Bear Creek Lake Park Reviews

If you're a cyclist, runner, walker, or a golfer, this park is perfect for you! There are miles and miles of paved walk for you to cycle to your heart's content, incuding some epic hills, long downhills and plenty of pretty shaded by ways near the creek. Perfect areas for family picnics and easy days. Runners love it as well, walkers fit right in. If you're no athlete you'll be perfectly happy here too as there are lots of places to simply veg. This is where I train- and it's a fantastic place for it. The gorgeous mountains are always in sight, the weather is perfect nearly all year, and there is enough sunshine and shade to dapple the walkway to make it interesting all the way around the park. As I live here all year, this is my home base so I'm a little prejudiced- come use this park and come to love it like I do!

We haven't even tapped all of the fun that Bear Creek Lake Park offers, but the beach is a highlight for everyone in our family. Pack a picnic dinner, beach toys, chairs for the adults, swim stuff for the kiddos and some sunscreen, and you'll have an excellent late afternoon blast! My husband sometimes joins us there after work; other times we head there in the mornings. You can never go wrong... unless bad weather rolls in. Clean bathrooms, a snack shop, playground and a few trails for wandering when you need to stir things up... FYI, We've never headed to the snack shop, as we've brought in everything we've needed.

A great bbq place for groups. Some can go swimming, others running, others biking, kids can play at the (rough) swim beach or the river, some can rent canoes or paddle boats or windsurfs. A great park.

We spend the summer at the beach--the Bear Creek Lake Park beach, that is. It's a great place to relax and enjoy spacious skies, a view of the mountains, and water fun, but without having to travel far. There are bike trails, hiking trails, picnicking areas, and all sorts of fun outdoor activities at this park. Only $5 per car to get in, too.

Great spot for a quiet morning bike ride or run. There is also a recreation lake and a fishing lake. Rentals available for paddle boats and stand up paddle boards. Small beach area for swimming.

Lots of great trails from easy to very challenging. Close in to Denver so you don't have to travel far. Nice lakes with some reportably good fishing although I didn't get the opportunity to wet a line

We held our daughters 4th birthday party here at the state park and had a beach theme. We didn't get a chance, but they had paddleboards and boats to rent. The beach was a real fun place for the kids to play. My only suggestion or what I would do differently is to either bring sun shade tents or to get there super early to grab a shelter before anyone else does. The campsites are often booked far in advance so plan at the beginning of the season. We plan on getting a park pass to go biking, running, camping, and playing at the beach for this next year.

Things for every age group and we had a lot of fun with drinks and food. paddle boats fishing, swimming barbecue [its for grilling and picnic tables for eating. there is a $10 fee but well worth it

Very disappointed with how the staff at the swim Beach handles lost and found. My son accidentally left his towel and swimsuit on the bench outside the restrooms. I called and went back to the park less than 24 hours later and was informed that these items had been thrown away. I understand the park probably has a large amount of items that are left behind on a daily basis, however it does not seem unreasonable to keep these items for a 24 to 48 hour. Before throwing them away.

went here to see what this man made 'dam' and lake looked like and was surprised how much recreational activity there could be (fishing, swimming, horseback riding)

Convienent and close for both short and long hikes. Lots of shade and places to rest for the beginner hiker. Very pretty area. Some places for a family picnic, party or just a day out. Also has biking trails, some shared with hikers.

Bear Creek Lake Park has it all. It has a family beach area, horseback riding, great bicycling for all level of rider and it is one of the safest parks we have ever been at because of the very attentive rangers and staff. It is close to everything from a foothills location with great views and anything you can ask for as far as wildlife and scenic sites. Red Rocks is right around the corner and a little further up is the back way to Evergreen and The "Lair O'The Bear" park. Camping or just enjoying a break away from everything Bear Creek Lake Park has anything you could ask for to begin enjoying your trip to Colorado or for those of us who are privileged to live here, it is just a great get away for the day.

Great park with lots of activities.....swim, fish, paddle board, kayak, canoe, trail running, etc., etc.

we had a private party in one of the shelters, and it was great! Nice park, friendly staff, easy to get to. would like to spend more time exploring the park on a future visit

Nice small park, good for family fishing. Take my raft, motor, and im good. Limited spots so get there early.

Leisure bike ride on paved/concrete or single tracks around a large park. Flooding cut-off several trails that were supposed to be loops, but no problem finding other routes.

Beautiful place to spend a different day with the family. You can rent a poodle boat. The water is cold, but it is ok!

I have never been here but when i did go here I got to see an owl nest near the entrance and spent a little bit of time there photographing them, i also got a map and plan on hiking there in the near future , looks gorgeous

I take my grand kids here for boating, swimming and fun time. Very close to the city, price is right and the crowds are well behaved. Lots of fun things to do.

I love that this is owned by Lakewood. Glad we still have some open spaces here. And it has camping, and special trails for just walkers. Bikers and horses like it too.

The ranger at the gate congratulated us on choosing July 5th instead of the 4th. She said the 4th was a nightmare. Apparently, they get pretty slammed on the weekend, and crushed on Holidays.

This was the best $10 I can recall spending in a long time. To be fair, we did also spent an additional $40 on kayak and paddleboard rental. No matter, there was plenty of parking, minimal crowds, nice clean water, and great family fun.

