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. It is the largest great blue heron rookery in the state.

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.