Viewing Beautiful Mountains on this Urban Hike through Montbello
Walking in Montbello, you can quickly see why it’s named as such. From the neighborhood’s highest point, the view to west of the “Beautiful Mountain” is true. Here in the far northeast, between 56th and 47th, Chambers and Peoria, sits the most perfect suburb for walking. A close-knit community who constantly seeks to improve Montbello has made its mark on this northeastern suburb.
Planned After All
After Denver annexed a giant tract of land east of the old Stapleton airport, Jordon Perlmutter smelled opportunity. He scooped up 3000 acres and brought the concept of a planned community to Denver, which allowed affordable, suburban housing. He designed Montbello–and if you’re looking for a walkable community focused on schools and one giant park, Montbello is your place.
Along its main drag on 51st Ave, you’ll find a community project funded from City of Denver grants. Over 200 volunteers and several professional artists, lead by Pat Milbery, got together to paint the gutters running through the neighborhood. Watch this fun video (watch video) that tells the story of how the project came about.
Gardens Galore
Smack in the middle of the neighborhood sits the Montbello Central Park. Next to that is a campus of schools, housing several elementary and middle school options with the high school next door. Each school showcases gorgeous student gardens. Several of the elementary schools scattered throughout the neighborhood also have community gardens. Collectively, the gardens feed over 7000 neighbors.
A very active literacy program, called Each One Take One, keeps the kids engaged in the gardens with applied science. Running around the campus, through the park, and in and out of the neighborhoods is a wonderful sidewalk system.
Growing and Finding a Voice!
Recently, Westword declared Montbello the fastest growing neighborhood in the country. With 30,000 residents homing typical 1990s suburban style homes and easy access to the airport, the interstate, and downtown, it’s no wonder people want to live here.
On this walk through the neighborhood, you’ll see subdivisions with and without covenants, residents enjoying their neighbors, and activities being planned throughout the season. Montbello is a great place to walk.
Parks Make the Neighborhood
Sprinkled through the neighborhood, you’ll find several parks including Silverman, Elemendorf and the new Montbello Open Space. You’ll want to read the back stories of these parks because the link great community leaders to Montbello history.
In the Open Space, several organizations worked together, including ELK and The North Face, to create a giant field of prairie grasses surrounding a huge climbing wall. You’ll find kids enjoying the climb while also challenging each other to do the fastest climb. Around the corner from the Open Space near the Montbello Library is a Boys and Girls Club sponsored by the Denver Broncos. Several Broncos grew up in this Club!
The Route (click for interactive map):
Start at the corner of Crown Blvd and Andrews. A close-by address is 4848 Crown Blvd.
Walk northeasterly along Crown Blvd to 51st St. Turn right. Cross Bolling, continuing on 51st.
At Fantana Circle turn left and drop into Walmart if necessary. To the north of the parking lot is a trail up a grassy knoll. Take this underneath the electric lines to the high point, and look to your west.
Enjoy the gorgeous “Montbello” view. Continue down the path to Chambers, take a right. Stay on Chambers, taking a right on Boling Dr. At Dillion St, take a left. At Andrews Dr, take a right, returning back to where you started.
Did you enjoy this walk? Let me know what you thought!
A special thank you to Pam Jiner from GirlTrek for taking us on this walk.
Catching Mountain Views and Supporting DenverByFoot
If you’ve enjoyed this walk, maybe you’ll enjoy some other walks curated by Denver By Foot. Get the 52 Hikes 52 Weeks Denver Calendar, which recommends a hike a week, subscribe to the YouTube Channel to hear about weekly hiking suggestions in Denver, and buy access to the Denver By Foot Challenge. The Challenge is 30 activities in Denver to do by foot where you’ll uncover treasures throughout Denver. It’s a great thing to do with friends and family, or even along during our lock down.
Finally, please support Denver By Foot by purchasing Chris Englert’s books, The Best Urban Hikes: Denver and Discovering Denver Parks. Thank you so much!
What did you like about this walk? Post it on Facebook and tag your posts with #denverbyfoot so I can find them.
See you on the trail!
~Chris