We brought our bikes and rode a combination of beautifully smooth paved trails and some packed dirt as well. We explored the turtle pond which was fun.

Lots more to do next time, and there will definitely be a next time. We loved it.

The park has a great trail that runs along Bear Creek. I ran there on a Monday morning in May and there were enough people on the trail to feel safe running there. The trail is shaded and cool.

Nice sandy beach area. You can rent paddle boards. Camping is available with reservations. Bathrooms on site.

This gem of a park is close to downtown Denver (only 20 mins away) at the base of the foothills in Lakewood. One can do anything from biking to hiking, swimming to archery, camping to cookouts, fishing to horseback riding in/over expansive trails, reservoir/lakes, and facilities. We get an annual pass and go kayaking with the family. I run and bike the trails all the time. AND they host fun and informative events from full-moon hikes, races, and more.

Don't go on the weekend. Lines have been so long just to get in and the "beach" is packed. Nice for a bike ridewith the kids during the week. Lots of good sidewalks for little riders.

The lake with the swim beach is perfect for a beginning paddleboarder. The lake isn't too big so you never have to worry about paddling out too far and you are always close to your picnic spot. The marina rents out both paddleboards and kayaks but the hour. The miles of trails in the park are fabulous for trail running or for an easy hike. There are plenty of areas with toilets & water faucets as well. The trails can be fairly crowded on the weekends with mountain bikers, but they are always courteous and let you know when they are approaching.

They took our money $10 for a daily pass at the guard station. There were no warning signs. We fished for a bit and noticed nobody else was fishing. Toxic blue green algae was floating all over. We didn't know what it was until we were leaving and the was a folding sign laying on the ground in the parking lot nowhere near where we went in. Lady at the station surely should have asked what our plans were and asked if we still wanted to go in. Shame on you Lakewood. We all took showers when we got home just to be safe.

I discovered this place when I decided to train for my first triathlon. It has great bike trails, nice roads with slow MPH for biking, and chilly tiny lake to swim with a decent beach. They have places to camp, shoot your bow, and all kinds of stuff. I always went in for free, because I parked outside the park and biked in!

Lots of trails and a beach for swimming. Make sure you get there early for a good spot on a hot day. The beach will pack in so stake out an area. Trails are awesome to burn some calories on a long walk or exploring with the dogs.

Fairly small area park but with nice walking trails. Parking is easy at the beach and lake areas. I went alone and felt completely safe walking the shorter trails. Easily accessible although the close proximity to the highway detracts a bit from the outdoor experience if you are at the beach area but the lake further in is lovely.

My wife and I love trail running all through the park. There are rolling hills and most of the trails are soft and non-technical. There are many access points to the trails and there is no need to actually drive into the park.

Keep your eyes open for road bikes and mountain bikes--this is a favorite place for many recreational users. The September epic flood forced the closure of some trail segments, but they are being repaired and are scheduled to be fully open by the summer of 2014.

Very disappointed in this park due to how un-level the sites are and the only hook-up was electricity. It took nearly an hour, along with the help of one of the rangers, to get my trailer level; using 4 level pads on each wheel, and it was STILL un-level. Didn't realize there was no water connection until camper was set. There is a water fill station, but a good distance from my site, so I had to use my portable water jug to lug 6 gallons of water at a time to bring water to my trailer. There is a dump station, and paved roads, but if the wind is right there's the pleasant aroma of cow poop coming from a hay barn next to the park. The only think I can say favorably was the campground was close to Red Rocks, and not far from stores. Price was also high for having no real frills.

This campground is clean, safe, and fun. There's a beach, bike and running trails, and an archery range. It's great if you need to be in Denver but don't want to spend $200 a night to stay there.

In all fairness, I visited the park off season. A minimal fee was charged for admission. I think of a park as a place to escape from the hectic daily routine, but I felt like the confusion was all around me. I found it to be too open for my liking, too close to a major highways, and within eye shot of a large home improvement store. There are large water bodies within the park, but one of them has a sign clearly posted not for swimming, and somehow it gives you the impression there is something wrong with the water. There is a large dam within the park which might be of interest to some. Camping area was unimpressive. Most areas looking old and in need of repair/updating.
The view of the mountains was lovely, and I imagine sunsets would be spectacular. The roadways are nicely paved for cyclists and walkers alike. Overall just not enough positive features to make me return.

I know that must sound silly, it's just nature, but I just wasn't impressed compared to the other areas we saw. I didn't get to explore as much as I would have liked so I would definitely be willing to give it another chance. Keep in mind that right now the road to bear lake is closed until 4pm most days for construction, so if you want to plan a trip there check on their road closure schedule first.

In my opinion, Soda Lake is better but this isn't bad. This shore is sometimes less crowded. The water is tepid at best. No pets are allowed.

good for hiking, jogging, biking, beach (summer time). Nice trail along to creek. A little something for everyone.

Was driving by decided to stop in and check it out. Found parking very easy, walked with lawn chairs to sandy beach and found an area with some shade trees, sat there and watched all the people on stand up paddle boards going by, and lots of people swimming. Decided to jump in an cool off. Nice size lake close to city.

