Great experience at the Barr Lake State Park that is part of the Keep Colorado Wild Pass. When I arrived there wasn't a person at the entrance booth but there is a kiosk if you need to purchase a pass. Since I have KPW pass, I just showed it to the ranger when I saw him. My adventure was to paddleboard on Barr Lake and there is a mandatory boat inspection, I was not sure if qualify for the inspection so I proceeded to the inspection area. Unfortunately, there was nobody at the inspection area but there was instructions and phone number. The ranger I spoke to on the phone was great and explained that I did not need the inspection of my inflatable paddleboard. There are places that require SUPs and kayaks to be inspected hence I called. Somehow I missed the fact that south side of the lake is closed because it is a wildlife refuge fortunately there are buoys that mark the off limit areas. Overall the State Park staff that I interacted with, on the phone and in person, were awesome (might have been the same person, not sure). I strongly recommend reviewing the information at the entrance or check out the Park Brochure on the CPW website. read more

Beautiful and picturesque flat 14er! I found this location during my 2020/2021 Colorado relocation and fell in love. I should preface this with I LOVE COLORADO!!! I'm a San Diego native and yes it's home but Colorado has my heart. When you arrive at Barr Lake there is an entrance fee but it was minimal. I purchased the park pass. It was worth it. When you drive through the gate the speed is slow because there are multiple parking lots and turn off areas and pedestrians so keep an eye out. I drove to the last lot where the information center is and had no problem finding a parking spot. There were several people and groups already there and setting off on their walk. I joined them. It was a clear October day in 2020 and I was excited to walk and gawk and snap pictures. I walked about for over three hours and met some lovely people. I believe I snapped over 200 shots that day. It's one of my all time favourite places in Colorado. read more

See all

Recently got a Colorado State Parks pass with the purchase of my license plates for my new vehicle so I decided to check out Barr Lake. It's about 30 minutes from Denver and I when I arrived it was so windy so I didn't get to explore much. I will say though, it's a beautiful State Park with tons of parking, picnic tables, benches, and places to grill and chill. A lot of trails in the park too that I can't wait to go back and check out. You can take a boat out there as well. Will update my review when I go back on a less windy day! ** Also huge shout out to Judy at the pay station- she was super friendly and very helpful with the questions I had for her. I enjoyed our conversations and she also gave me a red plastic holder to keep my state parks pass in, which I throughly enjoyed receiving. ** read more

Barr Lake State Park - Hiking Near Me - Brighton, Colorado

See all

Barr Lake is a great spot to get your steps in! We just went in the Fall & this was the perfect time as all of the leaves have changed and it makes for a beautiful setting while you try to spot eagles! I would imagine this spot in the summer to be way too hot as there's little to no coverage from the sun. But, we had a great time! You will get dusty as most of the trail is dirt. Enjoy and happy eagle sighting! read more

Barr Lake State Park - Hiking Near Me - Brighton, Colorado

Buy a state park pass for Colorado and check out all of the parks including Barr Lake State Park. Fishing is allowed with a license. A beautiful park with mountain views, a lake, sand, and a cool breeze to make you feel like you're at the beach! There are trails to hike or you can bring your bike and go for a ride! Horses are allowed at this park too! A nature center is on the property for children to learn about wildlife or to have an indoor rest. Bring the picnic basket because there are lots of picnic tables and the views are spectacular! read more

See all

I came today for a quick hike and birding. I was not disappointed! The state park is so beautiful! We saw multiple species of birds, fish jumping out of the water, and a snake slithering in the water. We stopped at the nature center, and there was tons of information on the different species of birds to look for, and a cool couch with a window overlooking multiple birdfeeders. We spent a couple minutes sitting and watching the birds fly by. Kids would love this. It was awesome. The trail is mostly gravel. I was happy to see they were accessible power wheelchairs to rent in the nature center. I'm also very happy to see all of the events that Barr lake hosts. There are sunset/moonlight walks, birding walks, yoga, bike meetups, informational sessions for kids, and so much more. Bikes and horses are allowed on certain parts of the trail. I'll definitely be back, I have my eye on a couple events! read more

