Eastern Mojave Vegetation Parfet Prehistoric Preserve, Jefferson County, Colorado.
 
Gazetteer

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See also: Triceratops Trail.

The Parfet Prehistoric Preserve is a culturally and scientifically significant site located near the western edge of Golden. The area includes portions of the fossil-rich Laramie Formation, with evidence of prehistoric plant and animal life, including dinosaur tracks and invertebrate trace fossils. Within the preserve is Triceratops Trail, an interpretive path that showcases visible fossilized tracks and impressions, offering a unique opportunity for public engagement with Golden’s paleontological history. This site highlights the geological and scientific significance of the area. Although access is currently limited to foot and bicycle traffic, with minimal available parking, the site remains a vital part of Golden’s heritage landscape and a priority for long-term preservation.

ACRES: 14.08

CLASSIFICATION: Natural Area

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

ACCESS AND TRAILS:

DESIGNATED PUBLIC ACCESS: Yes

TRAILS: Designated

KEY FEATURES:

  • Fossil beds with dinosaur tracks and ancient plant impressions
  • Part of the Morrison-Golden Fossil Areas National Natural Landmark
  • Scenic views of surrounding ridgelines and rock outcroppings

MANAGEMENT NOTES:

  • Triceratops Trail is open to the public and managed for educational and visitation
  • Triceratops Trail is managed by the Friends of Dinosaur Ridge in partnership with City
  • Fossils and geological features are fragile and should not be disturbed
  • Part of the Morrison-Golden Fossil Areas National Natural Landmark
  • Coordination with scientific and educational institutions is encouraged to support preservation and interpretation
  • Ongoing preservation efforts are supported through coordination between Friends of Dinosaur Ridge and the City of Golden.

Latitude: 39.74156 Longitude: -105.21857 (° decimal)

Articles that refer to this location:

 

Area Plant Lists that contain this location:

Full Size Image
South end of Parfet Prehistoric Preserve. 		Full Size Image
Old industrial installation, probably related to the former clay mine. 		Full Size Image
Fossil Trace Golf Course from Parfet Prehistoric Preserve. 		Full Size Image
Old industrial installation, probably related to the former clay mine. 		Full Size Image
Coll. No. 3385, Agoseris glauca.

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.

Apiaceae

Selineae

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

Smyrnieae

Conium maculatum L. Common Poison Hemlock (Obs) CC:0

Asteraceae

Anthemideae

Artemisiinae

Artemisia dracunculus L. Tarragon, Dragonwort (Obs) CC:3

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 (Obs) CC:3

Conyzinae

Erigeron. Fleabane (Obs) CC:?

Erigeron tracyi Greene. Running Fleabane (Obs) CC:6

Gutiereziinae

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

Machaerantherinae

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

Cardueae

Carduinae

Cirsium arvense (L.) Scop. Canada Thistle (Obs) CC:0

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

Centaureinae

Centaurea. Knapweed NOIBN (Obs) CC:?

Onopordinae

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

Cichorieae

Crepidinae

Taraxacum officinale F. H. Wigg. Common Dandelion (Obs) CC:0

Microseridinae

Agoseris parviflora (Nutt.) D. Dietr. Steppe Goat-Chicory (TAS) CC:7

Scorzonerinae

Scorzonera laciniata L. Cutleaf Vipergrass (Obs) CC:0

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

Heliantheae

Helianthinae

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

Senecioneae

Senecio integerrimus Nutt. Columbia Ragwort (Obs) CC:5

Boraginaceae

Cynoglossum officinale L. Gypsyflower (Obs) CC:0

Ellisia nyctelea (L.) L. Aunt Lucy (Obs) CC:3

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

Brassicaceae

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

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

Chorispora tenella (Pall.) DC. Crossflower (Obs) CC:0

Lepidium draba L. White Top, Hoary Cress (Obs) CC:0

Cactaceae

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

Caprifoliaceae

Symphoricarpos rotundifolius A. Gray. Roundleaf Snowberry (Obs) CC:5

Chenopodiaceae

Atriplex canescens (Pursh) Nutt. Four-wing Saltbush (Obs) CC:7

Chenopodium album L. Lambsquarters (Obs) CC:0

Convolvulaceae

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

Elaeagnaceae

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

Euphorbiaceae

Euphorbia myrsinites L. Myrtle Spurge (Obs) CC:0

Fabaceae

Medicago sativa L. Alfalfa (Obs) CC:0

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

Geraniaceae

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

Lamiaceae

Marrubium vulgare L. Horehound (Obs) CC:0

Nepeta cataria L. Catnip (Obs) CC:0

Linaceae

Linum perenne L. Blue Flax (Obs) CC:0

Malvaceae

Sphaeralcea coccinea (Nutt.) Rydb. Cowboy's Delight (Obs) CC:4

Oleaceae

Fraxinus pennsylvanica Marshall. Green Ash (Obs) CC:0

Onagraceae

Oenothera howardii (A. Nels.) W. L. Wagner. Howard's Evening Primrose (Obs) CC:5

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

Plantaginaceae

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

Penstemon Schmidel. Beard Tongue (Obs) CC:?

Penstemon secundiflorus Benth. Sidebells Penstemon (Obs) CC:6

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

Polygonaceae

Eriogonum effusum Nuttall, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia. 4: 15. 1848. Spreading Buckwheat (Obs) CC:5

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

Ranunculaceae

Clematis L. Clematis (Obs) CC:?

Rosaceae

Amygdaloideae

Amygdaleae

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

Prunus virginiana L. Chokecherry (Obs) CC:4

Rosoideae

Roseae

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

Sapindaceae

Acer negundo L. Box Elder (Obs) CC:4

Ulmaceae

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

Violaceae

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

Asparagaceae

Agavoideae

Agaveae

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

Poaceae

Andropogoneae

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

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

Bromeae

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

Cynodonteae

Bouteloua gracilis (Kunth) Lag. ex Griffiths. Blue Grama (Obs) CC:4

Poeae

Festuca ovina L. Complex, hybrid or selection (Obs) CC:?

Poa bulbosa L. Bulbous Bluegrass (Obs) CC:0

Stipeae

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

Triticeae

Agropyron cristatum (L.) Gaertn. Crested Wheat Grass (Obs) CC:0

Total number of taxa: 66
Native Taxa:
(serif, italic, bold)		 35
Exotic Taxa:
(sans-serif, italic)		28
Nativity Undetermined:
(default font, italic) 		3
Listed Weeds:
Identified as Weed 		0
FQA, CC, n=61, Mean C: 2.7, FQI = 21.3
If you have a question or a comment you may write to me at: tomas@schweich.com I sometimes post interesting questions in my FAQ, but I never disclose your full name or address.  

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Date and time this article was prepared:3:15:22 PM, 8/1/2026.