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Colorado State Parks

Park Facilities

Camper Services Building

Convenient free showers and flush toilets are located at the Barbour Ponds Camper Services Building on the Northside of the park. One restroom with flush toilets is available on the Southside of the park near Coot Pond Campground Loop.

(Updated: 2/12/2023 8:27 AM)

Campgrounds

Campgrounds and reservations are open year-round. All campers must reserve a campsite prior to occupying the site.

Advance Reservations are recommended on Weekends from March through October, and all week from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Reservations can be made up to 6 months prior.

Day-of reservations can also be made at the Entrance Station upon arrival when sites are available. They can also be made online or by phone at the Self-Service Kiosk when the Entrance Station is closed.

Campers may not stay more than 14 days in a 28 day period. Violations will be subject to cancellation of exceeding days and may be fined and/or evicted.

For more information, see the Camping page.

(Updated: 3/26/2021 1:51 PM)

Dump Station

A dump station is available on CR 24 1/2 East of the Entrance Station. In order to use the dump station, a valid camping or one-time dump permit are required. Some water hydrants may be turned off during colder months to prevent freezing.

(Updated: 1/9/2020 10:44 AM)

Electric Vehicle Charging Station

2 EV charging stations are available for use at the Camper Services Building Parking Lot on the North Side of the Park. A valid parks pass is required on all vehicles entering a Colorado State Park.

(Updated: 8/24/2022 5:36 PM)

Fishing Piers

Anglers have a place to dangle their lines from universally accessible fishing piers at Pelican and Sandpiper Ponds. There are also stone fishing platforms located in Pelican, Mallard, Sandpiper, Bald Eagle, and Coot Ponds.

Fishing from the boat dock and ramp at Blue Heron Reservoir is prohibited; including while ice fishing.

However, there is also a new fishing dock on the east shoreline of Bald Eagle. This courtesy dock is for fishing access, hand-launched vessels may use it as long as they don’t interfere with persons actively fishing.

(Updated: 3/15/2023 4:21 PM)

Picnic Sites

Tables with shelters and grills are found amongst the ponds and trees of the park. Not all picnic tables have a covered shelter. There are picnic tables on or near Bald Eagle, Blue Heron Reservoir, Mallard, Pintail, Pelican, and Sandpiper Ponds.

(Updated: 1/26/2022 10:05 AM)

Showers

Showers are available to campers with valid reservations, they are located in the Barbour Ponds Camper Services Building on the North side of the park.

Showers are operated by push-buttons and will run for a short period of time before they need to be pushed again. Typically takes about 1 minute to heat up.

(Updated: 7/28/2021 3:05 PM)

Trails

Flat, easy trails make a leisurely stroll around the park a comfortable experience. There are more than 7 miles of interconnected trails, some specific routes are as follows:

  • Pelican Pond Trail is 1.3 miles and follows the shoreline of Pelican Pond, overlooks St. Vrain Creek, and crosses a footbridge to Mallard Pond. It can also be accessed from Blue Heron Reservoir Parking, which adds 0.4 miles round-trip. The Weld County Legacy Trail connects with this trail from below I-25 along the creekside. This section from I-25 all the way to the park entrance is paved in concrete.

  • Muskrat Run Trail is a 1 mile loop that connects Sandpiper, Avocet, Killdeer, and Mallard Ponds.

  • Bald Eagle Pond Trail is a 1 mile loop that encircles Bald Eagle Pond and connects to Coot Pond.

  • Coot Pond Trail is a 0.6 mile loop that connects to trails on Bald Eagle and Pintail Ponds.

  • Red Tail Pond Loop is a short 0.35 mile loop for shoreline access at Red Tail Pond. This trail is not as accessible as the others because of steeper grades, narrow trails, and erosion/sink holes.

    • Blue Heron Reservoir Trail is a 1.6 mile loop that provides shoreline access to Blue Heron Reservoir.

    • This trail joins with another 0.6 mile section of trail that crosses County Road 7 westbound onto the LaFarge property at St. Vrain. This section of trail is part of the Colorado Front Range Trail at St. Vrain and will eventually connect to the City of Longmont trail system from Sandstone Ranch; however, until that time the trail is a dead end. No access is permitted on any other portion of the LaFarge property at this time and is signed and fenced as such. This area is very good for wildlife viewing, especially for birding, including a close look into a Great Blue Heron rookery that was once the largest in the state.

(Updated: 12/17/2022 3:25 PM)