Definitely enjoyed the day at Soda Lake. It was busy but not over crowded. They have everything you need from snacks, restrooms, rentals, shaded areas, and is pet friendly! Highly recommend this place. $10 for a day pass so fill up your car with friends and family and have a fun day in the sun.

You can get day passes ($10) or you can get a campsite ($20 per night), we had a campsite, the restroom was nice and it had a shower and a place to do laundry. The park is close to various neighborhoods, which we like, but you do have traffic noise and street lights. They have various things to do here including archery, horseback riding and a little beach. We got our campsite early, but we did notice it was full when we got there. They also, have various things going on (racing including foot and bicycles), so the park can be full at times.

There must be a new sheriff in town. He or she is turning this park back into the park it’s been for decades (at least as much as possible with population growth). Sadly, especially noticeable the last 5 years, it started turning into a big dog park. Dogs running everywhere without leashes —when there is an actual dog park just 5 min away, a lot the wildlife was depleting and trails were popping up wherever people wanted them BUT it seems to be going the other direction and the wildlife is coming back. I’m happy because it truly is unique and my favorite park in the world. :)

It's very clean and beautiful, with much to do. The number one drawback is the $10 entry fee. I'd suggest spending the money on a state park pass and going to Chatfield or Roxboro

Bear Creek Lake Park has a wonderful bike route around the park, up a big hill and back around through a golf course plus there is a nice sandy lake beach with fun rentals - windsurfing, stand up paddle boards, kayaks and more. Great place for fun in the sun - can get crowded on the weekends.

The Park itself is really nice. There are some nice, easy hikes and they offer camping and other activities, as well as a Visitor's Center. The Soda Lakes are neither particularly scenic nor large, and while that isn't such a bad thing, the beaches do get very crowded. The crowds are the downside. However you can SUP and rent SUP's or other boating equipment if you want. It's a decent way to spend a few hours in the summer, but expect crowds on the weekends. They do offer different activities throughout the year too.

We were looking for a place to test out the bicycles after reassembling them from the flight. It was $10 for a day pass. They have miles of concrete trail rolling up into the hills as well as some low traffic park roads. There is swimming, boating, well used single track, an archery range, picnic areas and it looked like a lot more. After covering about 9 miles on the bikes, I think my $10 was well spent.

I love this place you can fish, hike, bike, horse back ride, boat, water ski, swim, lay out at beach. So many things to do in one place. The Park is clean and just beautiful. I spent almost 12 hours there and had the best time of my life.

Purchase an annual pass for the year to save money in January. Especially, if you are a Lakewood resident. They also have nighttime events (outdoor lectures). We are not campers, but hear others love camping there (we are a little older). The park has had many improvements to the visitor center, including the upgrades to the bathrooms/bathhouse at the mini-beach area for the kids to play while you sit and relax under an umbrella. We mainly like to walk our dogs there. They used to have parking outside the gates, but Lakewood realized they could get more revenue by getting rid of the parking lots so you are forced to pay a fee (bummer - but we got used to it). Cyclists can enter the park for free on the trail from Morrison, but not vehicles. Regardless, it has lots of trails for walking, riding that are paved and great). Plenty of picnic areas all around to find you own. It's a quick drive to relax and feel like you are up in the mountains without the long drive.

Fishing is okay it's more for relaxation and fresh air and enjoying the outdoors, the trails are great one for scenery and roughness love it the other is paved and that works great for my husband because he is blind in one eye and loosing his sight in the other but he doesn't have to worry about falling or getting in any ones way we walk it quite often it is our favorite place to go we buy a yearly pass love this special place for the handicapped and the museum not bad

The lake is nice and they have rentals for water fun. It can get creowded and busy on the weekends, so go early if you want a good spot by the lake. They also have spot for archery.

This is a great park that is often overlooked by people who drive by on 470. I have taken the family to the lake to go swimming, taken my work Staff to the gazebos for picnics and outdoor meetings, organized church services at the larger gazebos, planned camping trips there for members of our church, fished in the lakes, hiked and run on the trails, and often shot my bow at the big archery range. This place has it all. And while it is easily accessible to 470, you don't even notice the highway when you are there.

It took awhile but things are now looking up. Roads are repaved and striped, campgrounds back, beaches looking much better

Go early in the day during the summer. This park is at its best during the non-summer season. Cycling is a nice paved/concrete 10 mile loop with about 700 vertical. Cyclists should park outside the park and ride right past the gate. FREE!

Mid-day during the week or on weekends in the summer? Skip it unless you're packing a suitcase of patience.

Bear Creek Lake Park is beautiful, the swimming section gets a little deeper as you go farther out, but the lake is beautiful. The only two things I think that they might want to improve is one, put a lifeguard on duty, because we like to keep all of the kids safe. And two, they should maybe keep the bathrooms a little cleaner. But otherwise, it's good.

Had a great time on the hour ride at Bear Creek Stables. The facility is nice and clean and the horses look well taken care of. Taylor was an awesome guide! I will definitely be back for a ride next time I am in Colorado!

This park is so close and quiet...love it the sunsets are incredible

This is a family tradition for my family. There is a beach area that has access to the lake which is roped over from boats. It is kept clean. The water is VERY cold, but on a hot day it doesn't take long to adjust. You can bring your own or rent kyaks. There is a stable where you can take a trail ride. Also, there is an archery range. Lots of trails.

