Jefferson County officials closed Apex Park on Monday after a bear attacked a woman hiking in the area Sunday evening [1], [2].
The closure marks a significant safety escalation for the region, as the incident is the first reported bear attack in Colorado for the year 2026 [3].
The encounter occurred on June 21, 2026, near Golden, Colorado [2], [3]. Officials said the bear made physical contact with the hiker, an event that Colorado Parks and Wildlife defines as a bear attack [1], [2].
Following the report, authorities closed the park on June 22, 2026 [1], [2]. Officials said the decision was made as a precaution to protect the public from aggressive bear activity within the park boundaries [1], [2].
Only one person was directly involved in the incident [3]. Colorado Parks and Wildlife is currently investigating the circumstances of the encounter to determine the bear's behavior and the necessary steps for reopening the area [1].
Local officials have not yet provided a timeline for when the park will resume normal operations. They said they continue to monitor the site for further signs of bear activity to ensure the safety of residents, and visitors in Jefferson County [2].
“The incident is the first reported bear attack in Colorado for the year 2026.”
The closure of Apex Park highlights the ongoing tension between expanding human recreational areas and wildlife habitats in Colorado. Because this is the first confirmed bear attack of 2026, wildlife officials will likely use the investigation to assess if current bear-deterrent strategies are failing or if specific environmental stressors are increasing animal aggression near urban centers like Golden.