See all

A change of scenery. We've visited Barr Lake State Park with and without our pooch for a change of scenery and to bird watch/photograph. We've spotted many a bird walking here at different times of day. We were fortunate enough to hear and see two great horned owls hooting near one another in the early evening. We've also seen bald eagles and more common birds including water fowl. Some birds will nest around the state park. If you take your pooch, you are restricted to the area you are allowed to walk. You cannot walk the full perimeter. If you are paying a $10 fee just for the dog walk, it is not worth the visit. If the fee is covered by your state park pass ($29 annual), then it is an ok walk for taking your dog. They claim the walking area as a flat 14er which gave us a chuckle. It is nice to get walking and encourage moving but a 14er is a challenging hike (for most) with 14,000 feet of elevation. The state park can be like a neighborhood get-a-way for a short time. However, please keep your expectations clear knowing you are not in solitude and are able to see and hear vehicles and building structures depending on where you are at the park. read more

See all

I wouldn't considered Barr Lake to be one of my favorite state parks in Colorado, but it was nice to visit for an hour or two. There are a couple hiking trails, some with shade cover, some without. Depending on the time of year the lake can either be full or empty since it is used for crop irrigation nearby. I think the nature center is the highlight of the entire state park. They've got some good information inside and a big section geared towards kids. Plus a comfy spot for birdwatching. You cannot camp or swim here, but you can fish, hike, bird watch and go boating. All in all, not my favorite, but it is well kept and great for taking a leisurely walk. read more

See all

Beautiful trail! So well taken care of and the visitor center is so cool! Part of the trail is currently closed due to eagles nesting so the entire loop isn't accessible. It's currently in and out. read more

See all

Loved visiting this fab park. At 7:30 a.m. I was able to learn how experienced banders ( I made that up) place the tiniest bands on birds they catch ( I saw that too). It was an amazing & awesome show. They had 6 people in total, 2 or 3 to gather the tiny birds from the nests then place in pretty printed cotton drawstring bags. 2 people weighed and measured and 2 recoded the details. All this for $6. There is a nice gift shop. The grounds were wonderful to get a bird count with my fellow birder. Go! read more

See all

Barr Lake is an excellent getaway over near Brighton. There's a huge lake, many paths, and some incredible birdwatching! I would recommend starting at the Nature Center, where they have some great information and bird sightings. You can call ahead for this, the staff is always nice. There is a long, 9 mile path around the lake, allowing for great walking and biking. Careful, no dogs allowed on half. Birdwatching is a huge draw to the lake. There are seasonal populations of geese and other waterbirds, often numbering in the hundreds! The highlight here, however, are the many eagles that can be found! Visit from December to February, and you are very likely to see at least one Bald Eagle. Often eating on the ice or peaches in trees, this is one of the best places around to see so many eagles in one place. In fact, today we saw no less than 15! There were young juveniles, and many older birds. It was captivating to sit and watch them. Walk the mile to the Eagle View Boardwalk. You'll be glad you did. read more

Well, despite other reviews, I personally can find many positives to Barr Lake. While one cannot control Mother Nature, you have to commend Colorado State Parks for doing the best for this reservoir. There are several gazebos available for wildlife viewing (one has the most perfect view of a bald eagle nest), walking bridges that are ADA efficient and the trail is every runners dream. Soft, gravel paths to ease up the pavement pounding were much appreciated by my aging knees. Picnic areas were open and this place was perfectly serene. I would come back anytime, any season. $9 daily entrance fee or use your park pass! #AlwaysChooseAdventuresColorado read more

See all

No water ! Drought and irrigation makes all the lake water disappear. Still a nice place to walk or picnic but fishing or other water activity is gone. Hopefully rainy season will fill the lake back up read more

See all

My family and I decided to go on a nice walk with our dogs and children. The was a nice breeze blowing, a little overcast but the temperature was just right for a beautiful Colorado day. The trail a wide dirt trail, the surface hard enough for you to ride your bike on. This park provides miles of trails. The scenery is gorgeous with periodic places to take a rest on a bench and admire your surroundings. I really enjoyed my time here with my family and I am looking forward to coming back to do some more exploring. read more

See all

Nice place for an evening stroll!! I had the opportunity to visit Barr Lake Stae Park while in the area for business. After a big meal at Applebee's, I wanted to go somewhere and walk off my dinner. I noticed this State park on Google Maps and went to check it out. When I arrived I saw birders, boaters, and many many people fishing. There was ample parking and I made my way to the trails and went for a nice sunset walk. The area is very scenic, and at sundown, it was a great place to be. The park was clean and I had no issues with any people there. It was a very nice place to visit. read more

