Memorial Day Office Closure
Colorado Parks and Wildlife offices will be closed for the state holiday, Monday, May 25. To honor military members for their service CPW offers active duty military and veteran benefits to enjoy fishing, hunting and state parks.
State Park in Firestone, CO
Hours:
Day Use: Daily, 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Entrance Station: Daily, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Entrance Fees:
Daily Vehicle Pass: $10-$15
Individual Daily Pass: $4
Animals Permitted:
Park Address:
3785 Weld County Road 24 ½
Firestone, CO 80504
United States
State Park in Firestone, CO
Hours:
Day Use: Daily, 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Entrance Station: Daily, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Entrance Fees:
Daily Vehicle Pass: $10-$15
Individual Daily Pass: $4
Animals Permitted:
Park Address:
3785 Weld County Road 24 ½
Firestone, CO 80504
United States
People fishing from pier on a pond
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 689 acres of land and 228 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
20
picnic sites
7
miles of trails
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 Entrance Station is located at 3785 Weld County Road 24 1/2 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.
For more information on St. Vrain‘s boat ramps and mandatory boat inspections, see the Park Highlights page. For more statewide boating information visit the CPW Statewide Boating page.
Two electric vehicle charging stations are available for use at the camper services building parking lot on the north side of the park.
There are no closures at this time.
Pass |
Description |
Duration |
Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Daily Vehicle Pass |
Single vehicle and its occupants with Colorado license plate |
1 Day |
$10-$12 |
|
Daily Vehicle Pass |
Single vehicle and its occupants with out-of-state license plate |
1 Day |
$15-$17 |
|
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 |
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.
Bird, plant and wildlife guides may be available at the park book store. You can also use St. Vrain State Park's iNaturalist app observations for Android and iPhone. iNaturalist is a free online social network and citizen science platform that allows users to record and share observations of biodiversity. By uploading photos or sounds of wild organisms, you can get help identifying species from a global community of naturalists and even an automated identification tool. Using iNaturalist helps you learn about local nature, connect with other enthusiasts, and most importantly, contribute valuable scientific data to biodiversity research and conservation efforts worldwide.
Be on the Lookout for Birds
Can you spot all the resident and visiting bird species? Download the Bird List Brochure (PDF).
View a short video and tips on watching wildlife safely and find important information on crossing paths with wildlife.
The park is lacking vital data on amphibian and reptile populations. By logging your reptile and amphibian observations into St. Vrain State Park's iNaturalist app, you'll help us collect data that's essential for protecting and preserving the Park's natural resources.
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.
Jun
6
Jun 6, 2026 · 6:00am - Jun 7, 2026 · 10:00pm
Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area
Fish for free June 6-7, 2026 and experience why people get hooked on fishing in Colorado.
Jun
6
Jun 6, 2026 · 6:00am - Jun 7, 2026 · 10:00pm
Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area
Fish for free June 6-7, 2026 and experience why people get hooked on fishing in Colorado.
Jun
6
Jun 6, 2026 · 6:00am - Jun 7, 2026 · 10:00pm
Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area
Fish for free June 6-7, 2026 and experience why people get hooked on fishing in Colorado.
Jun
6
Jun 6, 2026 · 6:00am - Jun 7, 2026 · 10:00pm
Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area
Fish for free June 6-7, 2026 and experience why people get hooked on fishing in Colorado.
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.
