Index to Area Checklists

The purpose of this page is to provide a list of the Area Checklist that are currently being prepared and served online.

Area NameArea DescriptionData QualityFloristic QualityCommentsFull URLLocalURL
Mono Lake Basin, Mono County, CaliforniaThis is a California location, for which Coefficient of Conservatism data is not available.The data underlying my list for the Mono Lake Basin was last updated in 2014.https://www.schweich.com/checklistCAMnoMonoBasin.htmlchecklistCAMnoMonoBasin.html
Upper Mono Lake Basin, Mono County, CaliforniaThis is a California location, for which Coefficient of Conservatism data is not available.The data underlying my list for the Upper Mono Lake Basin was last updated in 2014.https://www.schweich.com/checklistCAMnoMonoBasinU.htmlchecklistCAMnoMonoBasinU.html
Sagehen Meadow, Mono County, CaliforniaThis is a California location, for which Coefficient of Conservatism data is not available.https://www.schweich.com/checklistCAMnoSagehenMdw.htmlchecklistCAMnoSagehenMdw.html
Mesquite Mountains, San Bernardino County, CaliforniaThis is a California location, for which Coefficient of Conservatism data is not available.https://www.schweich.com/checklistCASBrMesquiteMtns.htmlchecklistCASBrMesquiteMtns.html
Trout Creek Pass Area, Chaffee and Park Counties, ColoradoFQA, CC, n=74, Mean C: 5.2, FQI = 45https://www.schweich.com/checklistCOChaTroutCreekPass.htmlchecklistCOChaTroutCreekPass.html
Buffalo Creek Recreation Area, Jefferson County, ColoradoPrimarily the area bounded by County Road 126, Forest Road 550, and Morrison Creek.The data quality is uneven, becaiuse there are some areas that I have not surveyed, e.g., the upper slopes of Little Scraggy Peak.FQA, CC, n=96, Mean C: 5.5, FQI = 53.5https://www.schweich.com/checklistCOJefBuffaloCkRecArea.htmlchecklistCOJefBuffaloCkRecArea.html
North part of Centennial Cone Park, Jefferson County, ColoradoFQA, CC, n=117, Mean C: 4.9, FQI = 52.9https://www.schweich.com/checklistCOJefCentennialConeParkN.htmlchecklistCOJefCentennialConeParkN.html
Golden Community Center, Front Porch, Wildflower WalkThe Front Porch (senior program) of the Community Center has ponsored several Wildflower Walks along the Clear Creek Trail. This list covers roughly the vegetation found between the Community Center and the suspension bridge near Tunnel 1, and portions of the Welch Ditch from the stairs to the suspension bridge.FQA, CC, n=77, Mean C: 4.5, FQI = 39.2https://www.schweich.com/checklistCOJefClearCkCynParkWF.htmlchecklistCOJefClearCkCynParkWF.html
Coors Tech Wetlands Open Space, City of Golden, Jefferson County, ColoradoThe Coors Tech Wetland is a small triangular wetland in the midst of buffer land owned by the Coors Technology Center Owners Association. The private buffer on the north and east sides is typically about 200 feet, whereas on the southwest side the open space abuts the parking around the buildings.The data quality is Poor, because only one survey trip was made to this open space, and only observations were made, no collections.FQA, CC, n=33, Mean C: 2.1, FQI = 11.8https://www.schweich.com/checklistCOJefCoorsTechWetlands.htmlchecklistCOJefCoorsTechWetlands.html
Cottonwood Open Space, City of Golden, Jefferson County, ColoradoSmall parcel wedged in between the golf course, the highschool, and three private HOAs, i.e., Harmony Village, Cottonwood Villas, and Homestake.FQA, CC, n=15, Mean C: 2.3, FQI = 9All of the parking anywhere near this open space is restricted on Monday through Friday.https://www.schweich.com/checklistCOJefGolCottonwoodOS.htmlchecklistCOJefGolCottonwoodOS.html
