Eastern Mojave Vegetation Magic Mountain Archeological Site, Jefferson County, Colorado.
 
Gazetteer

Query:

Magic Mountain Archeological Site refers to the archeological site that is just to the east of the amusement park. Magic Mountain refers to the site of the amusement park that became Heritage Square.

Adoption of the Open Space Master Plan, 22 July 2025, defines an open space of the same name that includes the original parcel, and extends it south to the bottom of Apex Gulch.

The Magic Mountain Archaeological Site is located between Fire Station No. 24 and the Kinney Run Trail. It is a historically significant area that was once home to the Magic Mountain amusement park. Excavations in 1959 – 1960 revealed early artifacts from Indigenous presence, and in 1980, the site was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It has scenic views, rock outcroppings, and is recognized as an educational resource.

ACRES: 16.2

CLASSIFICATION: Resource Protection Area

ATTRIBUTES: Cultural, Ecological, Passive Visitation, Scenic

ACCESS AND TRAILS:

DESIGNATED PUBLIC ACCESS: No

TRAILS: Social

KEY FEATURES: Archaeological evidence of early ceramic period inhabitants

  • Educational potential for cultural history
  • Rock outcroppings and scenic terrain

    MANAGEMENT NOTES:

    • Site is used for educational research
    • Public access prohibited to protect archaeological resources
    • Listed on the National Register of Historic Places (1980)


    Elevation: 6221ft, 0m.

    Articles that refer to this location:

    • Kinney Run Trail, Golden, Jefferson County, Colorado: 88500; 
     

    Literature Referring To This Location:

    • Encyclopedia Staff. 2016, August 24. Magic Mountain Archeological Site. Colorado Encyclopedia. Date retrieved: 12 February 2019, https://coloradoencyclopedia.org/article/magic-mountain-archaeological-site
    • Irwin-Williams, Cynthia, and Henry J. Irwin. 1966. Excavations at Magic Mountain: A Diachronic Study of Plains-Southwest Relations. Denver Museum of Natural History, Proceedings No. 12. Denver, Colorado: Denver Museum of Natural History, October 20, 1966. {TAS-pdf}

    Area Plant Lists that contain this location:

    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

    Amaranthaceae

    Amaranthus blitoides S. Watson. Mat Amaranth (Oth) CC:4

    Amaranthus powellii S. Watson. Powell's Pigweed (Oth) CC:5

    Froelichia gracilis (Hook.) Moq. Slender Snakecotton (Oth) CC:4

    Anacardiaceae

    Rhus trilobata Nutt. trilobata. Skunkbush Sumac (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 (Obs) CC:6

    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

    Conyza canadensis (L.) Cronquist. Canadian Horseweed (Oth) CC:1

    Gutiereziinae

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

    Machaerantherinae

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

    Pentachaetinae

    Ericameria nauseosa (Pall. ex Pursh) G.L.Nesom & G.I.Baird graveolens (Nutt.) Reveal & Schuyler. Goldy-Locks (Obs) CC:3

    Solidagininae

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

    Symphyotrichinae

    Symphyotrichum lanceolatum (Willd.) G. L. Nesom hesperium (A. Gray) G. L. Nesom. Western Lance-Leaved Aster (Oth) CC:5

    Symphyotrichum porteri (A. Gray) G.L. Nesom. Smooth White Aster (Oth) CC:6

    Cardueae

    Centaureinae

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

    Cichorieae

    Cichoriinae

    Cichorium intybus L. Common Chicory (Obs) CC:0

    Crepidinae

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

    Eupatorieae

    Brickellia Elliott. Brickel Bush (Obs) CC:?

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

    Heliantheae

    Ambrosiinae

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

    Helianthinae

    Helianthus annuus L. Common Sunflower (Obs) CC:1

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

    Senecioneae

    Senecio riddellii (Torr. & A. Gray) Greenm. ex L.O. Williams. Riddell's Ragwort (Oth) CC:5

