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Colorado State Parks
Parks > St. Vrain State Park > Park Activities

Park Activities

Biking

Flat, easy trails make a leisurely ride around the park a comfortable experience. There are six trails in the park: Pelican Pond, Bald Eagle Pond, Muskrat Run, Blue Heron Reservoir, Coot Pond, and Red Tail Pond trails. There are a total of 7 miles of interconnected trails on the park.

The Colorado Front Range Trail at St. Vrain State Park is 2.1 miles one-way, paved in concrete for easier access for pedestrians. The trail connects with the Weld Legacy Trail east of I-25 at the Weld County Southwest Hub Building. The trail currently ends at the southwest corner of the park before Highway 119 and St. Vrain Creek meet. This section of trail will eventually join the City of Longmont trails to provide safer and more enjoyable routes for pedestrians away from the highways; however, Longmont has not completed their sections of the through trail. The trail effectively ends at this point and no access is permitted beyond the fenced boundaries of the trail section.

There are no bike lanes, sidewalks, or paved shoulders on park roads; please share the road whether you are a driver or pedestrian.

(Updated: 11/3/2022 3:16 PM)

Birding

Visitors can observe migrating waterfowl, songbirds and raptors. During the winter, St. Vrain is home to bald eagles.

(Updated: 8/16/2017 9:56 AM)

Boating

Vessels that are hand or foot propelled or with electric trolling motors are permitted on all ponds. Inflatable devices that contain two or more chambers are also permitted. All vessels must be handlaunched on ponds without boat ramps.

Boaters must adhere to Colorado Boating rules and regulations regarding registrations, operation, and equipment.

Gas powered motors are permitted on Blue Heron Reservoir; but must be operated at wakeless speeds. There is a boat ramp, trailer parking, and restrooms available for boaters on Blue Heron Reservoir.

Boat Registrations, ANS stamps and Non-resident ANS stamps are available at the Entrance Station.

  • If your boat requires a physical inspection before registering, please call (303) 678-9402 to make sure a ranger is available before coming to the park.

(Updated: 3/15/2024 12:43 PM)

Camping

St. Vrain is conveniently located off I-25 and Hwy 119, in between Denver, Boulder, Greeley, and Fort Collins. The newly modernized campsites fill quickly, please reserve your site in advance. Reservations are required, but can be made the day of arrival or up to 6 months in advance.

We currently do not have group camping facilities. Groups are welcome in our campgrounds, but the maximum number of people per campsite is 6, groups larger than 6 campers must reserve additional sites as needed.

Sites may only have 2 tents, or 1 hard-sided camping unit (RV, Camper Trailer, Bus, Van, etc.) and 1 tent. Campers may only have 2 vehicles per site.

All vehicles must have a valid park pass in addition to the camping reservation.

For more information, see the Camping page.

(Updated: 3/10/2023 11:12 AM)

Dog-friendly

Dogs and pets are welcome throughout the park as long as:

  • All pets must be on a six foot or shorter leash at all times, under the control of a human.
  • All pet waste must properly disposed of.

Dogs and humans should not drink from ponds or waterways.

(Updated: 9/18/2023 8:56 AM)

Education Programs

St. Vrain holds regular large-scale educational events such as Trail-er-Treat, First Day Hikes, St. Vrain’s Fishing Expo, World Migratory Bird Day, and Bald Eagle programs for Independence Day.

We can set up field trips or ranger guided programs for schools, day camps, and scout groups by contacting scottj.reffel@state.co.us.

We have a free educational app called Agents of Discovery that you can download on any device to lead self-guided programs. Agents of Discovery is available for dozens of Colorado State Parks, as well as city, county, and federal properties around the state and country. The app uses augmented reality interfacing, such as Pokemon GO! or Harry Potter Wizards Unite. Challenges can be loaded on the interactive map while hiking to GPS locations in the park, or by downloading ahead of time and playing as you explore the park.

(Updated: 11/4/2023 8:12 AM)

Fishing

The ponds offer Bluegill, Green, Orange-Spotted and Red-Ear Sunfish, Pumpkin Seed, Black Crappie, Largemouth Bass, Yellow Perch, Sauger/Saugeye/Walleye, Northern Pike, Channel Catfish, White Bass, Wiper, and Rainbow Trout. Trout fishing is excellent from fall through spring, but waters are too hot in summer months for trout to survive.

There are 2 trophy Bass ponds at St. Vrain: Great Blue Heron Reservoir and Bald Eagle Pond. These waters have special restrictions and are catch-and-release for all Bass.

Bald Eagle is artificial fly and lure only, no bait of any kind is permitted.

Blue Heron is also a trophy catfish water, anglers are permitted 1 catfish over 20” in length out of their total creel limit of 10.

Ice fishing is very productive in the winter months on our trout ponds, as well as for Walleye and Crappie.

Other species that may be found at St. Vrain include Gizzard Shad, Common Carp, and Bullhead Catfish. These fish have largely been introduced by flooding.

Bowfishing for Carp, Suckers and Northern Pike is permissible with a valid fishing license.

Bowfishing or gigging is allowed for Bullfrogs as well, during legal season.

Snapping turtles may be caught and kept in season.

Seining and cast netting is legal for bait fish only, St. Vrain is in Weld county where these methods are legal.

Crawfish may be caught, but should not be reintroduced to other bodies of water alive.

