Query:

See also: Dakota Ridge. Dinosaur Ridge. Tin Cup Ridge.

Located along the Dakota Ridge, North Hogback Open Space includes scenic ridgelines, historical mining areas, and paleontological sites. It provides ecologically valuable habitat and contributes to the scientific significance of the larger Morrison-Golden Fossil Areas National Natural Landmark, known for its rare geologic and paleontological features.

ACRES: 28.45

CLASSIFICATION: Natural Area

ATTRIBUTES: Cultural, Ecological, Paleontological, Passive Visitation, Scenic

ACCESS AND TRAILS:

DESIGNATED PUBLIC ACCESS: No

TRAILS: Social

KEY FEATURES:

• Dakota Group geological formation
• Historic fossil discovery site
• Native grasslands and scenic topography
• Geological and ecological preservation

MANAGEMENT NOTES:

• Includes areas identified for potential CO 93 realignment
• Part of the Morrison-Golden Fossil Areas National Natural Landmark

Elevation: 6377ft, 0m.

Articles that refer to this location:

• Checklist Flora of Native and Naturalized Vascular Plants of Golden and Vicinity, Jefferson County, Colorado: Dakota Ridge;  Dakota Ridge;  geol. hist.;  Amelanchier alnifolia;  Linaria canadensis texana; 
• Recreational Trail (Pine Ridge Estates), Golden, Jefferson County, Colorado: at curve;  near Jesse Ln; 
• Field Notes: 6 Apr 2017;  16 Apr 2019;  14 Jun 2019;  Coll. No. 2077, 14 Jun 2019;  2019 Year-end Review;  9 May 2020;  12 Jun 2020;  29 July 2020;  17 Sep 2020;  21 Sep 2020;  25 May 2021;  26 Apr 2022;  20 Jul 2025;  11 Apr 2026; 
• Glossary: conglomerate; 

Literature Referring To This Location:

• Anderson, Donna S., and Paul B. Haseman. 2021. Golden Rocks: The Geology and Mining History of Golden, Colorado. Golden, Colorado, USA. https://repository.mines.edu/bitstream/handle/11124/14162/GoldenRocks_ebook_v.4.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y https://doi.org/10.25676/11124/14162
• Fernandez-Mazuecos, Mario, Jose Luis Blanco-Pastor, and Pablo Vargas. 2013. A Phylogeny of. International Journal of Plant Sciences. 174(2):234-249.
• Houck, Karen J., Martin G. Lockley, Megan Caldwell, and Brandon Clark. 2010. A well-preserved Crocodylian trackway from the South Platte Formation (Lower Cretaceous), Golden Colorado. Crocodyle tracks and traces. Bulletin 51. 2010.
• Lockley, Martin, Karen Chin, Masaki Matsukawa, and Reiji Kukihara. 2009. New interpretations of Ignotornis, the first-reported Mesozoic avian footprints: implications for the paleoecology and behavior of an enigmatic Cretaceous bird. Cretaceous Research. 30: 1041-1061. {TAS-pdf}
• Savoca, Matthew. 2019. A teen scientist helped me discover tons of golf balls polluting the ocean. The Conversation. {TAS-pdf} Date retrieved: 10 May 2020, https://theconversation.com/a-teen-scientist-helped-me-discover-tons-of-golf-balls-polluting-the-ocean-109769
• Van Horn, Richard. 1976. Geology of the Golden Quadrangle, Colorado. USGS Professional Paper: 872. 1976. {TAS-pdf} http://pubs.usgs.gov/pp/0872/report.pdf, accessed 27 August 2014.
• Weber, Alex K., Michael W. Weber, and Matthew S. Savoca. 2019. Quantifying marine debris associated with coastal golf courses. Marine Pollution Bulletin. 140: 1-8.

Area Plant Lists that contain this location:

• Area Plant List for Golden.
• Area Plant List for City of Golden Open Space.

Yucca glauca “Soapweed Yucca” on Dakota Ridge.	Gaillardia aristata on Dakota Ridge.	Coll. No. 2077, Linaria canadensis var. texana	Slickensides on Dakota Ridge.	Golf balls collected on Dakota Ridge.
South end of Dakota Ridge.	Thirteen golf balls collected on Dakota Ridge.	Abandoned drum set on Dakota Ridge.	View south through Golden Valley.	Abandoned drum set on Dakota Ridge.
Orobanche fasciculata growing in a small clump of Artemisia frigida	Rock Wren and family at Dakota Ridge.	East side of Dakota Ridge.	Dakota Ridge from the Cul-de-sac at the end of Jesse Lane.	Outcrop with pebble conglomerate on Dakota Ridge.
Pebbly conglomerate on Dakota Ridge.	Rocket parts on Dakota Ridge	Open stope protected by steel grate.	Dakota Ridge at the north end of Golden	South end of Dakota Ridge, Golden open space.
South end of Dakota Ridge, Golden open space.	Private spur trail connecting Lou's Loop to the City of Golden recreational trail.	Slope of Dakota Ridge	The southernmost end of Dakota Ridge	Dakota Ridge (North Hogback) from North Table Mountain.