Dinosaur Ridge is right next door to this amazing park, and our summer camp students rave about being able to explore their Visitor Center and trails! Ecology and the local flora and fauna are very important, and Bear Creek Lake Park staff and rangers have an awesome variety of programs that we recommend experiencing!

We have a annual pass, we bring our dogs and walk the trails, I usually bring my camera to photograph the wildlife

Due to its location, this park gets a lot of use. However, it is exceptionally well run and clean. Its also well organized, with lap swimming getting its own lane ( 150 yards) apart from the play/swim area.

This area was super close to our hotel. Fun and fast hard packed trails. Nothing technical. A road bikers trail dream! Full suspension not required.

Love this suburban oasis for a perfect sub- one hour, sub- ten mile loop... 500-600 vertical... park across from the gas station on Rooney Road and ride in for free... saw coyote, geese, and a magnificent buck last time through. Year round riding - tiny patch of north facing snow on the back side is no biggie and melts quickly.

We decided to visit Bear Creek Lake Park and was surprised to be charged $10 for a day pass. It started pouring rain within 30 minutes of our arrival, so we didn’t come near to getting our money’s worth. There appears to be some trails was walking, but I am unsure of the length – though the terrain did not seem difficult. The people that would get their $10 worth would be those planning to swim or boat on one of the lakes.

Great place to fish , hike or just hang out.
There’s a boat launch also . Pet friendly
Bike trails and a beach ! Great place to spend the day

Bear Creek Lake (beach) is an awesome family friendly destination. I took my 3 year old granddaughter on a Wednesday morning. We arrived right at 9:00 am and the beach was already filling up, so plan to arrive early to secure a good spot. The beach is clean and the 2 swimming areas are clearly marked. There is also a small playground, restroom (pit toilets), and a consession stand offering snack foods. There are several covered picnic areas as well.

There are no lifeguards on duty. My one criticism is that the restrooms are not particularly clean.

We had a great day and you certainly cannot beat the price; $10 for a day pass!! We will be back!

We’ve been there several times this summer.
The water is always cool and the beach clean. It is well taken care of. Great spot for kids.
There are trees for shade. An “ easy up” is still a good idea. Sunscreen is a must.
Parking is plentiful if you don’t mind dropping gear off and parking down the street.
The paddle boards, kayaks and paddle boats can be rented by the hour and are perfect on the lake. Great spot to learn.

I have stayed here before years ago.I remember now why I haven't came back.The facilities needed painted and smell awful.There aren't many trees or anything for that matter in the camp area.The picnic tables are worn and splintered.The fishing is poor. There is a nice bike path but that is all that is positive at this location. I would suggest Carter or red feather lakes for a beautiful stay.Even with the beetle killed trees they run circles around this place.

Clean and very appealing park for camping, outdoor activities and water sports.
We just drove thro the park but found it a place we would like to return to.

Visited here the day after Christmas for a bit of an icy tour of the park. Walked out on the ice on the lake and witnessed the brave (crazy) ice fishermen plying their trade in the middle of the water. Really remarkable. Took a quick hike along some of the trails and saw the horse corral and archery range. A few archers were up and at em early so that was neat. Very pretty views of the front range and good access to nature. $10 entry fee per car seems a tad steep.

With the warm waves of weather we tend to get around here throughout the year, it's nice to have some place close by that offers some nice trails.

This is a tough endorsement because I so enjoy the solitude of this park. That said, BC is very close to our home so I visit the bike trails several times on a weekly basis. There is no fee for bikes so I would recommend parking on Morrison Road and riding in. The roads and bike paths are nearly empty M-F so that's when I ride. I have heard the weekends are much more crowded, especially around Soda Lake. Absolutely love the place and encourage you to see it for yourself.

Bear Creek lake Park is great for riding (road and mountain), running, hiking, sightseeing, birdwatching, swimming, boating, camping and just enjoying Colorado sunshine.

Nice close camping. Fun for whole family, lots to offer from swimming, fishing, archery, horseback riding, water skiing

Bear Creek is a very accessible park, which means it is just off of the highway. If you are just playing on the beach and swimming in the lake, this is not a big issue. However, if you are camping, the traffic noise is pretty loud. The park also gets very busy due to the location. However, you can rent paddle boards, kayaks, etc. They also have stables so you can ride horses. If you are camping here, you do need to drive or walk pretty far to get to the beach or to the fishing lake. We will continue to camp here because of the location but, if we have time, we would always travel a bit further.

This park is accessible on many different levels. We bike, run and walk all year at this place. In summer a great local swim

We came here for a family photo shoot. It was a perfect backdrop, so green and pretty. Our photos were awesome! If you are looking for a place to take pics, this is it!

I remember when this little gem was first opened. The city of Lakewood has done a good job of enhancements since then, and they keep the park up well as well. There is fishing, horseback riding, and an archery range, but the range can be difficult to get into sometimes due to groups and competitions.

All in all, this is a nice park, there have been a few times when the park has reached capacity and they won't allow any more cars to enter, but this is rare. The swim beach is actually at the Soda Lakes (larger lake), which allows Bear Creek Lake to be used primarily for fishing. It's a good park for the family and fisherman alike.