See all

Great park! I love the scenery of the lake and the trees. There are quite a few birds there and it's fun to look at them. It's very peaceful and walking on the boardwalk is really fun. Go for a great walk and to see and hear the birds! read more

Barr Lake State Park - Hiking Near Me - Brighton, Colorado

See all

We had a fantastic time at Barr Lake. Robert, a volunteer, was wonderful. He went above and beyond to help us. We planned to push our mother in her wheelchair on the path. But, Robert saw us and he used a park electric track chair for her on the trail. He spent about two hours with us maneuvering the chair along the trail. He taught us a lot. We saw lots of birds and an eagle. If ever you need him to use the special chair for someone, he said to call the nature center and reserve. It was very nice that our whole family could go "hiking" together. Thank you Robert. read more

Barr Lake State Park - Picture of lake - Hiking Near Me - Brighton, Colorado

See all

Barr Lake State Park is so beautiful! I recently came here with a group of photographers to take pictures of the bald headed eagles that live here, and I had so much fun. The trail around the lake is huge, I definitely underestimated the size of it. I think it took us around 4 hours to walk around the whole lake, nevertheless we all had a blast. The entry fee to enter is $9 as of 2020. Come and hike around this wonderful state park, it's definitely one of the best I've seen in Colorado, and plus it's pretty close to Denver! read more

See all

Best place to come and see some beautiful nature. I don't live far from here so I live to go all the time. read more

Barr Lake State Park - Adult bald eagles on my walk today! - Hiking Near Me - Brighton, Colorado

See all

The lake is almost completely dried up. We were there at dusk - but no eagles. Far in the distance there was a flock of geese near the tiny patch of remaining water. WHAT'S UP?? read more

The walking trails are well maintained, but the reason we came to this park is to bring the doggos and walk down to see the eagles. The eagles happen to be in the ONLY spot in the park that our four-legged friends are not allowed to go - which is fine, I just wish that was more upfront than the single sign that was posted along the trail that heads towards the eagles. Sadly we were not able to see the eagles, so we walked in the opposite direction around the lake. The path was clean and well maintained and offered nice views. Parking was a little tedious as there were so many people there (guessing, to see eagles as well). There's a nice nature center with clean indoor bathrooms, which was a definite plus. If easy trails and strolling are your cup of tea, this place is for you. Plan on leaving pups at home if you're heading south of the lake. read more

See all

By far one of my favorite places. The beach area is wonderful and always clean. They have great family events at The Nature Center. The rangers are always so helpful and kind. This ranger even brought my girls ice cream read more

Barr Lake State Park - Ice cream from the park ranger. - Hiking Near Me - Brighton, Colorado

What a horrible hike! So, I decided to take on the 9mile Lake Perimeter hike at Barr Lake (mostly because my Parks Pass expires next month and I want to max my use of it). Bad choice! The hike is not paved like Chatfield, so make sure to wear your hiking boots or bring your mountain bike. Cover yourself with bug spray, because the bugs are flippin everywhere! Wear a gallon of sunscreen and a hat because there is about zero shade. And, the brilliant people who placed the benches along the way, didn't even bother to put them in shady places for you to rest, they're in the hot freakin sun! Oh, and my favorite part, was the part of the hike where you must walk along the train tracks, just 5 feet from a 120mph speeding train! I've never been so scared. Plus, there are big red signs that say don't you dare get off the trail, so it's just you and the train, and of course the conductor honking that you should not be walking along the tracks (seriously dude, if I had any other option). It's flat and boring and the extent of the wildlife I saw was one snake in my path and the butt of one deer. There is a bald eagle sanctuary, but I saw no trace of any birds. Boo! Take a pass on this one, unless you have a boat to play on in the lake or a fishing pole that needs some exercise. read more

Barr Lake State Park - Hiking Near Me - Brighton, Colorado

I love this park! It is so quiet and beautiful. Perfect for a walk and a change of scenery. Get out and get that fresh air and enjoy some nature! read more

Barr Lake State Park - Hiking Near Me - Brighton, Colorado

Lake seems to be drying / losing a lot of water . Water level is pretty low and there is a really bad smell coming from the water . Definitely not recommend . read more

