Barr Lake State Park, Colorado State Parks

09/04/2026

Sometimes the smallest creatures have the biggest stories. 🐝

At Barr Lake State Park, our pollinator plot, bee hives, and native flowers help create a place where these little heroes can thrive.

08/22/2026

We hope the kiddos had a fun day playing captain and reenacting Titanic on our event boat at this year’s “Touch a Truck” - Brighton City Hall. Seeing the ‘Flight for Life’ helicopter land nearby was definitely a highlight too 🚁

08/07/2026

08/03/2026

Another successful Lincoln Hills Fly Fishing Clinic!!! Thanks to all the volunteers for their help and a big thank you to all our participants!! One more event coming up August 22, the event is sold out but please let us know if you cannot attend so others may sign up.

07/30/2026

Full Boating Closure at Barr Lake State Park

Beginning Monday, August 3, at 7:00 p.m., Barr Lake will enact a full boating closure. This closure includes canoes, kayaks, paddleboards, and all other watercraft.

Due to continued receding water levels, exposed mud and increasingly shallow conditions have reached a point where emergency rescue operations can no longer be conducted safely and effectively. Water levels are expected to continue decreasing each day.

We appreciate your understanding and cooperation as we prioritize the safety of our visitors and emergency responders.

07/27/2026

Adventure is for everyone. Today, on the 36th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, we’re celebrating access to the outdoors. Our all-terrain track chairs help more visitors explore trails and experience nature.

Call the Nature Center (303) 659-6005 to check availability and reserve a track chair for your next visit!

07/24/2026

When a trail's backed up, it's tempting to step around the crowd. That's how braiding starts — multiple parallel paths eating into vegetation that won't grow back this season, or maybe ever. Waiting ten seconds costs you nothing. Widening the trail costs everyone.

07/19/2026

The FRICO Berm project is set to resume on Monday, July 20, 2026. The project was initiated in 2023 after seepage was observed on the earthen berm (our Lake Loop trail). FRICO worked on the project in 2023 and 2024, from the northeast corner of the dam to the Nature Center pedestrian bridge. In 2025, FRICO had more pressing projects to complete and directed all their resources towards them. This year and next year, they will be returning to Barr Lake to complete their project. The project involves widening the surface of the berm to 23 feet across, creating a 2:1 slope, and removing all woody vegetation within 10 feet from the TOE of the slope (i.e. furthest point the slope extends).

FRICO (Farmers Reservoir and Irrigation Company) owns Barr Lake and the berm - CPW holds a long term recreation management lease on these areas. FRICO is required by Colorado dam safety to stabilize the berm and protect the long-term integrity of the water delivery system. As we’ve done throughout this project, we will continue to work closely with FRICO to minimize impacts wherever possible while allowing this critical infrastructure project to move forward.

Here is a timeline:
* ��Week of July 20: FRICO crews will remove several trees near the Niedrach entrance. During this time, there will be no public trail access from the Nature Center via the pedestrian bridge. The Lake loop trail will be closed from Pioneer cutoff trail to the boardwalk gazebo.
* ��Following week through the end of the year: Crews will move south into the refuge and continue toward the bifurcation structure. We have worked with FRICO to identify the nesting barn owls, and they will adjust their work sequence to minimize disturbance.
* ��Construction will occur Monday through Friday only. Trails will reopen on weekends.
* ��The BCR bird banding station will open in late August and FRICO will adjust operations to avoidinterference with banding operations.