Golden, Jefferson County, ColoradoI use a broad definition of “Golden” that I call Golden s.l.. The primary difference is that I include all of North Table Mountain, and a good part of South Table Mountain. I also include some parts of Lookout Mountain because a significant part of Apex Open Space Park is within Golden city limits.The data quality is Good mostly because I have been tracking collections for many years, and personally verifying interesting iNaturalist observations.FQA, CC, n=742, Mean C: 3.6, FQI = 97.8https://www.schweich.com/checklistCOJefGolden.htmlchecklistCOJefGolden.html
Grampsas North Open Space, City of Golden, Jefferson County, ColoradoThe Grampsas North Open Space is a rectangular field about 6½ acres in size that is north of the mountain bike park. It is fenced on three sides. The west side is bounded by rural housing and several neighbors who came out for a friendly conversation. The north side has a recent housing development. The east side is bounded by the Church Ditch and the Tony Grampsas Trail, which lines both sides of the ditch.FQA, CC, n=57, Mean C: 3, FQI = 22.4https://www.schweich.com/checklistCOJefGolGrampsasNorth.htmlchecklistCOJefGolGrampsasNorth.html
Parfet Open Space, City of Golden, Jefferson County, ColoradoThe City of Golden owns about 14 acres of open space that wraps around the north end of the Parfet Estates neighborhood and overlooks US Highway 6. The land is bordered by the neighborhood, US Highway 6 right of way and Colorado School of Mines land that contains the Chimney Gulch Trail.FQA, CC, n=108, Mean C: 3.7, FQI = 38.8An unmarked trailhead on Parfet Estates Drive leads to a social trail from the neighborhood down to the Chimney Gulch Trail located on Jefferson County Open Space land. This trail continues upward to Windy Gap and Lookout Mountain.https://www.schweich.com/checklistCOJefGolParfetOS.htmlchecklistCOJefGolParfetOS.html
South Illinois Open Space, City of Golden, Jefferson County, ColoradoThis is a very small open space, only 0.79 acres, and a good portion of that is part of the golf course.FQA, CC, n=10, Mean C: 3.3, FQI = 10.4All of the parking anywhere near this open space is restricted on Monday through Friday.https://www.schweich.com/checklistCOJefGolSIllinoisOS.htmlchecklistCOJefGolSIllinoisOS.html
Heritage Dells & Tripp Ranch Meadow Open Space, City of Golden, Jefferson County, ColoradoHeritage Dells and Tripp Ranch are combined by the city for management purposes. Heritage Dells consists of three northeast trending gulches off if Apex Park, . Tripp Ranch Meadow is well-hidden behind a curve of Crawford Street. Once in the meadow, it is bounded by Apex Park on the west, Stonebridge HOA on the north, and houses on the east and south.FQA, CC, n=116, Mean C: 3.4, FQI = 36.4https://www.schweich.com/checklistCOJefHeritageDellsOS.htmlchecklistCOJefHeritageDellsOS.html
Kinney Run Open Space, City of Golden, Jefferson County, ColoradoKinney Run Open Space is Golden's second-largest Open Space, after North Table Mountain. The City of Golden-owned parcels that make up the open space add up to re about 86 acres in size. The landscape is quite varied, including riparian, prairie, shrubland, slick rock, and a hogback.FQA, CC, n=157, Mean C: 3.5, FQI = 43.9 https://www.schweich.com/checklistCOJefKinneyRunOS.htmlchecklistCOJefKinneyRunOS.html
Magic Mountain Archeological Site, City of Golden, Jefferson County, ColoradoNamed for a nearby amusement park now known as Heritage Square, the Magic Mountain Archaeological Site south of Golden was excavated in 1959–60 by Cynthia and Henry Irwin. For purposes of the Open Space Master Plan, Magic Mountain Archeological Site was combined with the north half of the City of Golden parcel upon which the trail of Apex Park was built.Data quality is good, primarily because of the exhaustive search of the area by Ernest H. Brunquist.FQA, CC, n=154, Mean C: 3.3, FQI = 41.3Most of the data for this area checklist comes from collections made by Ernest H. Brunquist during the 1959 excavation of the Magic Mountain site by Peabody Museum of Harvard University in 1959-1960.https://www.schweich.com/checklistCOJefMagicMtnAS.htmlchecklistCOJefMagicMtnAS.html