You can also rent paddle boards and other types of crafts on Soda Lakes, but the rental prices are a bit steep. Plus it would be good if the beach had smaller sand.

Fun, easy single track mountain biking near the city! Great location and there are lakes for fishing.

There is a racist park ranger and ruined my family and I time. We were playing music had a dj for my cousins birthday was not to loud and the ranger reached to touch my property and i told him not to touch it its not his to touch and then he made us turn it down practically off while everywhere around us had music going. He was very rude about everything and even lied saying the "lakewood police" filed the complaint. Then my cousins 15 year old son had a scooter and was told he needs to carry it the car or else and didn't even try to approach his parents. Approached all of us so rude and called in back up as if we were doing anything wrong. Once we brought we felt they were being racists ro my family and I they both left like nothing happened. Definitely scared my family the way he was treating us made my 10 year cry after because of how aggressive both these "Rangers" were with us.

I adore this park.
Picnic tables, boating, fishing...
I would be surprised if you could name something and it NOT be there

Wonderful asset in any season in the southwest metro area at the foot of the Rockies. Easy trails for walking, large activity lake for paddleboarding, peddleboating, fishing, swimming and a beach!! During the summer though, the beach gets really crowded and picnic tables fillmup quickly. They offer overnight camping.
If you can get away from the growing crowds that offset the positives, a great place to getaway for a walk or meditation without having to go far. Walkable & bikeable from south Lakewood neighborhoods.
Try their beautiful full moon guided night tour!
Reasons I don’t give it a 5:
1. the high daily entrance fee. Locals should be granted a discount since they already contribute to this lake/park/trails with their taxes paid. Lakewood could still charge the full rate to the increasing numbers of visitors coming from non-residents.
2. Sadly, a past joy at this park was the many raptors (eagles, hawks, falcons...) There are now significantly less and less raptors & wildlife overall due to encroaching development & increased traffic noise adjacent this park.

Bear Creek Lake Park is a great place to see many beautiful types of birds, including hawks that come so close to all in the park. The mountain bike trails are great for beginners and those who have been cycling for years. There are concrete trails and dirt trails that wind through amazing fields where coyotes live and prairie dogs bark along with climbing and descending. Never too busy and everyone is friendly. There is an archery range, camping, lake and beach. There are also trails to ride a horse. It is just comfortable for all levels of hiking and outdoor adventures.

So lovely to be able to play in the water on a hot summer's day - and lots closer than Chatfield or Aurora Reservoirs.

Bear Creek Lake Park offers a swimming lake with shade as well as other outdoor activities. Beach with roped off swimming area, no lifeguard but park rangers are on site. Picnic areas, playground, and concessions for food are available. For the more active, canoes, kayaks and stand up boards are available for rent. Walking/ hiking trails throughout the park.

Spent one afternoon at this park and it was a very relaxing and enjoyable experience. Not a large area but sufficient to get away and have a good time. Very clean and does offer paddle board and paddle boat rentals if desired. Fun place for the family.

We are fortunate to have this beautiful park with trails, fishing, swimming, and a visitor facility in a suburban area. We have biked through the park many times and taken family and friends there to enjoy the lake for swimming, boating, and playing on the beach.

The lake is at the base of the foothills with extremely calm water and beautiful views. Can see C470 but cannot hear the highway. Great place to learn to SUP or kayak. No motorized boats, great swim beach for kids, family friendly, rentals available.

We finally broke down and got a seasonal pass rather than walk in from the west. The senior discount makes it more affordable. The park is very heavily used in the summer, but in the winter it is deserted. Be sure to visit the visitor center.

We took the little ones kayaking for the first time here. The kayak rental was easy. Unfortunately they don't offer military/veterans discounts. As far as out on the lake, it was beautiful and we had a great time. When returning the kayaks, there was no room to put our kayaks anywhere. There really should be an assistant on the dock helping people come and go. I've rented kayaks from numerous places across the US and this is the first time I've seen them not have a return service for your life vests. People literally just hang them back up where they got them from and then another person grabs them to wear when they need them. There is no sanitation process. Usually you'll return life vests to an employee and they should sanitize them, or you'll drop them in a tank full of sanitizing water. Nope, not here, you just put your sweaty sunscreen filled life vests back up on a hanger to bake in the sun until the next person comes along. There should also be a separate line for returns. It was such a cluster that nobody really knew what was going on. I heard someone mention that new ownership was underway, so hopefully these are all items that will be addressed. The staff was friendly and overall we truly enjoyed our experience!

There is a ton of fun stuff to do in this awesome city park that is really more of a nature area. Mountain biking trails galore, nicely paved roads for road bikes, hiking trails, horseback riding, archery, fishing and tons of birds you just don't see in other parts of the city. Oh, and there is also a couple of great beaches on the two small lakes. Great, great place!!

As of this review in May 2016, the entrance fees have just gone up to $10 per car (double the previous $5 entrance fee). Now a little more expensive than I would like, but a very worthwhile playground.

The biggest complaint I have about the park is the large number of goat head thorns -- If you go mountain biking, be sure to have sealant in your tires!!!