Species collected at or near this location.

This list summarizes plants collected or observed at this specific, named location. It does not include plants collected or observed at nearby named or unnamed locations. It may be more instructive to use the Area Lists that contain this location.

• TAS – The plant was collected by Tom Schweich.
• Oth – The plant was collected by someone, but not Tom.
• Obs – The plant was observed, but not collected.

Cupressaceae

Juniperus scopulorum Sarg. Rocky Mountain Juniper (Obs) CC:5

Pinaceae

Pinus scopulorum Lemmon. Rocky Mountain yellow pine (Obs) CC:5

Anacardiaceae

Rhus trilobata Nutt. trilobata. Skunkbush Sumac (TAS+Obs) CC:5

Toxicodendron rydbergii (Small ex Rydb.) Greene. Western Poison Ivy (Obs) CC:3

Apiaceae

Selineae

Lomatium orientale J.M. Coult. & Rose. Salt-and-Pepper (TAS+Obs) CC:6

Asteraceae

Anthemideae

Artemisiinae

Artemisia frigida Willd. Prairie Sagewort (Obs) CC:4

Artemisia ludoviciana Nutt. Silver Wormwood (Obs) CC:4

Astereae

Chrysopsidinae

Heterotheca villosa (Pursh) Shinners. Hairy False Goldenaster (TAS) CC:3

Conyzinae

Erigeron divergens Torr. & A. Gray. Spreading Fleabane (Obs) CC:4

Gutiereziinae

Gutierrezia sarothrae (Pursh) Britton & Rusby. Broom Snakeweed (TAS+Obs) CC:3

Machaerantherinae

Grindelia squarrosa (Pursh) Dunal. Curlycup Gumweed (TAS) CC:3

Grindelia subalpina Greene. Subalpine Gumweed (Obs) CC:4

Solidagininae

Solidago missouriensis Nutt. Missouri Goldenrod (TAS+Obs) CC:5

Bahieae

Hymenopappus filifolius Hook. polycephalus (Osterh.) B.L. Turner. Many-Headed Fine-Leaved Wooly-White (Obs) CC:5

Cardueae

Carduinae

Carduus nutans L. Nodding Plumeless Thistle (Obs) CC:0

Cirsium undulatum (Nutt.) Spreng. Wavy Leaved Thistle (Obs) CC:5

Cirsium vulgare (Savi) Ten. Bull Thistle (Obs) CC:0

Centaureinae

Centaurea diffusa Lam. Diffuse Knapweed (Obs) CC:0

Onopordinae

Onopordum acanthium L. Scotch Cottonthistle (Obs) CC:0

Cichorieae

Microseridinae

Nothocalais cuspidata (Pursh) Greene. Prairie False Dandelion (TAS) CC:4

Scorzonerinae

Tragopogon dubius Scop. Yellow Salsify (Obs) CC:0

Coreopsideae

Thelesperma megapotamicum (Spreng.) Kuntze. Hopi Tea Greenthread (TAS) CC:5

Eupatorieae

Liatris punctata Hook. Dotted Blazing Star (TAS) CC:6

Gnaphalieae

Pseudognaphalium canescens (DC.) Anderberg. Wright's Rabbit-Tobacco (TAS+Obs) CC:4

Helenieae

Gaillardiinae

Gaillardia aristata Pursh. Blanketflower (TAS) CC:4

Heliantheae

Ambrosiinae

Ambrosia psilostachya DC. Western Ragweed (Obs) CC:3

Helianthinae

Helianthus pumilus Nutt. Little Sunflower (TAS+Obs) CC:4

Rudbeckiinae

Ratibida columnifera (Nutt.) Woot. & Standl. Upright Prairie Coneflower (Obs) CC:4

Boraginaceae

Cryptantha Lehm. ex G. Don. Cryptantha (TAS) CC:?

