St. Vrain State Park
State Park in Firestone, CO
Hours:
Park: Daily, 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Office: Daily, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Entrance Fees:
Daily Vehicle Pass: $10
Individual Daily Pass: $4
Animals Permitted:
- Leashed Dogs
- Service Animals
- Horses
Park Address:
3785 Weld County Road 24 ½
Firestone, CO 80504
United States
St. Vrain State Park
State Park in Firestone, CO
Hours:
Park: Daily, 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Office: Daily, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Entrance Fees:
Daily Vehicle Pass: $10
Individual Daily Pass: $4
Animals Permitted:
- Leashed Dogs
- Service Animals
- Horses
Park Address:
3785 Weld County Road 24 ½
Firestone, CO 80504
United States
People fishing from pier on a pond
Welcome to St. Vrain State Park
St. Vrain State Park is a top destination for visitors seeking a peaceful and simple outdoor getaway. Formerly named Barbour Ponds, this nature and people-friendly park offers 604 acres of land and 236 acres of water among several ponds. There’s something for every kind of nature lover, whether you're an angler, camper, photographer, bird enthusiast or simply someone who cherishes the beauty of the outdoors.
689
acres of land
228
acres of water
87
campsites
14
picnic sites
7
miles of trails
Directions
Accessing the Park
From I-25
Exit I-25 (Exit 240) on Colorado 119 west, then north on County Road 7 until it turns into County Road 24 1/2. Turn right to the park entrance. Please be aware of the speed limits: They are there for your protection, as well as our wildlife.
St. Vrain's Park Office is located at 3525 State Highway 119 in Firestone, Colorado 80504.
Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.
The boat ramp is located on the Northeast corner of Blue Heron Reservoir at the Blue Heron Reservoir Parking area.
Two electric vehicle charging stations are available for use at the camper services building parking lot on the north side of the park.
Fees and Passes
Pass |
Description |
Duration |
Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Daily Vehicle Pass |
Single vehicle and its occupants |
1 Day |
$10-$12 |
|
Individual Daily Pass |
For individual entry on foot, bicycle, horseback, etc at select parks |
1 Day |
$4 |
|
DMV vehicle registration renewal option for Colorado residents |
12 Months |
$29 |
|
|
Annual Vehicle Pass (Affixed) |
Pass for a single vehicle and its occupants |
12 Months |
$80 |
|
Family Annual Pass (Hang Tag) |
Members of the same household |
12 Months |
$120 |
|
Aspen Leaf Annual Pass |
Colorado residents 64+ |
12 Months |
$70 |
|
Centennial Pass |
Income-eligible Colorado residents |
12 Months |
$14 |
|
Columbine Pass |
Colorado residents with disabilities |
12 Months |
$14 |
|
Veterans License Plate |
DMV vehicle registration renewal option for military veterans (disabled veterans or purple heart plates) |
Lifetime |
Free |
|
Independence Lifetime Pass |
Colorado resident veterans with disabilities |
Lifetime |
Free |
|
Blue Spruce Pass |
Colorado resident first responders with disabilities |
Lifetime |
$10 |
Nature and Wildlife
Explore St. Vrain's numerous fishing ponds, exceptional birding opportunities and first-class camping facilities. With an unrivaled mountain backdrop, each visit promises a unique outdoor experience.
Be on the Lookout for Birds
Can you spot all the resident and visiting bird species? Download the Bird List Brochure (PDF).
Birds You Might Find
- Osprey
- Killdeer
- Belted Kingfisher
- American Robin
Mammals You Might Find
- Deer Mouse
- Fox Squirrel
- Black-tailed Prairie Dog
- Striped Skunk
- Bobcats
- Mink
- Coyote
- Red Fox
- White-Tail Deer
- Beaver
- Muskrat
Reptiles and Amphibians You Might Find
- Painted Turtle
- Northern Water Snake
- Bullfrog
- Yellow-bellied Blue Race
Habitats and Plants at This Park
Lush vegetation is found within St. Vrain State Park in our riparian and wetland habitats. Plains cottonwood trees stand strong and tall throughout the park and provide idyllic areas of shaded tranquility on hot summer days. Willows line the waterways and provide stability to the shorelines of our 14 ponds and the banks of the St. Vrain River.
Wildflowers and flowering shrubs such as rabbitbrush, prickly poppy, prairie coneflower, little sunflower, Rocky Mountain beeplant, prairie clover and milkweed are found within the park throughout the spring and summer.
Noxious weeds and non-native plants play a larger role in the park’s ecosystem than they should. However, eradication efforts are underway to remove the most widespread and detrimental species such as Russian olive, tamarisk and Eurasian watermilfoil.
Upcoming Events
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History
The land where St. Vrain State Park currently sits was once home to Ute, Arapaho and Cheyenne tribes. It was then claimed by Spain, then France, who sold it to the US in 1803 as part of the Louisiana Purchase. As explorers moved across the newly acquired territory, their descriptions of the land and a growing fur trade encouraged westward exploration.
When gold was discovered near Denver in 1858, the area saw a wave of eager gold seekers. Records indicate that Milo Smith, Perry L. Smith and Elisha Duncan settled east of St. Vrain Creek and Boulder Creek on land that would one day become St. Vrain State Park.
After the turn of the century, people began depending on cars rather than wagons. In 1958, the Department of Transportation purchased land along the St. Vrain from Edwin and Albert Anderson to mine the gravel needed for the construction of Highway 87. In 1961, the highway was completed north to Highway 66, and the Department of Transportation no longer needed the gravel pit.
In 1962, the gravel ponds were turned over to the State Parks Department for a state recreation area. The Parks Department turned the 50 acres of land and 80 acres of water into a recreation area named for Roy N. Barbour, an area resident and avid conservationist.
Barbour Ponds drew visitors from the Denver area in search of fishing and seasonal duck hunting. In 1967, the area had 60,000 visitors. In 1968, the state allocated $55,000 to construct a 25-site campground with modern sanitary facilities, running water, turnouts and shade shelters, tables and grills. As visitation continued to grow, the park service made improvements.
In 1975, these improvements included 75 campsites, better parking and paving. In 1977, Muskrat Nature Trail was built with help from the Youth Conservation Corp.
By 2004, a new entry station was built, water and electricity were installed, and preliminary work was done for improvements through 2007.
In May 2015, Blue Heron Reservoir opened, helping to commemorate the park’s 50th anniversary.
Today, visitors can walk nature trails around 10 of the ponds, enjoy birdwatching and photography, spend the night in up-to-date campsites, fish in stocked ponds and enjoy views of Longs Peak.