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Barr Lake State Park, Brighton, CO

Photo: Louis, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized.

Sports & Outdoors

Barr Lake State Park

A 2,715-acre Colorado state park centered on a reservoir, known for wildlife viewing and birding northeast of Denver.

13401 Picadilly Road, Brighton, CO 80603 · Brighton, CO

About Barr Lake State Park

Barr Lake State Park surrounds a reservoir of more than 1,950 acres with cottonwoods, marshes and aquatic plants. Its southern half is a wildlife refuge that shelters many birds and animals. Visitors can walk trails, watch birds from viewing points, fish, and visit the nature center. Boating is currently closed for the 2026 season because of low water levels, and a toxic algae alert advises avoiding contact with the water.

  • #wildlife refuge
  • #birding
  • #reservoir
  • #trails
  • #nature center

What's around here?

The closest stops to Barr Lake State Park, ordered by straight-line distance. A few more like it, plus some different kinds of fun so you can build a full day.

  • Sightseeing
    Outdoor Adventure

    Aurora

    No admission fee

    Colorado city with parks, trails and a reservoir for hiking, paddleboarding and horseback riding near Denver.

    15 mi awaySwitch it up: Sightseeing

  • Museums

    Forney Transportation Museum

    Under $25

    A Denver museum of historical vehicles, from antique cars and locomotives to bicycles, carriages, and aircraft.

    16 mi awaySwitch it up: Museums

  • Attractions

    Butterfly Pavilion

    Under $25

    Nonprofit indoor insect zoo in Westminster, Colorado, centered on a tropical rainforest conservatory full of free-flying butterflies.

    16 mi awaySwitch it up: Attractions

  • Sports & Outdoors
    Local Gem

    Denver Botanic Gardens

    Under $25

    23 acres of themed gardens and a glass conservatory in the middle of the city.

    Transit: reachable by public transit

    18 mi awayMore like this

  • Sports & Outdoors

    Crown Hill Park

    Check prices

    A suburban-edge park around a lake, known for birdwatching and lakeside recreation, operated by Jefferson County Open Space.

    22 mi awayMore like this

  • Sports & Outdoors

    Hudson Gardens

    No admission fee

    A roughly 30-acre public garden and event venue in Littleton, southwest of Denver, with no entry charge.

    27 mi awayMore like this

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