Locals Guide

Located 30 miles from Downtown Denver, Evergreen is a quiet, picturesque mountain community cradled in the Rocky Mountains at an elevation of about 7,000 feet. Within commuting distance of the city, Evergreen comes complete with free-roaming wildlife and fragrant forest beginning at the base of one of Colorado's "fourteeners," Mount Evans. The community offers an array of business opportunities and housing options. The abundance of recreational opportunities include parks, art galleries, theaters, restaurants, entertainment, and more. In Evergreen we like to say, "Minutes away... a world apart."

West of Denver in the foothills lays the community of Evergreen, a desirable location for those wanting to live in the mountains and commute to Denver. There are about 25,000 residents in the city of Evergreen and the surrounding community allows you the feeling that you are really in the mountains, but just a short drive from downtown Denver.

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Each year, Newsweek picks the best high schools in the country based on how hard school staffs work to challenge students with advanced-placement college-level courses and tests. Just over 1,600 schools, only 6 percent of all the public schools in the U.S make the list. Evergreen High School is a phenomenal community high school nestled in the mountains of Evergreen, Colorado that covers more than 47 square miles. Our graduates are enrolled in all of Colorado's state colleges, as well as the most prestigious colleges throughout the country. These include, but are not limited to: Harvard, Yale, Brown, Stanford, Colgate, Olin College, Scripps, Tufts, and many others. We are most well-known for our rigorous, innovative, and creative academic curriculum.  While academics come first at EHS, we are committed to creating a fluid educational environment that also allows families to balance their lives with respect to athletics, activities, and community service.   As a 2007 AND 2016 National Blue Ribbon School, fourteen-time John J. Irwin Award winner, and one of Newsweek's top 500 high schools, EHS is a school of excellence for students, parents, staff, and the community.

Bergen Valley Intermediate School has also been ranked the #1 Elementary School in the State of Colorado.

Our community boasts Montessori, charter, and private choice schools as well.

Children of all ages are active in sports teams from soccer to swimming to of course skiing. High school boys and girls teams regularly make it to the championship levels.

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Evergreen, CO is one of the top 10 places to retire in the country. There are a wide variety of senior services, senior activities, living options and wide open spaces to enjoy nature, the arts and music.

Reasons to Retire in Evergreen

If you're thinking about making Evergreen your final home, we've got seven reasons to retire in our mountain community!

1. 1. A variety of retirement living options. Evergreen offers a spectrum of lifestyle choices, from senior living facilities and secluded horse properties to golf-centered communities.

1. 1. Access to medical care. Whether you need preventative care or treatment, local specialists and state-of-the-art facilities are within driving distance.

1. 1. Lots to do! You'll never run out of ideas with open space parks, rec centers, Evergreen Lake, yoga, year-round events such as art in Evergreen, music in Evergreen, hiking in Evergreen, biking in Evergreen and fishing in Evergreen.

1. 1. Continuing care options. Evergreen provides easy access to a full spectrum of independent and assisted living, respite, short-term rehabilitative care and in-home health care.

1. 1. Opportunities to volunteer. The fastest way to get involved in a new community is by volunteering. Evergreen has plenty of nonprofits, community organizations and interest groups to keep you busy, from arts, charitable foundation, sports and recreation, you'll meet like-minded neighbors and quickly form new friendships.

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Few things define the spirit of Evergreen as our coexistence with Nature. In a mountain community, "Nature" encompasses a broad scope: wildlife, creeks, open space, Evergreen Lake, forests, meadows and more.

For the many gardeners in Evergreen, the smell of soil is therapy itself. With the average frost-free growing season running from mid-June to Labor Day, Evergreen gardeners get 85+ days to harvest a garden.  Coupled with some indoor seed sowing and seedling transplantation, residents can grow almost anything. It's the ideal combination of self- sufficiency and therapeutic dirt work.

The only way to live among such beauty is by appreciating it every moment of every day. That often goes hand in hand with finding solace in your surroundings. Sometimes the peace occurs in the silence. Other times, it's found among the babbling brooks and chirping birds. For those times you're taking in the wonder of it all with children, it may be found in the giggling or the "oohs" and "ahhs" of discovery.

