Beginner skateparks in Colorado

A skatepark is good for a first visit when it has low, gentle ramps, wide flat ground to practice pushing and turning, and few big features (tall ramps, handrails, deep bowls) that experienced skaters fly off. A fence between the park and the street and lights for evening visits help too.

We score every park from the features it lists. Gentle features such as a mini ramp (a small ramp to learn on), low banks and quarter pipes (short curved ramps) add points; lights, a fence, restrooms and staff on site add a little more; big features such as stairs, handrails, deep bowls and vertical ramps take points away, and a park with a handrail, vertical ramp, pool or large half-pipe is never labelled great. Parks that owners or skaters have marked beginner-friendly come first. Labels are great for beginners, mixed, or advanced. 18 parks in Colorado earn the great label; the mixed parks are listed further down for a grown-up to check first.

Great for beginners

1. Discovery Skatepark, Wheat Ridge, CO · quarter pipes (short curved ramps); low ledges; restrooms on site; staff on site; described as beginner-friendly
2. Arapahoe Skatepark, Centennial, CO · low ledges; quarter pipes (short curved ramps); a low manual pad; a small kicker ramp; a low box
3. Yuma Skatepark, Yuma, CO · quarter pipes (short curved ramps); low ledges; a low box; restrooms on site; staff on site
4. De Beque Skatepark, De Beque, CO · quarter pipes (short curved ramps); lit at night; staff on site; described as all ages; no big stairs, handrails or deep bowls
5. Hayden Skatepark, Hayden, CO · quarter pipes (short curved ramps); restrooms on site; staff on site; described as beginner-friendly; smooth surface
6. Golden Heights Skatepark, Golden, CO · quarter pipes (short curved ramps); a low manual pad; restrooms on site; staff on site; described as beginner-friendly
7. Jorgensen Skatepark, Gunnison, CO · quarter pipes (short curved ramps); low ledges; lit at night; restrooms on site; staff on site
8. Cedaredge Skatepark, Cedaredge, CO · quarter pipes (short curved ramps); low ledges; a low box; small speed bumps; lit at night
9. Long Family Memorial Skatepark, Fruitvale, CO · quarter pipes (short curved ramps); low ledges; restrooms on site; staff on site; described as beginner-friendly
10. Arvada Skatepark, Arvada, CO · quarter pipes (short curved ramps); low ledges; lit at night; staff on site; described as all ages
11. Cole Park Skatepark, Alamosa, CO · quarter pipes (short curved ramps); low ledges; lit at night; staff on site; described as all ages
12. Crested Butte Skatepark, Crested Butte, CO · quarter pipes (short curved ramps); low ledges; lit at night; staff on site; described as all ages
13. La Alma Skatepark, Denver, CO · quarter pipes (short curved ramps); low ledges; lit at night; staff on site; described as all ages
14. Montbello Skatepark, Denver, CO · quarter pipes (short curved ramps); low ledges; lit at night; staff on site; described as all ages
15. Prairie View Skatepark, Evans, CO · a small kicker ramp; low ledges; quarter pipes (short curved ramps); restrooms on site; staff on site
16. Skyline Skatepark, Arvada, CO · quarter pipes (short curved ramps); low ledges; lit at night; staff on site; described as all ages
17. Westlake Skatepark, Grand Junction, CO · quarter pipes (short curved ramps); low ledges; staff on site; described as beginner-friendly; described as all ages
18. Wolff Skatepark, Arvada, CO · quarter pipes (short curved ramps); low ledges; lit at night; staff on site; described as all ages

Worth a look with a grown-up

These parks have some beginner features but also bigger ones:

1. Frederick Skatepark, Longmont, CO · quarter pipes (short curved ramps); low ledges; lit at night; staff on site; smooth surface · watch out: has a bowl (a deep, curved pool-like area)
2. Kings Mill Skatepark, Westminster, CO · quarter pipes (short curved ramps); low ledges; restrooms on site; staff on site; described as beginner-friendly · watch out: has a set of stairs
3. Fort Morgan Community Skatepark, Fort Morgan, CO · quarter pipes (short curved ramps); low ledges; restrooms on site; staff on site; described as all ages · watch out: has a bowl (a deep, curved pool-like area)
4. Metcalfe Skatepark, Fountain, CO · quarter pipes (short curved ramps); low ledges; lit at night; staff on site; described as beginner-friendly · watch out: has a set of stairs; has a bowl (a deep, curved pool-like area)
5. Ulysses Skatepark, Ulysses St. Golden, CO · quarter pipes (short curved ramps); low ledges; staff on site; described as all ages · watch out: has a bowl (a deep, curved pool-like area)
6. Howard Heuston Skatepark, Boulder, CO · low ledges; quarter pipes (short curved ramps); a small kicker ramp; small speed bumps; restrooms on site · watch out: has a set of stairs; has a wall ride; has a bowl (a deep, curved pool-like area)
7. William McKinley Carson Skatepark, Greenwood Village, CO · quarter pipes (short curved ramps); low ledges; restrooms on site; staff on site; described as beginner-friendly · watch out: has a set of stairs
8. Margaret Carpenter Skatepark, Thornton, CO · low ledges; restrooms on site; staff on site; described as beginner-friendly; smooth surface · watch out: has a bowl (a deep, curved pool-like area)
9. Silverthorne Skatepark, Silverthorne, CO · low ledges; quarter pipes (short curved ramps); a pump track (rolling bumps, no tricks needed); restrooms on site; staff on site · watch out: has a set of stairs; has ledges down stairs; has a bowl (a deep, curved pool-like area)
10. Yamaguchi Skatepark, Pagosa Springs, CO · a small kicker ramp; low ledges; quarter pipes (short curved ramps); restrooms on site; staff on site · watch out: has a set of stairs; has a bowl (a deep, curved pool-like area)
11. Bennett Skatepark, Bennett, CO · lit at night; staff on site
12. Goose Gossage Skatepark, CO · lit at night; staff on site

Tips for a first visit

• Go on a weekday morning or early afternoon: the park is quiet and there is room to practice.
• Wear a helmet, and knee and wrist pads for the first few visits. Most falls land on hands and knees.
• Watch for a minute before you roll in, so you can see how skaters take turns, and let faster skaters pass.
• Start on the flat ground and the smallest ramp. Rolling, stopping and turning come before any trick.

More around Colorado

• All Colorado skateparks
• Parks with lights in Colorado
• Skateparks near me
• Beginner parks in other places

Nearby states

• Beginner skateparks in Arizona (4 parks)
• Beginner skateparks in New Mexico (1 park)
• Beginner skateparks in Oklahoma (4 parks)
• Beginner skateparks in Utah (8 parks)
• Beginner skateparks in Wyoming (2 parks)