Lappula occidentalis (S. Watson) Greene. Flatspine Stickseed (Obs) CC:2

Lithospermum arvense L. Corn Gromwell (TAS) CC:0

Mertensia lanceolata (Pursh) DC. Prairie Bluebells (Obs) CC:6

Brassicaceae

Alyssum simplex Rudolphi. European Madwort (TAS+Obs) CC:0

Berteroa incana (L.) DC. Hoary Alyssum (TAS) CC:0

Erysimum capitatum (Hook.) Greene. Sanddune Wallflower (TAS) CC:5

Physaria montana (A. Gray) Greene. Mountain Bladderpod (TAS+Obs) CC:5

Cactaceae

Escobaria missouriensis (Sweet) D.R.Hunt. Missouri Foxtail Cactus (Obs) CC:7

Escobaria vivipara (Nutt.) Buxb. Beehive Cactus (Obs) CC:6

Opuntia macrorhiza Engelm. Western Pricklypear (Obs) CC:3

Opuntia polyacantha Haw. Plains Pricklypear (Obs) CC:5

Pediocactus simpsonii (Engelm.) Britton & Rose. Mountain Ball Cactus (Obs) CC:6

Campanulaceae

Campanula rotundifolia L. Harebell (Obs) CC:5

Cannabaceae

Celtis reticulata Torr. Net-Leaved Hackberry (TAS+Obs) CC:6

Caprifoliaceae

Dipsacus laciniatus L. Cutleaf Teasel (TAS) CC:0

Caryophyllaceae

Cerastium arvense L. strictum Gaudin. Field Chickweed (TAS+Obs) CC:5

Chenopodiaceae

Chenopodium album L. Lambsquarters (TAS) CC:0

Convolvulaceae

Convolvulus arvensis L. Field Bindweed (Obs) CC:0

Elaeagnaceae

Elaeagnus angustifolia L. Russian Olive (Obs) CC:0

Euphorbiaceae

Euphorbia esula L. Leafy Spurge (TAS+Obs) CC:0

Tragia ramosa Torr. Branched Noseburn (Obs) CC:6

Fabaceae

Astragalus drummondii Dougl. ex Hook. Drummond's Milkvetch (Obs) CC:6

Astragalus shortianus [Nutt. ex] Torr. & A.Gray. Short's Milkvetch (Obs) CC:7

Colutea arborescens L. Bladder Senna (TAS) CC:0

Lupinus argenteus Pursh argenteus. Loosely Flowered Silver Lupine (TAS+Obs) CC:5

Melilotus officinalis (L.) Lam. Yellow Sweet Clover (TAS) CC:0

Oxytropis lambertii Pursh. Purple Locoweed (Obs) CC:5

Pediomelum tenuiflorum (Pursh) A. N. Egan. Slimflower Scurfpea (TAS) CC:5

Thermopsis rhombifolia (Nutt. ex Pursh) Nutt. ex Richardson divaricarpa (A. Nelson) Isely. Spreadfruit Goldenbanner (TAS) CC:6

Geraniaceae

Erodium cicutarium (L.) L'Her. ex Aiton. Hemlock-leav'd Crane's-bill (TAS+Obs) CC:0

Grossulariaceae

Ribes cereum Douglas. Wax Currant (TAS) CC:6

Hypericaceae

Hypericum perforatum L. Common St. John's Wort (TAS+Obs) CC:0

Lamiaceae

Marrubium vulgare L. Horehound (Obs) CC:0

Scutellaria brittonii Porter. Britton's Skullcap (TAS+Obs) CC:6

Linaceae

Linum lewisii Pursh. Prairie Blue Flax (TAS+Obs) CC:4

Onagraceae

Oenothera suffrutescens (Ser.) W. L. Wagner & Hoch. Linda Tarde (Obs) CC:5

Orobanchaceae

Orobanche fasciculata Nutt. Clustered Broomrape (Obs) CC:5

Plantaginaceae

Collinsia parviflora Lindl. Maiden Blue-eyed Mary (TAS) CC:4

Linaria canadensis (L.) Dum.-Cours. texana (Scheele) Pennell. Blue Toadflax (TAS) CC:7

Linaria dalmatica (L.) Mill. Dalmatian ToadFlax (Obs) CC:0

Penstemon virens Pennell ex Rydb. Front Range Beardtongue (TAS) CC:7

Plantago patagonica Jacq. Woolly Plantain (Obs) CC:2

Veronica biloba L. Twolobe Speedwell (TAS) CC:0

Polemoniaceae

Phlox multiflora A. Nelson. Mountain Phlox (Obs) CC:5

Polygonaceae

Eriogonum alatum Torrey in L. Sitgreaves, Rep. Exped. Zuni Colorado Rivers. 168, plate 8. 1853. Winged Buckwheat (TAS+Obs) CC:5

