AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

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

Blue Heron Reservoir–Pelican Pond, 12 lakes

5.3 mi · ▲ 0 ft · 1 hr 46 min

Blue Heron Reservoir–Pelican Pond, 12 lakes is a 5.3-mile out-and-back in ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​St. Vrain State Park near Rinn, CO. The route passes Pelican Pond, Killdeer Pond, Mallard Pond and 6 more before reaching Kingfisher Pond at the turnaround, 2.7 miles in. It is mostly level, with 0 ft of elevation gain, and mostly paved. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi4,823 – 4,853 ft5.8 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Weld Legacy Trail 40.17047, -104.97626
Nearest town Rinn, CO
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Blue Heron Reservoir–Pelican Pond, 12 lakes

5.3 mi · ▲ 0 ft · 1 hr 46 min

Elevation 4,822–4,854 ft

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

Trailhead: Weld Legacy Trail · 40.17047, -104.97626

Weather Sep 4: sunrise 6:31 AM · sunset 7:29 PM

Dogs allowed on leash · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Weld Legacy Trail, heading E.
  2. 0.8 miPass Pelican Pond.
  3. 150 ftBear right onto Pelican Trail, heading W.
  4. 450 ftContinue straight onto Pelican Pond Trail, heading SW.
  5. 0.4 miPass Killdeer Pond.
  6. 50 ftPass Mallard Pond.
  7. 500 ftPass Avocet Pond.
  8. 50 ftPass Blue Heron Reservoir.
  9. 50 ftPass Pintail Pond.
  10. 50 ftPass Coot Pond.
  11. 150 ftBear right, heading S.
  12. 50 ftTurn right, heading S.
  13. 150 ftTurn right onto Blue Heron Trail, heading S.
  14. 0.5 miPass Cormorant Pond.
  15. 50 ftPass Great Egret Pond.
  16. 200 ftTurn right onto Saint Vrain Greenway, heading W.
  17. 0.5 miPass Kingfisher Pond.
  18. 250 ftReach Blue Heron Reservoir, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  19. 0.6 miTurn left onto Blue Heron Trail, heading SE.
  20. 0.6 miTurn left, heading E.
  21. 150 ftTurn left, heading E.
  22. 50 ftBear left, heading E.
  23. 450 ftContinue straight onto Pelican Pond Trail, heading E.
  24. 0.5 miContinue straight onto Pelican Trail, heading N.
  25. 450 ftBear left onto Weld Legacy Trail, heading E.
  26. 0.8 miArrive 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-9-km

Trail surface

98% paved1% dirt1% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:31 AMSunset 7:29 PM

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
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from Weld Legacy Trail Trailhead

Hikes near Rinn, Colorado