For many of us, sharing moments with Nature is often about stillness; it could be birdwatching at the Nature Center or fishing at dawn to watch the sunrise. Or perhaps it's identifying the animal footprints in your snowy backyard or watching the black squirrels climb trees as you sip your morning coffee.

However you pay respects to the great outdoors and its inhabitants, Evergreen will keep you busy-and enthralled.

Not every encounter with Nature will be one of quiet footsteps and meditation. Evergreen is full of hardy hikers, runners and bikers who hit the trails with full force. There are moderate mountain inclines, meadow paths and trails that take you to the pinnacle of a peak for stunning views. Depending on the season, you could see a waterfall, significant temperature changes, lots of other nature enthusiasts or absolutely no one.

You'll see many of these same runners at the Evergreen Trail Racing Series, a five-race series of events hosted by the Evergreen Park & Rec District. The races cover mountainous terrain and range from a 5K all the way to a half-marathon to the top of Bergen Peak.

It's easy to stay healthy and fit when you're having fun. Telling yourself you have to exercise isn't nearly as appealing as telling yourself you get to play golf at one of two 18-hole courses, go climbing at Buchanan Park Recreation Center's 41-foot pinnacle, or head out for a day of snowshoeing or cross-country skiing with the District-run "Experience Colorado" program.

Private recreation and fitness are in full bloom year-round in Evergreen. There are several places that offer access to weights, cardio equipment and trainers, Pilates, Nia, dance and a variety of types of yoga.

Whatever recreation you consider "fun," chances are it's available in Evergreen!

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The Evergreen area offers a mix of traditional and holistic healthcare and wellness. Progressive and open-minded, its residents rely on a variety of healing modalities. Popular alternatives to traditional healthcare approaches include meditation, acupuncture, Reiki, massage, and alchemy.

Nutrition plays a big role in both preventative care and healing, which is reflected in the number of places you can buy organic groceries, supplements, essential oils, tinctures, and other organic products.

In the scope of more traditional medicine, Evergreen has a wide range of practitioners. According to Livability.com, Evergreen has 47 doctors within city limits! Chiropractic, OB/GYN, dental care, osteopathic, internal medicine, eye care,  weight loss, and sports medicine are all within close reach, as is urgent care for more pressing needs that can't wait.

Evergreen's proximity to Denver gives its residents easy access to state-of-the-art facilities and specialists, including some of the best in the country. Livability cites 33 hospitals within 60 miles of Evergreen.

If you're retired or planning to retire, Evergreen can check all your boxes in terms of support services for seniors. The Evergreen area has a broad spectrum of options, from independent and assisted living, short-term rehabilitation, respite to in-home health care provided by private companies.

Whatever stage of life you're in-single, married with children or retired, Evergreen can provide the lifestyle you crave to stay healthy and happy. Wellness doesn't need to feel like work when you live in an outdoor playground and are surrounded by like-minded people. Finding balance just comes naturally in this mountain community, making the decision to move to Evergreen an easy one.

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The physical benefits of living in Evergreen are complemented by the mental and emotional benefits of living in a close network of family, friends, and community. In fact, such settings have been linked to a decreased risk of cognitive impairment, such as memory loss associated with dementia and Alzheimer's.

Those who live in Evergreen know that residents are interwoven, like a large but tight-knit family. There's a huge volunteer base, demonstrating the investment that community members have in one another's success and happiness.

Over the years, tens of thousands of volunteer hours have gone into Evergreen's festivals, parades, concerts and fundraisers in order to keep costs down to bring free or affordable fun to every member of the community. For newcomers, volunteering for and attending these annual events is one of the best ways to get to know your neighbors. Curious about volunteering with the Evergreen Chamber specifically? Contact our Operation's Manager at admin@evergreenchamber.org

Of course, you don't need specific events to get out and meet people! New residents will find that joining the Evergreen Area Chamber or volunteering with local arts and cultural staples-such as the Center for the Arts Evergreen, the Evergreen Chorale, the or the Evergreen Chamber Orchestra -can be a fast (and entertaining!) way to fill up your dance card.

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