I was there last week and swim in the water . About three hours after leaving it caused me a terrible infection and yeast and I spent three days in the hospital I got out yesterday . I also called the park and let them know it is very serious only if they new how bad it was . And I guess it don't matter. So to ever goes swimming there I would most definitely be careful and shower right away . You do not want to go threw what I just did trust me.

We returned after trying other places near and North of Denver. We vacation in Colorado at least once per year. We came hear two years ago and had been to others in the area, but we liked this best.

We arrived at 8am, got a great spot, had plenty of time in the water. It was exactly what I was looking for today.it does get crowded, but it's super close to town so it's worth it for convenience.

This is one of the nicest parks of the southwest Denver Metro area. Admission is $10 per vehicle. If you like camping, and want to use the campground, you need to prepare well in advance as usually by the end of May all the summer week-ends are fully booked. One amazing aspect of that park is the versatility. You can go to the beach, learn how to waterski, go on a mountain bike trail, go horseback riding, running, learn about nature and the critters of the park at the visitor center, or just take a walk in the park. For locals the yearly fee is $60 for the first car and $20 for the second car. It s well worth it. You can escape from the crazy busy everyday life to a calm serene place, to enjoy the peaceful view of the mountains as the sun sets on the horizon.

My son loves the beach, but we don't have real beaches around Colorado, so we decided to visit Bear Creek Lake beach for the day. We went on a HOT Saturday in August. The park was so busy that we had to wait in about a 5 minute traffic line just to get into the park. It was definitely crowded, but there was still plenty of space and it was easy to find a spot to lay out our chairs and blanket. Lots of families set up tent covers for shade, and even bring grills to use on the grassy area behind the beach. There is a playground and a restroom adjacent to the beach area. There are beautiful mountain views behind the lake. It's lake water, so it does have dirt in it, but it's fairly clean for lake water. There are some big rocks, so water shoes are nice to protect your feet. The beach is coarse sand, but definitely able to be played in. My 3 year old son took contruction vehicles and shovels, and he had a blast digging and playing in the sand. We had planned to go for a few hours and leave after a picnic lunch, but we ended up staying for the entire day because we were enjoying ourselves. It is a great spot to relax as a family, play in the water, and have some "beachy" fun for the day. We will definitely be back!

I can not get over all the things you can do here. I love going here for peace and serenity. I also like to go here and fish. Horseback riding is available too. Plus you can catch some sun at the beach which I like to do and go swimming in the specified area. I love water and this is the best place to get some sun and swimming done. Also you can fish too. I did not get a chance to go horseback riding but next trip I will do that. This place is great for exploring nature and feeling connected with nature.

How wonderful that there are beautiful open spaces close to the city for dwellers to experience a peaceful connection with Mother Nature.
Even on a chilly winter day we walked the trail around one of the smaller lakes and along the creek.
It was lovely family time and not crowded on a breezy winter day!

Just moving from a beach town, we weren't sure what to expect here. Be prepared for a long walk if you get stuck in the overflow parking lot. Bring your floats and tubes. There is a large area roped off for this and general swimming. Another area is for rentals such as paddle boarding. Many families bring shade structures and picnics. A water shoe also is recommended if you plan on wading in the water. We really just enjoyed floating in the lake.

The biggest thing to know here is that the restrooms are pit toilets, and they reek. Be sure not to set up your things being downwind from the restrooms. Canadian geese also were enjoying the beach the day we were there.

Nice to see beautiful lake surrounded by country side beautiful setting. Went from Red rock amphitheater. Not too far to get there. Enjoyed as a day trip get away.

Really enjoyed my bike rides here. Part of trail went through a prairie dog town. Also the creek was way high and rushing, due to all the rains in Colorado right before we got here.

BCLP is a great place for a wide variety of activities, from family fun to nature watching. There is a beach with boat rentals for family activities to trails winding through a variety of natural habitats for the nature-mined.

Bear Creek has much nicer swim beach than Chatfield. Good snack bar too with pizza and ice cream. If you need swim inflatables they have those also.

This state park is right near Denver. It offers lots of hiking (no mountains) and fun water sports with boat and paddle board rentals. It's a nice place for a picnic, walk, bike ride, or day at the beach.

I loved fly fishing with my grown son. For a day trip. Rented a cabin in September and friends camped. Even in September too hot without shade so no napping. Without trees no privacy. Love the park as a whole.

This magical place in in the city. It has multiple lakes and one of the most beatific trails in the work.

The idea of the beach is nice but with a view on the freeway...could the have chosen a worse spot? Other than that, nice park. Boat rentals is not cheap but just take your bike and cycle through, roads are great. There are picknick and BBQ facilities with roofs so also good for families e.g. celebrating a kids birthday.

We love Bear Creek Lake Park, the swim beach is a great place to spend a day with little kids. They have a big playground and you can set up a spot on the beach or the grass. The only complaint we had was the bathrooms seemed to be in rough shape this year, just stinky & dirty. I wish they had flush toilets & not pit toilets, it's just kind of icky and when the wind shifts you can smell them from the beach. Also I would recommend having water shoes for the kids there are a lot of rocks and other hard things in the sand.

Great area for all sorts of activities. There is camping, and archery area, a beach where you can rent water spot items and also an area to take boats out in. There is always a lot of people there but enough space where your not on top of each other.

