Golden Closes Apex Park After First 2026 Bear Attack

Apex Park in Golden is closed. The nearly 800-acre space shut down Monday after officials confirmed the state’s first reported bear attack of 2026.

The encounter happened Sunday around 5:20 p.m. A woman was hiking a trail when a bear grabbed her backpack and scratched her leg. Colorado Parks and Wildlife says the animal followed her down the trail for more than 30 minutes.

Two other hikers tried to scare the bear off. They threw sticks and rocks. They made noise. The bear didn’t leave. It crossed a gully and started following a different pair of hikers on a nearby trail.

State wildlife officers searched for the bear Sunday night. They didn’t find it.

Jeffco Parks and Open Space announced the closure just after 6 a.m. Monday. They cited “aggressive bear activity.” The decision came after a bear was spotted in a residential area near the park that morning. Officials aren’t sure if it’s the same animal.

“This year, it is even more important that humans not provide unhealthy, unsafe food attractants for bears,” said Kara Van Hoose, a CPW spokesperson.

The short version: Bears are roaming farther because they’re hungry. A warm, dry winter depleted natural food sources. Bears are forced to roam farther into neighborhoods to find food.

Between 17,000 and 20,000 black bears call Colorado home. Most live where people camp, hike, and backpack. Most conflicts happen where trash, human food, or strong odors attract them.

As of June 12, CPW received 1,192 reports of bear activity across the state. Bear sightings are on the rise.

Locals need to understand the scale. Apex Park is big. Closing it removes access to a major recreational hub for Golden residents. But officials haven’t said how long the closure will last.

CPW advises staying alert on trails. Make noise periodically. Pack out all food and trash. Place food in two bags to reduce odors. Cook as far from your tent as possible when camping. Don’t store food or trash inside your tent.

This isn’t an isolated incident. Bears were seen in Arvada, Wheat Ridge, and Louisville in May. Some went as far east as Keenesburg. Severe drought and heat in some areas prompted alarms last month. Officials warned that bears might take extreme measures looking for food.

The woman who was attacked tried to scare the bear away. She used sticks. She used rocks. She made loud noises. The bear continued to follow her. It didn’t care about the noise. It cared about the backpack.

Jeffco Parks and Open Space closed the park because of the encounter. They didn’t wait to see if the bear would leave on its own. They acted when a bear was seen in a residential area Monday morning. That proximity to homes changes the risk profile for neighbors.

Read that again. The park is closed because a bear is likely still in the area. It’s not gone. It’s just not being found.

The financial hit to locals is immediate. Apex Park is a free public space. It’s a resource for daily exercise, dog walking, and family outings. Closing it pushes hikers to other trails. It increases congestion elsewhere. It removes a quiet escape from the urban sprawl.

No one has said when the park reopens. It hinges on whether the bear stays or moves on. It hinges on whether the bear spotted Monday is the attacker. It hinges on whether another sighting triggers a longer closure.

The weather played a role. Warm and dry conditions stripped the woods of easy food. Bears had to work harder. They ended up closer to Golden’s trails. They ended up closer to your kitchen window.

CPW says to pack out your trash. Don’t leave it out. Don’t let it attract them. The bears know where the food is. They’re just waiting for you to drop your guard.

The attack was minor. A scratch. A grabbed backpack. But it marked the first of the year. And it happened in a populated area. That’s the warning. The bears are here. They’re hungry. And they’re not leaving until the food runs out or we do a better job hiding it.