AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

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

Blue Heron Reservoir–Pelican Pond, 13 lakes

3.1 mi · ▲ 0 ft · 1 hr 2 min

Blue Heron Reservoir–Pelican Pond, 13 lakes is a 3.1-mile out-and-back in ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​St. Vrain State Park near Rinn, CO. The route passes Sandpiper Pond, Avocet Pond, Killdeer Pond and 8 more before reaching Kingfisher Pond at the turnaround, 1.5 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 mi4,833 – 4,853 ft3.6 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 40.17019, -104.98541
Nearest town Rinn, CO
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Blue Heron Reservoir–Pelican Pond, 13 lakes

3.1 mi · ▲ 0 ft · 1 hr 2 min

Elevation 4,834–4,854 ft

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

Trailhead: 40.17019, -104.98541

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

Dogs allowed on leash · Toilets at the trailhead · Drinking water at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading NE.
  2. 50 ftPass Sandpiper Pond.
  3. 50 ftPass Avocet Pond.
  4. 50 ftPass Killdeer Pond.
  5. 50 ftPass Mallard Pond.
  6. 50 ftPass Pelican Pond.
  7. 50 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  8. 50 ftSharp left, heading NW.
  9. 0.3 miTurn left onto Pelican Pond Trail, heading W.
  10. 150 ftPass Killdeer Pond.
  11. 350 ftBear right, heading S.
  12. 50 ftPass Blue Heron Reservoir.
  13. 50 ftPass Pintail Pond.
  14. 50 ftPass Coot Pond.
  15. 50 ftTurn right, heading S.
  16. 150 ftTurn right onto Blue Heron Trail, heading S.
  17. 0.6 miPass Cormorant Pond.
  18. 50 ftPass Great Egret Pond.
  19. 50 ftTurn right onto Saint Vrain Greenway, heading S.
  20. 0.5 miPass Kingfisher Pond.
  21. 50 ftReach Blue Heron Reservoir, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  22. 0.6 miTurn left onto Blue Heron Trail, heading E.
  23. 0.6 miTurn left, heading E.
  24. 200 ftTurn left, heading E.
  25. 50 ftBear left, heading E.
  26. 450 ftContinue straight onto Pelican Pond Trail, heading E.
  27. 50 ftTurn right, heading E.
  28. 0.3 miSharp right, heading N.
  29. 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
  30. 50 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-18-lakes-5-km

Trail surface

77% paved13% dirt10% unspecified

Weather

OvercastTemperature 94°F54°
Feels like80°Precip10%Wind7 mphUV7Humidity18%
Hourly temperature
95°50°
Sunrise 6:31 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PMSunset 7:29 PM
Sat 94°64°
Sun 95°65° 35%
Mon 93°67° 35%
Tue 90°62° 20%
Wed 90°59° 24%
Thu 96°59° 24%

Good to know

  • Dogs allowed on leash
  • Toilets at the trailhead
  • Drinking water at the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Rinn, Colorado