North Hogback Open Space, City of Golden, Jefferson County, ColoradoThe south end of Dakota Ridge and the adjacent Cressman Gulch is in the very northern part of Golden. Several names have been applied to this open space, including Dakota Ridge. The name was applied by Van Horn (1957) in Bedrock Geology of the Golden Quadrangle. “Dakota Ridge” is also sometimes applied to the corresponding hogback south of Golden. However, through the Open Space Master Planning process, the name North Hogback Open Space is currently proposed for this hogback.FQA, CC, n=112, Mean C: 3.7, FQI = 38.7https://www.schweich.com/checklistCOJefNorthHogback.htmlchecklistCOJefNorthHogback.html
North Table Mountain, Jefferson County, ColoradoCovers the entire mesa, including the City of Golden open space on the southwest slope.FQA, CC, n=365, Mean C: 3.8, FQI = 72.4https://www.schweich.com/checklistCOJefNTableMtn.htmlchecklistCOJefNTableMtn.html
North Table Mountain Open Space, City of Golden, Jefferson County, ColoradoThe City of Golden North Table Mountain Open Space, on the southwest slope of North Table Mountain, this open space offers beautiful views of the Golden Valley and borders Jefferson County Parks and Open Space (JCPOS) and local neighborhoods. It includes trail connections and geological interest, including volcanic rock formations and former quarry activity.FQA, CC, n=83, Mean C: 4, FQI = 36.3https://www.schweich.com/checklistCOJefNTableMtnOS.htmlchecklistCOJefNTableMtnOS.html
Parfet Prehistoric Preserve, City of Golden, Jefferson County, ColoradoThe Parfet Prehistoric Preserve (14.08 ac.) is a culturally and scientifically significant site located near the western edge of Golden. The preserve is one part of the Morrison-Golden Fossil Areas National Natural Landmark and includes outcrops of the fossil-rich Dakota Sandstone Formation, with evidence of prehistoric plant and animal life, including dinosaur tracks and invertebrate fossils. Together, these sites highlight the geological and scientific importance of the area.FQA, CC, n=61, Mean C: 2.7, FQI = 21.3https://www.schweich.com/checklistCOJefParfetPrehistPres.htmlchecklistCOJefParfetPrehistPres.html
Ranson/Edwards Homestead Open Space, Jefferson County, ColoradoFQA, CC, n=255, Mean C: 4.1, FQI = 64.8https://www.schweich.com/checklistCOJefRansonEdwardsOSP.htmlchecklistCOJefRansonEdwardsOSP.html
Schweich Hill Open Space, City of Golden, Jefferson County, ColoradoThe little piece of City of Golden open space at the north end of Washington Avenue, near Cannonball Creek Brewery, measures 4 acres. A small portion covering the top of the hill, about 1.5 acres in size, could be identified as Western Great Plains Foothill and Piedmont Grassland with mixed tall and short grass species. Significantly sized other portions, would be identified as Smooth Brome (Bromus inermis Leyss) Ruderal Vegetation.FQA, CC, n=137, Mean C: 3.4, FQI = 39.6https://www.schweich.com/checklistCOJefSchweichHill.htmlchecklistCOJefSchweichHill.html