Check the St. Vrain fishing page for updated information.

(Updated: 1/15/2024 7:44 AM)

Hiking

Flat, easy trails make a leisurely stroll around the park a comfortable experience. There are six trails in the park: Pelican Pond, Bald Eagle Pond, Muskrat Run, Blue Heron Reservoir, Coot Pond, and Red Tail Pond trails. There are a total of 7 miles of interconnected trails on the park.

The Pelican Pond Trail is now paved in concrete for easier access for users hiking or on wheels and connects the trail with the Park Entrance Station and the Weld County Legacy Trail that meets along St. Vrain Creek under I-25.

The Colorado Front Range Trail portion that is paved runs from this location to the far southwest corner of the park, where it will eventually tie in to the City of Longmont Trails that have not yet been completed. As of right now, this western-most portion is effectively a dead-end trail. But there is good visibility for wildlife viewing, especially into our very large Great Blue Heron Rookery (which was the largest in the state prior to the 2013 floods).

(Updated: 1/15/2024 7:53 AM)

Horseback Riding

Horseback riding is allowed on all trails within St Vrain State Park. We offer paved and dirt trails throughout the park. Horses are not permitted in the campground areas.

Horse trailers may park at the Blue Heron Reservoir parking lot. Horse waste must not be left on the trails and should be properly disposed of by the rider.

Horses & equipment are not available to rent from St Vrain State Park. There are no overnight equestrian camping facilities at St Vrain State Park.

(Updated: 1/15/2024 7:50 AM)

Jet Skiing

We are able to register your jet-ski at our park entrance. Personal Watercrafts (PWCs) are not suitable on our ponds as they create a wake.

(Updated: 9/18/2023 8:57 AM)

Model Airplane Flying

Model airplanes, drones, and remote controlled cars, boats, aircraft are not permitted at St. Vrain State Park. There is a model airfield and an RC car track 3 miles down the road at Union Reservoir in Longmont.

(Updated: 11/4/2023 8:11 AM)

OHV Riding

We DO NOT have facilities for Off-Highway-Vehicle (OHV) use.

OHV Registrations, Non-resident OHV Stickers, and OHV Permits for vehicles plated in Colorado are available at the Entrance Station.

  • If your OHV requires a physical inspection before registering, please call (303) 678-9402 to make sure a ranger is available before coming to the park.

(Updated: 3/15/2024 12:42 PM)

Picnicking

Tables with shelters and grills amongst mature cottonwood or willow trees and great fishing spots welcome hungry nature lovers. Reservations are required to use a campsite, but all picnic areas are first-come, first-serve.

(Updated: 3/26/2021 1:41 PM)

Snowmobiling

We do not have snowmobiling terrain, trails, or weather here.

Snowmobile Registrations and Non-resident Snowmobile Stickers are available at the Entrance Station.

  • If your Snowmobile requires a physical inspection before registering, please call (303) 678-9402 to make sure a ranger is available before coming to the park.

(Updated: 3/15/2024 12:42 PM)

Swimming

Swimming is allowed on all ponds at St. Vrain due to a regulatory change as of January 1, 2022. However, there are some things you should consider before you go:

  • Swim at your own risk!
  • There are no lifeguards or rescue stations.
  • Any children under 13 y.o. must be accompanied by an adult if swimming.
  • No single-chamber, inflatable swim toys are permitted on any of the ponds.
  • Any person swimming from a vessel must have a Personal Floatation Device (PFD) immediately accessible, and child under 13 y.o. must be wearing the PFD at all times.

(Updated: 11/3/2023 11:53 AM)

Water Skiing

We will gladly register your boat at our park entrance. However, waterskiing/wakeboarding are prohibited on all ponds at SVSP.

(Updated: 8/16/2017 10:18 AM)

Wildlife Viewing

St. Vrain State Park is home to a variety of wildlife in a fairly small area, including:

Coyote, Red Fox, Bobcat, White-tailed and Mule Deer, Beaver, Muskrat, Mink, Raccoon, Cottontail Rabbit, and Black-tailed Prairie Dog.

There are also a variety of reptiles and amphibians such as Snapping Turtle, Painted Turtle, Soft-shell Turtle, Woodhouse Toads, Bullfrog, Chorus Frog, Northern Watersnake, Bullsnake, and a few species of Garter Snakes. We do not have Rattlesnakes.

St. Vrain State Park is one of the best locations in the state for close proximity birding, we are especially known for Pelicans, Great Blue Herons, Great Horned Owls, Bald Eagles, Osprey, American Kestrels, and a wide variety of songbirds, waterfowl, and raptors.

St. Vrain was once home to the largest Great Blue Heron rookery and the only known Great Egret rookery in the state. There are also many nesting Osprey, Great Horned Owls, Barn Owls, Kestrels, Red Tailed Hawks, and Swainson’s Hawks. There are three different identified Bald Eagle nests within 3 miles of the park, but none on the park property.

(Updated: 1/26/2022 10:01 AM)

Winter Camping

St Vrain offers 40 reservable campsites that accommodate tents and RVs during winter months. Sites on the North side have electric hookups, water hydrants are shut off in the winter, but the dump station is available with heated stems. Sites on the South side offer heated water, sewer, and electric hookups. Come and camp with us year-round!

For more information, see the Camping page.

(Updated: 2/12/2023 8:28 AM)