AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​St. Vrain State Park

Blue Heron Reservoir–Pelican Pond, 11 lakes

2.2 mi · ▲ 0 ft · 44 min

Blue Heron Reservoir–Pelican Pond, 11 lakes is a 2.2-mile out-and-back in ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​St. Vrain State Park near Rinn, CO. The route passes Red Tail Pond, Coot Pond, Bald Eagle Pond and 8 more. It is mostly level, with 0 ft of elevation gain. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi4,833 – 4,846 ft2.8 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Red Tail Pond Trail 40.16439, -104.98347
Nearest town Rinn, CO
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Blue Heron Reservoir–Pelican Pond, 11 lakes

2.2 mi · ▲ 0 ft · 44 min

Elevation 4,834–4,845 ft

Out & Back · ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​St. Vrain State Park

Trailhead: Red Tail Pond Trail · 40.16439, -104.98347

Weather Sep 4: Overcast, high 94°F / low 54° · precip 10% · wind 6 mph · sunrise 6:31 AM · sunset 7:29 PM

Dogs allowed on leash · Transit-accessible: Firestone-Longmont Mobility Hub - Northbound stop 672 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Red Tail Pond Trail, heading SW.
  2. 50 ftPass Red Tail Pond.
  3. 0.1 miPass Coot Pond.
  4. 50 ftPass Bald Eagle Pond.
  5. 100 ftBear left, heading W.
  6. 50 ftPass Yellow Legs Pond.
  7. 350 ftSharp right, heading NW.
  8. 50 ftPass Pintail Pond.
  9. 350 ftPass Avocet Pond.
  10. 50 ftPass Killdeer Pond.
  11. 500 ftPass Blue Heron Reservoir.
  12. 50 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  13. 250 ftTurn right, heading W.
  14. 50 ftTurn right, heading W.
  15. 150 ftPass Killdeer Pond.
  16. 100 ftTurn right, heading E.
  17. 50 ftTurn left, heading E.
  18. 50 ftPass Mallard Pond.
  19. 50 ftBear left, heading NE.
  20. 100 ftPass Pelican Pond.
  21. 350 ftContinue straight onto Pelican Pond Trail, heading N.
  22. 0.5 miContinue straight onto Pelican Trail, heading E.
  23. 450 ftReach Blue Heron Reservoir, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  24. 450 ftContinue straight onto Pelican Pond Trail, heading NE.
  25. 0.6 miBear right, heading S.
  26. 50 ftTurn right, heading S.
  27. 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
  28. 250 ftTurn left, heading S.
  29. 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
  30. 250 ftTurn left, heading S.
  31. 0.2 miSharp left, heading S.
  32. 350 ftBear right, heading S.
  33. 50 ftContinue straight onto Red Tail Pond Trail, heading SW.
  34. 350 ftArrive back at the trailhead.

Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.

Trail map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/blue-heron-reservoir-pelican-pond-out-back-16-lakes-4-km

Trail surface

56% paved24% dirt10% gravel10% unspecified

Weather

OvercastTemperature 94°F54°
Feels like79°Precip10%Wind6 mphUV7Humidity24%
Rained 0.1″ 2 days ago
Hourly temperature
95°50°
Sunrise 6:31 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PMSunset 7:29 PM
Sat 95°62°
Sun 92°64° 35%
Mon 93°67° 35%
Tue 90°62° 20%
Wed 90°59° 24%
Thu 96°58° 24%

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is right at the trailhead, so there is no walk out. Be there by 7:09 PM to have the sun's last 20 minutes of sky before it sets at 7:29 PM. Your car is right there — dark at 7:56 PM.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Dogs allowed on leash
  • Transit-accessible: Firestone-Longmont Mobility Hub - Northbound stop 672 m from the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Hikes near Rinn, Colorado