I live in South Carolina and have the luxury of going to the ocean beach. However, I was visiting my daughter in Colorado Springs and we spent a little time at the lake. Lots of people go there to Stand Up Paddleboard & kayak. We went in the water but it was mucky. The beach was okay.

Great time paddle boarding this morning! Rented a board, paddle and life vest for $20 cash. Nice view of Red Rocks from the water, plenty of places for families to hang out on the beach. Also have kayaks, paddle boats for rent, Memorial Day to Labor Day, 10 am- 6 pm.

Hike, fish, horseback, mountain bike, or just picnic and relax. There's just enough trees in this remaining bit of prairie to help you forget you're on the edge of a major metropolitan area. There's really nothing awesome here, it's all just rather nice.

Went there with some friends just for fishing and caught a few trout. They actually had a station there where you could clean your own fish. Never made it to the other end, but people tell me there is a nice little sand beach for families there. I was by the damn side of the lake. It's a little pricey for the daily pass but the seasonal pass is well worth it!!!

I rode around the park early in the morning. The paths are concrete and all in good shape. There was no traffic or people. Great time to go. The paths hook up with the C 470 bike path so there is easy access.

If you are looking to go to a concert at red rocks and need an affordable awesome place to camp, this is it. We stayed in one of the cabins. We shared it with another couple. It was 55.00 dollars a night. They have modern bathrooms and hot showers up the road a bit. Easy walk. During the day very easy to access the park. There is a separate entrance at night. It is a little tricky to drive in at night so you will want to do a test run during the day to make sure you don't miss the entrance road. If we hadn't dropped a pin at that entrance we would of never found the back road into the campsite. Overall it was great.

Buy a season pass! Miles of trails for walking and riding and a nice road for road biking. The signage on the trails is not as great as I would like but I suppose, with time, I will learn the layout of the park.

Very nice clean place , very very busy on weekends in the summer, nice beach, we do alot of ice fishing there to , plenty of activities.

Bear Creek Lake Park locaed off C-470 and Morrison Road in Lakewood, Colorado is a great park to spend the day. The park is full of trails for both pedestrians, horses or bikers. Being a smaller lake you are allowed to take canoes and small engine boats out for fishing but larger vessels are prohibited. There is also an archery range (unmanned) and horseback rides available. Located near Morrison Colorado and Red Rocks Ampitheatre you will have plenty of local optiosn if the fish arent biting or the bike pops a tire.

We all go as a family here 5-6 times per summer, and it always it great! They offer rental paddle boards and that's typically what we go for, as it's a great work out, and lots of fun (even if you fall half a dozen times!). It gets really busy on select weekends, so you need to be strategic when you go to avoid a packed beach, but if you go during the right time, it's wonderful!

They also have a small river/stream running through the park that we enjoy taking our dogs and little kids to. It gives them some freedom to mess around in the water without a lot of people around. Also nice to just be able to go off on a small hike or walk at this park. It really has it all.

Had a blast! Went early in the morning on a Sunday. NOBODY was around! Found parking right where we wanted to be. Spent about 4 hours out on the lake kayaking, and paddle boarding. By the time we left about noon, the place was PACKED! Even the overflow carpark was pretty full.
Go early and enjoy.
Wear bug spray & life vests on the water!

Nice place to hike, ride a bike or just sit and take it all in. Located near town so it is easy to get there and has plenty of trails.

Was fun for son. Went early. Bathroom could have used some attentions. Other than couldn't expect to much more.

I work for the City of Lakewood but I also play here . BCLP is outstanding for trail running, running on roads, cycling, full moon hikes, you name it. The wildlife is abundant for a place so close to the city, access is close by and there is so much to do.

This park is open all year long and there is a small fee to get in but worth it. I did a sprint Triathlon there last year and enjoyed a lazy, warm day in February there by the lake. There were people kayaking, paddle boarding and picnicking.

Great place for an easy Mountain Bike ride. Also ride my road bike around the park often. Swim beach is good for free open water swim training for triathlons.

If you are in a tent or small trailer that means that you rely on the restroom/shower facilities of the campground--you should know that they really skimped on the facilities-- one modern stall for men, two modern stalls for women and two showers TOTAL for the whole campground. They seemed to assume that almost everyone would be in large RVs with their own restrooms. But the actual use includes a significant number of texts, small camping trailers.

Also, they don't seem to pick up any of the random trash left be campers-- lots of plastic bags, plastic bottles, trash randomly around the campground.

Was just ok. Id rather save my $5 and drive 3 more minutes to Red Rocks. Wasnt particularly pretty or anything like so many other places in Colorado are. Id say unless you are a fisherman, skip this park.

We like to kayak on Big Soda lake since it's wake free. They also have boat rentals. Bear Creek Lake is much bigger and accommodates the bigger motorized boats for fishing. There are plenty of bike trails, a swimming beach, picnic areas, etc. I appreciate that every time we go, it's clean, including the bathroom facilities. I also like the fact that they have electrical outlets with which to fill inflatable boats.

A great place for the whole family. Fish in the lake or spend the day at the beach. There is horseback riding and a archery range. Plenty of parking

We really enjoy biking and walking here. We enter on foot or bike, thus no cost. It's beautiful habitat.

