Blue Heron Reservoir is located in St. Vrain State Park, an easy drive from Denver, Boulder, or Fort Collins, located on Highway 119 just off I-25 (Exit 240). The park’s approximately 800 acres of land and water offers a smattering of year-round recreation opportunities including camping, birding, wildlife viewing, hiking, boating and fishing. Not long ago, Blue Heron Reservoir was a junky eyesore of shallow, brackish water. When the St. Vrain Creek overflowed, floodwaters filled the 82-acre reservoir to a depth of more than 15 feet, and the reservoir was able to open just a year later to the public for recreation. Colorado Parks and Wildlife stocked the reservoir with Saugeye, Catfish, Panfish and Bass. Biologists intend to manage the reservoir as a trophy bass fishery so that in the years to come, anglers will have superb fishing opportunities. The flooding also inadvertently introduced Brown, Brook and Cutthroat Trout, as well as Wiper. The excellent array of biodiversity in the reservoir isn’t the only wildlife around – Bald Eagles, Osprey, Pelicans, Kingfishers, Snowy Egrets, Night Herons and Great Blue Herons have also taken notice of the new abundance of fish at the reservoir, making this area stellar for bird-watching. Gas and diesel powered motors are allowed on the reservoir and can be loaded at the boat ramp, and there are trailer length parking spaces and a courtesy dock for boaters.

Pro Tips

  • Reserve one of the 87 year-round campsites in St. Vrain State Park to make your weekend fabulous at St. Vrain – fish, hike, bird, and boat by day, watch the stars and the campfire by night.
  • Visit the Colorado Parks and Wildlife website for current fishing report and park conditions updates.
  • Recommended season(s): Year-round.

    —Annie Brewster

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