See all

Came in on new years day. Located off the old rural back roads where no new housing developments have popped up yet, lies a nice nature preserve that gives you a glimpse of that it was like here before the landscape began changing drastically. It was cold out but the inside of the mini museum and kids area they have inside was warm and comfortable. They offered us free coffee/ hot chocolate and cookies was was very polite of them. The park itself is huge and offers various trails, you can spend all day here hiking and it is pet friendly. We did not venture too far into the park because the lake was frozen and the low temps made it almost unbearable, however i did like what i saw. I can imagine it looking very different in the summer, but still awesome to see the froze over lake in the winter. read more

See all

Probably.... Wasn't the best time when we went. Denver basically on fire, the sky was muddled with smoke and the sun was red hot. The overall weather was also just too hot. We came here to blow off some time thinking we'd get to see some cool naturey stuff since we've spent the whole long weekend hiking. I didn't know it was $9.00 to go in, alas we decided to pay since we had so much time to kill before our delayed flight. Can I just say, it was the most regrettable $9.00 my boyfriend ever spent for a state park... The lake was basically a puddle, it seemed so dried up and tiny. It was very underwhelming. We decided to walk along the trail anyways, but again, there wasn't much to see. The lake was so dried up most of the animals that are usually there (herons, fishes, etc.) were all gone. It was just dry dirt ground. If you wanted to take the time and sweating effort, you can walk to what was the remains of the lake closer to the deeper center. Other than that, wasn't really worth the $9.00 we spent to get in when all we did was spend 10 minutes, got bored and left. So unfortunate, I think it would've been a beautiful if there was more rainfall and if there were also people that actually took some more effort in caring for this place. :( At the moment, I'm not even sure why people are being charged $9.00 when there's nothing there + doesn't seem like the money is being put to good use at the state park. read more

Barr Lake State Park is $8.00 to enter it's doors, but we got it waived during a Halloween event that didn't announce it. I've visited this wonderful park a few times and always believed it was a valuable open space for our community. They have a lake for fishing with a small wooden deck to get a glimpse of the waters. Lots of local residence have stated that the waters have been drying up for a while now, and also not a lot of fish to go around. The park also has an archery range that is one of my favorite sections of the state park. This state park is the closest to the airport, and has a lot of years of being a respectable park for me. Barr Lake also hosts various events throughout the year that caters to everyone in the family. We recently went on a small walk in their trails for Halloween, which the community served candy bags and dog accessories. We really do enjoy Barr Lake and hope to visit it for more events all year round. read more

See all

I love to walk and bird see her I am saddened by the 80 year old trees that are being cut down, its nature the bald eagles need there home's.. Please FRICO stop destroying our planet read more

I got treated so rudely and disrespectfully by a volunteer that I may never return. He was the rudest person I've ever met at a state park. The place is fairly beautiful but there's a lot of trash that could be cleaned up. Save your 9 bucks and go where you are treated better. read more

Barr Lake State Park - Trash - Hiking Near Me - Brighton, Colorado

See all

Probably not the most well known Colorado state park, probably not the most visited, but it's just a short drive northeast of Denver and has a lot to offer! Fishing, boating, bicycling, hiking, horseback riding, wildlife viewing, etc. Just off I-76, East of Brighton, CO, you probably wouldn't know that you were driving past a state park, but next time you're in the area, give it a try. Along with being a state park, it's also a wildlife preserve and home to numerous types of birds, including bald eagles who return to nest and raise their young each year. There are a decent number of covered & uncovered picnic tables as well as a large covered pavillion suitable for a single large group or numerous small groups. There's also an archery range that's free to use with park admission. The park office has a small gift shop along with a large learning area for children. The park regularly holds events for kids so this is a great spot to spend a day. There are adult/family events too including day and moonlight hikes & fishing clinics. Overall, I was very impressed with the offerings at Barr Lake State park and expect that we'll be back regularly! read more

To enjoy Barr Lake, you have to accept it for the simple park it is. There aren't many trails here, but if you're not up for serious hiking, you might really enjoy the 8.8 mile walk around the lake. You'll see plenty of water fowl, rabbits, and maybe even a bull snake. It's a beautiful walk that is nearly flat but quite long - so great for those trying to get in better shape. When I was there most recently there were several groups of kids receiving some nature lessons. So cool. There are also several small picnic areas and playgrounds, so it's not a bad place to bring the family. Do note that you cannot bring your dog around the entire lake walk - you'll have to turn around mid-way. One of the best things about Barr Lake is that it never seems to be crowded. Up for a long, solitary walk with beautiful scenery? This is your place. read more

