Confluence Park is the riverside park in downtown Denver where Cherry Creek flows into the South Platte River, the very spot known as the birthplace of the city. With grassy terraces, whitewater chutes, bike paths and skyline views, it is one of Denver’s favorite places to sit by the water.

Indigenous people gathered along these two waterways for generations before gold seekers founded the rival towns of Denver and Auraria here in 1858. By the 20th century the riverbanks had become an industrial backwater, and on June 16, 1965, a catastrophic flood tore through the city. In 1974 Mayor Bill McNichols asked State Senator Joe Shoemaker to lead the reclamation of the South Platte, and the first phase of Confluence Park opened in 1975. Shoemaker’s effort became The Greenway Foundation, which continues to care for Denver’s rivers.

Today you can watch kayakers and tubers play in the man-made whitewater chutes, relax on the stepped stone terraces, or join the Cherry Creek Trail and South Platte River Trail, which meet at the park. Across the river stands REI’s Denver flagship, set in the historic Denver Tramway power plant. From here it is a short walk to Union Station, Elitch Gardens and the Downtown Aquarium.

Confluence Park is open year-round from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m., and the trails stay popular for walking and biking through the cooler months. River flows and water quality change with the seasons, so check posted signs before wading or paddling. For park rules and updates, see Denver Parks and Recreation at denvergov.org.