    Boraginaceae

    Cynoglossum officinale L. Gypsyflower (Obs) CC:0

    Brassicaceae

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

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

    Draba nemorosa L. Woodland Whitlow Grass (Oth) CC:6

    Draba reptans (Lam.) Fernald. Carolina Whitlow Grass (Oth) CC:4

    Lepidium latifolium L. Broad-Leaved Pepper-Grass (Obs) CC:0

    Nasturtium officinale W. T. Aiton. Watercress (TAS) CC:0

    Rorippa palustris (L.) Besser. Bog Yellow-Cress (Oth) CC:4

    Cactaceae

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

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

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

    Cannabaceae

    Humulus neomexicanus (A. Nelson & Cockerell) Rydb. New Mexican Hops (Obs) CC:5

    Caprifoliaceae

    Dipsacus fullonum L. Fuller's Teasel (Obs) CC:0

    Caryophyllaceae

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

    Chenopodiaceae

    Bassia scoparia (L.) A. J. Scott. Kochia, Summer Cypress (Oth) CC:0

    Chenopodium atrovirens Rydb. Pinyon Goosefoot (Oth) CC:5

    Salsola tragus L. Tumbleweed (Oth) CC:0

    Crassulaceae

    Sedum lanceolatum Torr. Spearleaf Stonecrop (Obs) CC:5

    Euphorbiaceae

    Chamaesyce glyptosperma (Engelm.) Small. Ribseed Sand Mat (Oth) CC:2

    Euphorbia dentata Michx. Toothed Spurge (Oth) CC:1

    Fabaceae

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

    Vicia villosa Roth. Hairy Vetch (TAS) CC:0

    Geraniaceae

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

    Grossulariaceae

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

    Lamiaceae

    Monarda fistulosa L. Wild Bergamot (TAS) CC:6

    Montiaceae

    Phemeranthus parviflorus (Nutt.) Kiger. Sunbright (Obs) CC:6

    Oleaceae

    Ligustrum vulgare L. Privet (TAS) CC:0

    Onagraceae

    Oenothera curtiflora W.L. Wagner & Hoch. Velvet Butterfly-Weed (Obs) CC:1

    Papaveraceae

    Argemone polyanthemos (Fedde) G.B. Ownbey. Crested Prickly Poppy (Obs) CC:3

    Plantaginaceae

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

    Polygonaceae

    Eriogonum umbellatum Torrey, Ann. Lyceum Nat. Hist. New York. 2: 241. 1827. Sulphur-Flower Buckwheat (Obs) CC:6

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

    Ranunculaceae

    Delphinium nuttallianum Pritz. Twolobe Larkspur (TAS) CC:6

    Rosaceae

    Amygdaloideae

    Amygdaleae

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

    Prunus virginiana L. Chokecherry (Obs) CC:4

    Maleae

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

    Crataegus erythropoda Ashe. Cerro Hawthorn (Obs) CC:6

    Dryadoideae

    Dryadeae

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

    Rosoideae

    Potentilleae

    Potentilla L. Cinquefoil (Obs) CC:?

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

    Roseae

    Rosa. Horticultural Rose (Obs) CC:0

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

    Salicaceae

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

    Salix amygdaloides Andersson. Peachleaf Willow (Obs) CC:5

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

    Santalaceae

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

    Sapindaceae

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

    Scrophulariaceae

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

    Verbenaceae

    Verbena bracteata Lag. & Rodr. Large Bract Vervain (Obs) CC:2

    Vitaceae

    Vitis riparia Michx. Riverbank Grape (Obs) CC:5

    Asparagaceae

    Agavoideae

    Agaveae

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

    Scilloideae

    Hyacintheae

    Muscari botryoides (L.) Mill. Common Grape Hyacinth (TAS) CC:0

    Cyperaceae

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

    Poaceae

    Andropogoneae

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

    Aveneae

    Agrostis gigantea Roth. Redtop (Oth) CC:0

    Bromeae

    Bromus inermis Leyss. Smooth Brome (Obs) CC:0

    Cynodonteae

    Bouteloua curtipendula (Michx.) Torr. Sideoats Grama (Obs) CC:6

    Stipeae

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

    Triticeae

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

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

    • Total number of taxa: 88
    Native Taxa:
    (serif, italic, bold)    		 61
    Exotic Taxa:
    (sans-serif, italic)    		24
    Nativity Undetermined:
    (default font, italic)     		3
    Listed Weeds:
    Identified as Weed     		0
    FQA, CC, n=86, Mean C: 3.4, FQI = 31.2
    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:3:15:12 PM, 8/1/2026.