The only reason why it is not a 5 star review is because the park ranger (Barney Fife) was driving around on his four wheeler along the beach where everyone was fishing and canoeing and harassing everyone. Besides that the view is awesome to get a nice long walk through nature and all its glory way out east. read more

Sadly this State park isn't what pictures show. The river is completely dried up and there is hardly any foliage anywhere to be seen. There is nothing green or semi green for literally miles. The lake is another thing all on its own. The water is almost 100 yards shallow. It's pretty obvious that no one takes care or cares at all about lake at all. The water is so shallow fishing here from shore is impossible. Came here to fish and its not even possible.. Will never come back. read more

Had a few hours to spend before our flight. I thought it would be nice to park next to a lake and read. Very far out of the way as there is only one access road. Finally got there to realize there was a $9 entrance fee plus $4 per person. Not even very pretty. read more

I came to see the bald eagles. They were not there. The water was frozen over so the consensus was the birds couldn't fish so they moved on. It's $4 for a daily pass. If the attendant is not at the station then you pull up to credit card box and serve yourself. You'll need your receipt to put on your dashboard. The eagles are normally located across the lake on the other side. A fellow leaving told us that a cart can take you there. We waited on the other side of the bridge but never saw a cart. It was cold and windy. We didn't walk. Instead, we looked around inside the nature center. An attendant greeted us. They had hot water for tea and cocoa along with coffee. You can sit on the couch and watch the various species of small birds at the feeders. There's lots of interactive things for children. As a matter of fact, there were a group of children in a room having lunch. A couple that we met when we arrived said they did walk for a little but never saw any eagles. We will return in the summer to walk around the lake. read more

See all

Did you know that Barr Lake State Park was established in 1977? Barr Lake State Park is perfect to do some bird watching, take in the beautiful scenery to get away from the city life. Tip: If you want to go into the water, you might get stuck in the mud. read more

Actual bathrooms! You may not think that's a big deal, but for me going in a park that has flushing toilets and running water is amazing. If you ever had to consecutively see the make shifts holes in the ground people call toilets you would know this lake gets five stars just for that. Other things to note: The water and scenery here are amazing. Be forewarned this place can go a little boat crazy. I went last week and there were more than a dozen boats on the lake. There was a point were a new boat was going into the water every 30 min. All in it's a great place if fishing, boating, or doing water stuff. You really can't do much else here. read more

Great all-in-one state park for outdoor archery, fishing, trail walking around a large lake, boating, and wild life refuge. The State park was well maintained with plenty of picnic benches and BBQ grills for those wonderful sunny day outings with family and friends. The archery range consisted of 8 bails at 10 to 60 yard ranges - just watch out not to hit any of the wildlife (prairie dogs/birds/rabbits). There were plenty of picnic benches and equipment hanging posts, which is excellent for spectators, such as myself. Not far from the archery range is the visiting center and Barr Lake refuge. There is a newly built bridge that leads a good distance into the huge lake where bystanders can really take in the scenery, snow covered mountain tops in the background and sounds of the wild life. There were a number of birds out and about, chirping away - very cool. Although we did not attempt the 8.8 mile walk along the lake, it's something to keep in mind when the bf and I want to set aside a picnic day. Overall, we look forward to Barr Lake again, whenever the city drives us crazy. read more

Is it the best park EVER? No, but it's a pretty decent place close to Denver. There's a path around the lake, 8.8 miles long. Only half is accessible if you have a dog so be prepared to turn around. There's archery and hunting during select seasons. Fishing is available along certain portions of the trail, or if you have a boat you can take it out into the lake, be ready for inspections. LOTS of different types of birds and as other have mentioned Bald Eagles! We saw a couple of Bull snakes or Rat snakes not sure which but they are there and cross the trail frequently so be aware. Carp were being fished out of the overflow ditch. It's a fun neat place to go and lots to see. It's not Yellowstone but it's a nice place to go for the afternoon. read more

Barr Lake State Park - Rat snake! - Hiking Near Me - Brighton, Colorado