Barr Lake State Park

Welcome to the beauiful Barr Lake State Park located in Brighton, Colorado just a short drive away from Denver.  

Park History: Over 150 years ago many wild animals gathered at what is now Barr Lake State Park including bison, elk, wolves, who were drawn by the abundant water supply. The abundance of wildlife drew hunters of the Ute, Arapaho, and Cheyenne tribes to the region. In the 1860's cowboys and Spanish steers arrived in the region and it became a popular rest stop for people traveling from Texas to Wyoming on the Goodnight-Loving Trail. In 1883, the Chicago, Burlington, and Quincy Railroad finally finished their link from Denver to Chicago and brought many settlers to the Barr Lake Region. In 1886, construction of the Burlington Canal started which ended up connecting diverting water from the Southe Platte River to create the Oasis Reservior, thereby meeting the water needs of the new settlers. The creation fo the reservoir also transformed the landscape from grassland to cottonwood forest, providing wildlife habitat and an escape for Denver's elite.

In 1908, the Oasis Dam was made larger by the works of the Farmer's Reservoir and Irrigation Company and turned the small reservoir into the larger Barr Lake. The lake was named after one of the railroad's civil engineers. Throughout the 20th Century up until the 1960's, raw sewage from Denver often flowed downstream into Barr Lake. In 1964, new laws were passed to help Denver improve it's sewage treatment facilities and in 1965, a flood helped clean out Barr Lake. Barr Lake State Park was finally established in 1977.  

Flora and Fauna: Barr Lake State Park helps protect the home of numerous plant and animals species. Some of the plants that grow inside the park's boundaries include buffalo grass and cottonwood trees. Some of the wild animals who call this place home include foxes, coyotes, deer, squirrels, and over 350 bird species including bald eagles, blue herons, and white pelicans. Please treat their home with respect.  

For the lover of the outdoors Barr Lake State Park boasts over 8 miles of multipurpose trails, a boat ramp, and so much more. Come on out and explore!

To contact the park office call 303-659-6005.