South Table Mountain Open Space, City of Golden, Jefferson County, ColoradoSouth Table Mountain Open Space is a small triangular area located on the western slope of South Table Mountain, organized mostly around the Lubahn Trail and connections to Jefferson County Parks and Open Space’s Olivine Trail. The open space features volcanic rock formations, scenic overlooks, and educational geological features such as Castle Rock and the K-Pg boundary.There are actually very few collections in the City of Golden South Table Mountain Open space. Most of the data reported in the list below are my observations. Many of the collections on South Table Mountain did not distinguish between City of Golden lands and Jefferson County Lands, or state lands.FQA, CC, n=68, Mean C: 3.7, FQI = 30.4https://www.schweich.com/checklistCOJefSTableMtnOS.htmlchecklistCOJefSTableMtnOS.html
Common lands of the Stonebridge Homeowners AssociationFQA, CC, n=143, Mean C: 3.3, FQI = 39.3https://www.schweich.com/checklistCOJefStonebridgeHOA.htmlchecklistCOJefStonebridgeHOA.html
East Slope of the Tarryall Mountains, Jefferson County, ColoradoNorth boundary is the east-west portion of Forest Road 211; east boundary is Goose Creek; south boundary is the Jefferson/Park county line, and the west boundary is the crest of the Tarryall Mountains.The data quality is Fair, mostly because I have surveyed only a small portion of this area, i.e., Twin Creeks, and there are very few collections by others.FQA, CC, n=159, Mean C: 5.2, FQI = 65.9https://www.schweich.com/checklistCOJefTarryallMtnsES.htmlchecklistCOJefTarryallMtnsES.html
Tucker and Cressman Gulch Open Space, City of Golden, Jefferson County, ColoradoTucker Gulch and the lower part of Cressman Gulch, i.e., south and east of Colorado Highway 93, form a kind of linear open space, if the term “open space” can be applied to a long narrow shape. While much of the lower part of Tucker Gulch is still railroad right of way, the portion owned by the City of Golden is 34 acres. Tucker Gulch between the highway and Clear Creek is about 3.2 km. in length, and Cressman Gulch from the highway to the mouth at Tucker Gulch is about 1.5 km. in length. When combined with the railroad land, the width varies from a minimum of 17 m. to a maximum of 109 m., although generally the width is about 30 to 50 m.FQA, CC, n=75, Mean C: 1.7, FQI = 14.8https://www.schweich.com/checklistCOJefTuckerGulchOS.htmlchecklistCOJefTuckerGulchOS.html
Welch Ditch Open Space, City of Golden, Jefferson County, ColoradoThis is a short portion of the Welch Ditch between South Golden Road and 19th Street.The floristic quality of Welch Ditch is quite low. This is primarily the result of the high proportion of horticultural non-native plants maintained by adjacent landowners.https://www.schweich.com/checklistCOJefWelchDitchOS.htmlchecklistCOJefWelchDitchOS.html
Lake County, ColoradoLake County is a county located in the central part of Colorado. As of the 2020 census, the population was 7,436. The county seat and the only municipality in the county is Leadville. The highest natural point in Colorado and the entire Rocky Mountains is the summit of Mount Elbert in Lake County at 14,440 feet (4,400 meters) elevation.The data quality of my list for Lake County is quite uneven. This in part because I do not access the alpine, nor have I entered all available reliable collection data from SEINet.FQA, CC, n=120, Mean C: 5.9, FQI = 64.4, which is pretty high.https://www.schweich.com/checklistCOLakLakeCty.htmlchecklistCOLakLakeCty.html
Colorado National Monument, Mesa County, ColoradoFQA, CC, n=30, Mean C: 5.4, FQI = 29.6https://www.schweich.com/checklistCOMesColoradoNationalMonument.htmlchecklistCOMesColoradoNationalMonument.html

If you have a question or a comment you may write to me at: . I sometimes post interesting questions in my FAQ, but I never disclose your full name or address.


[Home Page] [Site Map]

Date and time this article was prepared: 11/3/2026 12:17:07 PM