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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

Contact:

303-659-6005

[email protected]

An easy 1.3-mile walk from the Nature Center brings you to the Gazebo Boardwalk, where you can get an excellent view of the rookery using a spotting scope.

Barr Lake State Park

State Park in Brighton, CO

An easy 1.3-mile walk from the Nature Center brings you to the Gazebo Boardwalk, where you can get an excellent view of the rookery using a spotting scope.

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

Contact:

303-659-6005

[email protected]

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    A person looking out on Barr Lake with binoculars

    A person looking out on Barr Lake with binoculars

    Park Highlight

    Explore Nature at Barr Lake

    Barr Lake State Park is a wildlife viewing and recreation destination for the local and regional community, and it is one of the top birding destinations in the state of Colorado.

    Birds

    A bird watcher’s paradise, over 371 species of birds have been seen at the park. 

    Bird icon

    Bird List

    A bird watcher’s paradise, Barr Lake State Park offers an expansive boardwalk with beautiful gazebos and benches for unparalleled wildlife viewing. Prominent species there include eagles, pelicans, double-crested cormorants, blue herons and grebes.

    Find Out More
    Binoculars icon

    Bird Conservancy of the Rockies

    The park serves as the headquarters for the Bird Conservancy of the Rockies. Its staff operates banding stations in the park and offers public programs. They can be reached by calling their office at 303-659-4348.

    Visit The Website

    Best Ways to Watch Wildlife

    The refuge showing the waterway next to the lake

    The Lake

    The refuge is a large section of the lake that is off limits for boats and watersports, so all kinds of wildlife have space and peace to thrive. Prominent species there include eagles, pelicans, double-crested cormorants, blue herons and grebes.

    The boardwalk passes over the water and past trees.

    Boardwalk

    The boardwalk is situated over the park’s beautiful wildlife reserve, where green tree canopies and glittering waters overwhelm the senses. Featuring gazebos and benches overlooking the quiet lake, the boardwalk offers the perfect perch for birdwatching and ​​​​photography.

    A bald eagle

    The Eagle Express

    The Eagle Express — a motorized 13 passenger cart — takes bird watchers on naturalist-guided tours on Barr Lake’s trails weekends from mid-May through September.​

    Sign for the Barr Lake Nature Center

    Explore Nature

    Nature Center

    At the Barr Lake Nature Center, visitors can see displays about the park’s wildlife and have their questions answered by a naturalist. The Nature Center is located near the south parking lot. 

    Center hours vary; call 303-659-6005 for hours and information about upcoming programs or to arrange a program for your group.