more private Rotary Park tucked into a Park City neighborhood. There's not much parking at the entrance, so you might want reach it by bike.

9. Lakeview Park

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901 Ontario Street
Sandpoint, ID 83864
Lakeview is a pretty good-sized park, with plenty of amenities, including a native plant arboretum maintained by the maintained by the North Idaho Native Plant Society.

10. Burton Creek State Park

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2309 North Lake Boulevard
Tahoe City, CA
(530) 525-7232
(530) 525-7232
Locals call this Lake Tahoe's secret state park, as it remains largely undiscovered despite a plethora of gorgeous meadows and forests. Bring a lunch and take a hike in this undiscovered beauty.

11. Blueberry Park

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Blueberry Beach Park North, Whistler
BC V0N 0A0, Canada
Blueberry Park is a forested area along Whistler's Alta Lake. You might not recognize it as a park if it weren't for the trail running to three secluded piers.
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1. Sunset Rock

123 Mountain Road, Stowe, VT 05672
Sunset Rock is a small, scenic park located in Stowe's historic village. Reach it by the Sunset Trail from Stowe Village.
123 Mountain Road
Stowe, VT 05672

2. Lionshead Village

E Lionshead Cir, Vail, CO 81658
This spot in Lionshead Village is a blend of high art and whimsy. Three large nests made of wood, a stainless steel mesh fabric, and other non-toxic materials are interconnected with standard playground features, including a climbing wall, slide, and bridges. At night, the structures transform into art installations, with LED light beams shining from each center steel post.
E Lionshead Cir
Vail, CO 81658

3. Triangle Park

400 North 1st Street, Aspen, CO 81611
Set in a quiet, residential section of downtown Aspen, Triangle Park charms with plenty of green space and an adorable playground perfect for kids 5 and under. With a sturdy picnic table and a manicured feel, this Aspen gem is our pick to avoid the touristy crowds that overwhelm Aspen during summer festivals.
400 North 1st Street
Aspen, CO 81611

4. Totem Pole Park

Maroon Avenue & 3rd Street, Crested Butte, CO 81224
A slice of green space along Coal Creek, Totem Pole Park really does have a totem pole. Relax on the grass or some of the picnic tables.
Maroon Avenue & 3rd Street
Crested Butte, CO 81224

5. Snake Island Park

101 Lincoln Avenue, Steamboat Springs, CO 80487
Snake Island sits in the middle of the Yampa River just south of downtown Steamboat Springs. Where the Yampa River Core Trail cross the island, there are a couple gazebos, some tables and benches along the edges of the island. Horses also are sometimes pastured on the south tip of the island.
101 Lincoln Avenue
Steamboat Springs, CO 80487

6. Town Park

500 East Colorado Avenue, Uncompahgre National Forest, Telluride, CO 81320
This Telluride beauty on the east side of town is no secret, but we just love the jaw-dropping views and great amenities found in Town Park. A huge list of amenities includes a kid's fishing pond, toddler playground, horse shoe pit, tennis courts, basketball courts, disc golf, sand volleyball court, skate park, bike pump track, and sledding hill.
500 East Colorado Avenue, Uncompahgre National Forest
Telluride, CO 81320

7. Russ Garaman

Powderhorn Lane, Jackson, WY 83001
This little pocket park is right off a town path with easy access to Flat Creek. It's location makes it a nice, quit space to kick back and relax.
Powderhorn Lane
Jackson, WY 83001

8. Rotary Park

Payday Drive, Park City, UT 84060
Everyone knows City Park, but how many have checked out the much more private Rotary Park tucked into a Park City neighborhood. There's not much parking at the entrance, so you might want reach it by bike.
Payday Drive
Park City, UT 84060

9. Lakeview Park

901 Ontario Street, Sandpoint, ID 83864
Lakeview is a pretty good-sized park, with plenty of amenities, including a native plant arboretum maintained by the maintained by the North Idaho Native Plant Society.
901 Ontario Street
Sandpoint, ID 83864

10. Burton Creek State Park

2309 North Lake Boulevard, Tahoe City, CA
Locals call this Lake Tahoe's secret state park, as it remains largely undiscovered despite a plethora of gorgeous meadows and forests. Bring a lunch and take a hike in this undiscovered beauty.
2309 North Lake Boulevard
Tahoe City, CA
(530) 525-7232

11. Blueberry Park

Blueberry Beach Park North, Whistler, BC V0N 0A0, Canada
Blueberry Park is a forested area along Whistler's Alta Lake. You might not recognize it as a park if it weren't for the trail running to three secluded piers.
Blueberry Beach Park North, Whistler
BC V0N 0A0, Canada