Barr Lake State Park
State Park in Brighton, CO
Hours:
Park: 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Office: Monday through Sunday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Entrance Fees:
- Daily Vehicle Pass: $10
- Individual Daily Pass: $4
Animals Permitted:
- Leashed Dogs
- Service Animals
- Horses
Park Address:
13401 Picadilly Road
Brighton, CO 80603
United States
Barr Lake State Park
State Park in Brighton, CO
Hours:
Park: 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Office: Monday through Sunday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Entrance Fees:
- Daily Vehicle Pass: $10
- Individual Daily Pass: $4
Animals Permitted:
- Leashed Dogs
- Service Animals
- Horses
Park Address:
13401 Picadilly Road
Brighton, CO 80603
United States
Lake Closed to All Vessels -
Due to low water levels, which makes rescues more difficult, the lake is closed to ALL boats for the remainder of the season, including hand-launch vessels.
Children and parents enjoying Mud Day at Barr Lake
Activities and Trails
What to Do at Barr Lake
Just 20 minutes northeast of Denver, you'll find Barr Lake State Park. The park offers a variety of activities throughout the year beside 1,950 acres of peaceful water and a fishing pier that's ADA accessible.
- Archery
- Biking
- Birding
- Boating
- Cross-country Skiing
- Eagle Express Tours
- Education Programs
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Horseback Riding: Equestrian Playground
- Hunting: Waterfowl, Goose, Dove
- Ice Fishing
- Paddle Boarding
- Photography
- Picnicking
- Sailboarding
- Snowshoeing
- Wildlife Viewing
The Best of Barr Lake
Explore Nature
The park's main attraction is its adbundant opportunities to explore nature and view wildlife.
Archery Range
Barr Lake offers 12 shooting lanes with heavy-duty targets. The targets vary from 10 to 100 yards, giving novice and advance shooters alike the opportunity to develop their skills.
Boating
Only sailboats, hand-propelled craft, and boats with electric trolling motors or gasoline motors 10 horsepower or less are permitted on Barr Lake. Boats are allowed only on the north half of the lake. The Barr Lake boat ramp is located on the east side of the lake and accessed through the main entrance.
Fishing
Great fishing, close to Denver and Boulder. The lake is stocked with channel catfish, largemouth and smallmouth bass, rainbow trout, walleye, bluegill, wiper, and tiger muskie. Fishing is not allowed in the wildlife refuge area, or in the irrigation canals surrounding the lake. Fishing is allowed from the shore or from a boat on the north side of the lake. ADA-accessible fishing piers are available.
Upcoming Events
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ALL-TERRAIN MOTORIZED WHEELCHAIR
Track Chair Program
The Track Chair Program allows wheelchair users and those with varied mobility the opportunity to explore hiking trails and experience the outdoors in an accessible way. A park volunteer will also be on the hike and will have the ability to control the chair with an attendant control should the need arise.
Outings range from 2-3 hours on average, depending on the participants desires. Scheduling is flexible and not limited to weekdays. At this time, use of the track chair is free of charge. A park pass is required on all vehicles entering the park.
To reserve a track chair, please email [email protected] or call us at 303-6005.
Hiking, Biking, and Horseback Riding
Trails
Barr Lakes offers great trail opportunities for visitors wanting to hike, bike or ride their horse.
Lake Loop Trail
8.8 miles
Hiking, biking, horseback riding
Dog friendly
Lake Perimeter Trail
9 miles
Hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding
Dog friendly
Prairie Welcome Trail
1.3 miles
Birding, wildlife viewing
Niedrach Nature Trail
Wildlife viewing
Dam Crest Trail
Hiking, biking
Closed Wednesdays and Saturdays from October through February
Lake Loop Trail
8.8 miles
Hiking, biking, horseback riding
Dog friendly
Lake Perimeter Trail
9 miles
Hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding
Dog friendly
Prairie Welcome Trail
1.3 miles
Birding, wildlife viewing
Niedrach Nature Trail
Wildlife viewing
Dam Crest Trail
Hiking, biking
Closed Wednesdays and Saturdays from October through February
Horses
The road across the top of the dam (Crest Trail) is open to hikers and bicycles, but not to horses. Horseback riders can use the lower trail below the dam. Bicycles and horses are permitted on the main trails, but not on the boardwalks.
Dogs
Dogs are not allowed in the wildlife refuge area. Please plan ahead, and do not bring them on hikes that include this protected section of the park.
Dove and Waterfowl
Hunting
Hunting is limited to dove and waterfowl only. All hunters must check in before starting and check out after finishing at the hunting kiosk located at the east entrance. Hunters must carry their valid small-game hunting license with their current HIP number on the license.
Waterfowl hunting is permitted only during the legal, regular waterfowl seasons and on Wednesdays and Saturdays only, from 30 minutes before sunrise until sunset. Waterfowl hunting is restricted to blinds located north of the dam, and registration is required. Contact the park office for current hunting restrictions and information. No other hunting or trapping is allowed in the park. One specially designed blind is available for hunters with disabilities.
Waterfowl Hunting Rules
- Fires are prohibited, but propane heaters are permitted in of alcohol or a controlled substance.
- Dogs must be under control and on a six-foot leash, except when actively retrieving.
- Only shotguns loaded with steel shot can be used to hunt waterfowl. Lead shot is prohibited.
- Shotguns must be unloaded while walking to and from the blinds, and bags are encouraged.
- Obtain permission before entering private property to retrieve downed game.
For information on hunting boundaries please review the brochure and map available at the Visitor Center.
Dove hunting is only on Sunday and Monday in September only. Hunters must stay within 10 yards of the station marker. Hunters may walk up to 50 yards from their assigned post to retrieve a downed bird.
Dove Hunting Rules
- Hunters retrieving a downed bird must leave their unloaded firearm at the marker location. Hunters must wear a fluorescent orange hat or vest when in the field retrieving downed birds. The vest or hat can be removed while at the marker post.
- Only three hunters are allowed at each station. This includes children.
- Hunters must walk to and from their blinds along the marked or mowed access path only.
- Please pickup all of your shot shell hulls before leaving the hunt location.
- Shotguns cannot be larger than 12 gauge.
- Hunters must use 7.5 or smaller shot.
- Shotguns cannot be capable of holding more than 3 shells in the magazine and chamber combined.
- Hunters must clear all gear, decoys and harvested birds from the station marker area within 30 minutes of closing time for both the morning and afternoon hunting periods.
For information on hunting boundaries please review the map.
Make a Reservation
Each hunter may reserve only one station per hunting day. Vacated and reserved stations that are unoccupied by 7 a.m. are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Once a station has been reserved or occupied by a hunter, no one else may check in to that blind until it is vacated and checked out. Visit the hunting reservation page or call 1-800-244-5613 for more information or to reserve a hunting blind. Reservations may be made 14 days in advance, Monday through Friday.
During waterfowl and dove season, hunters can reserve blinds north of the Barr Lake dam by visiting the hunting reservation page or calling 1-800-244-5613.