Eriogonum umbellatum Torr. umbellatum. Sulphur-Flower Buckwheat (TAS+Obs) CC:6

Rumex crispus L. Curley Dock (Obs) CC:0

Rumex venosus Pursh. Veiny Dock (Obs) CC:4

Ranunculaceae

Delphinium carolinianum Walter virescens (Nutt.) R.E. Brooks. Plains Larkspur (TAS) CC:5

Rosaceae

Amygdaloideae

Amygdaleae

Prunus americana Marshall. American Plum (TAS) CC:6

Prunus virginiana L. Chokecherry (Obs) CC:4

Maleae

Amelanchier alnifolia (Nutt.) Nutt. ex M. Roem. Saskatoon Serviceberry (TAS) CC:6

Dryadoideae

Dryadeae

Cercocarpus montanus Raf. Alder-Leaf Mountain Mahogany (TAS+Obs) CC:6

Rosoideae

Potentilleae

Potentilla fissa Nutt. ex Torr. & A.Gray. Bigflower Cinquefoil (TAS) CC:5

Potentilla recta L. Sulphur Cinquefoil (Obs) CC:0

Roseae

Rosa arkansana Porter. Prairie Rose (Obs) CC:5

Rubeae

Rubus deliciosus Torr. Delicious raspberry (Obs) CC:6

Salicaceae

Populus deltoides Marshall monilifera (Aiton) Eckenw. Plains Cottonwood (TAS+Obs) CC:3

Salix exigua Nutt. Coyote Willow, Narrow-Leaved Willow (Obs) CC:3

Salix irrorata Andersson. Dewystem Willow (TAS+Obs) CC:7

Santalaceae

Comandra umbellata (L.) Nutt. pallida (A. DC.) Piehl. Pale Bastard Toadflax (Obs) CC:5

Scrophulariaceae

Verbascum thapsus L. Common Mullein (Obs) CC:0

Solanaceae

Physalis longifolia Nutt. Longleaf Groundcherry (TAS) CC:4

Ulmaceae

Ulmus pumila L. Siberian Elm (Obs) CC:0

Undet.

Undetermined. (TAS) CC:?

Violaceae

Viola nuttallii Pursh. Nuttall's Violet (TAS) CC:5

Amaryllidaceae

Allium textile A. Nelson & J.F. Macbr. Textile Onion (Obs) CC:5

Asparagaceae

Agavoideae

Leucocrinum montanum Nutt. ex A. Gray. Star Lily (TAS) CC:6

Agaveae

Yucca glauca Nutt. Soapweed Yucca (Obs) CC:4

Commelinaceae

Tradescantia occidentalis (Britton) Smyth. Prairie Spiderwort (Obs) CC:5

Cyperaceae

Carex inops L. H. Bailey heliophila (Mack.) Crins. Sun Sedge (Obs) CC:7

Poaceae

Andropogoneae

Andropogon gerardii Vitman. Big Bluestem (Obs) CC:9

Schizachyrium scoparium (Michx.) Nash. Little Bluestem (Obs) CC:5

Aveneae

Koeleria macrantha (Ledeb.) Schult. Prairie Junegrass (TAS+Obs) CC:6

Bromeae

Bromus japonicus Thunb. Japanese Cheat Grass (TAS+Obs) CC:0

Bromus tectorum L. Cheat Grass (TAS+Obs) CC:0

Cynodonteae

Calamovilfa longifolia (Hook.) Scribn. in Hackel. Prairie Sandreed (TAS) CC:7

Eragrostideae

Muhlenbergia montana (Nutt.) Hitchc. Mountain Muhly (TAS) CC:7

Poeae

Dactylis glomerata L. Orchard Grass (Obs) CC:0

Poa compressa L. Canada Bluegrass (TAS) CC:0

Poa pratensis L. Kentucky Bluegrass (TAS) CC:0

Stipeae

Hesperostipa comata (Trin. & Rupr.) Barkworth. Needle and Thread (Obs) CC:6

Nassella viridula (Trin.) Barkworth. Green Needlegrass (Obs) CC:4

Triticeae

Elymus canadensis L. Canadian Wildrye (Obs) CC:4

Secale cereale L. Cereal Rye (TAS) CC:0

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Date and time this article was prepared:5:20:58 PM, 4/24/2026.