Super easy access for the Lakewood/Littleton crowd. Not really a tourist destination but a great place for a quick run, mountain bike or even a paddle on your SUP. Climb to the top of Mount Carbon for some great view of Denver and even the occasional spotting of a bald eagle. Look west at 470 and pity the folks who are in their cars and not having fun like you are.

This campground was excellent!
1st only 35.00 per nite with electric hookup!
There is water and dump facilities and a coin op shower!
This park is really pretty cool! If there was something to complain about, it would be that the road to get back from the highway was really winding and long...but what a cool place!

I'm not happy they raised the fee by two dollars in one year. This is ludacrus ,you can't even access the whole lake by car .The State Parks all raised their rates the last few years but in 1 dollar increments and they have way more access , no longer a deal for seniors either.Fishing is very limited to one side of the lake unless you want to walk thru marsh lands.They made this no longer affordable for retired people .I will be going here less this year . Greedy Lakewood !

I started going to Bear Creek Lake Park in 1996. It's easy to get to, isn't overly crowded (except for holidays) and is a great place to walk dogs, ride bikes or hang out by the lake. I wish dogs could be off leash, but since horses are allowed, I understand why dogs should be on leash. There are several different trails to check out, so you can mix it up, even if you go often. There is also a mix of shady & sunny trails. I love having a great open space park so close by!

Bear Creek Lake Park is an amazing place to get away and offers miles of trails, scenic views, a Swim Beach, Paddle Boarding, picnic tables and more. I'm writing this review specifically about the Stables.

My 10 year old niece loves horseback riding and I had promised to take her riding when possible, despite my anxiety about horses, bases on a bad experience many years ago. With the season ending, I finally gave in and booked a 1 hour ride for us this week. My anxiety started to climb the minute I called for a reservation.

Autumn took my call and after explaining my story, she was very reassuring about their horses and promised they would take good care of us. Due to COVID-19, advanced reservations were required.

Upon arrival, both Autumn and David, our Trail Boss, took great care of us. Autumn was very helpful in keeping me calm as I got on Walter's back, my first time on a horse in over 40 years. She assured me of the training their horses go through and said Walter was like a "sofa on 4 legs". She was absolutely right.

David led us down the trail and was very helpful and fun to talk to. He knew good information on the Park and was helpful to a couple riding with us who was visiting from out of state. David gave us helpful tips for riding and let us know when a new challenge was coming up.

My niece and I had a great ride and enjoyed the hour thoroughly. A 1-hour trail ride is $40 per person. Park entry is an additional $10/$5 for Seniors. For the excitement my niece experienced and the opportunity for me to overcome the years of anxiety, it was worth every penny. We plan to return to Bear Creek Stables often when they open back up in the Spring.

Please know that there is a fee to enter this park, I believe you have to pay it even if you have a State park pass...

Great beach area and just a short walk away you can rent paddleboards and other non-motorized equipment. Very fun! There is not much shade so remember to bring your canopy if you have one!

We enjoyed a nice hike in here-there are lots of trails. It does get really crowded right around the lake area on weekends. I want to go back and try stand up paddle boarding. you can do it here, and it looks like fun!.

We paid $7 for our car to enter and its well worth it if you plan on spending a few hours to all day looking around. You can go to the beach, walk or hike trails, ride bikes, fish, rent boats, picnic and more. Nice back drop off the mountains and only 2 miles from Red Rocks Ampitheater and that neat little town. There were lots of family parties and reunions going on when we went on a Sunday in Sept. I will post some photos

Lots to do such as hiking, biking, archery range, kayaking, fishing, and horseback riding. It also has a very nice campground.

We went there when the lake was pretty full, which it almost never is. But our goal was to use the archery range, which is pretty good, not busy at all when we went. The park is generally pretty level, and there are miles of trails thru clearings and thru forests. Several places to picnic, with tables and fireplaces. You could take kids there for a nice level walk, a picnic, but don't plan for the lake to be there, as sometimes it completely dries up in the summer!

This is such a great local spot. There are so many activities for the whole family. It is also a great place to jog or ride bikes. It is my favorite trail for a daily walk or run!

We traveled here to take a quick hike and experience the beauty of Colorado. This park did not disappoint! I would gladly return and hike here again.

Nights were great. However mornings are terrible camping with aggressive wasps and our cabin had no dumpster near it so we had put our bags that were swormed with bees to side of camp and because of that a very rasist ranger named Todd told us we could not come back know dam well my husband and two children were stung more than once he has no sympathy to help us out the bags in dumpster so we were not attacked all he could do was be a resist jerk and tell us he don't need people like us at his camp ground witch was a black family ! The only black family on the lake at that !

On my last visit to Denver, my son's family took me to Bear Creek Lake Park for the day. 3 adults, 3 children, and 2 kayaks made up our party. The weather was perfect and the lake was clam. We spent our time between paddling across the water from one beach to the other, surrounded by beautiful scenery and just enough people to fill out the landscape. It was great exercise and fun for my 7-year old grandson through his brother, sister, mother, and dad, as well as me, his grandmother (age a closely guarded national secret). The water was calm enough that I could paddle the whole way across and back. And the temp of air and water was perfect, and the surrounding hills were homey. A delightful excursion was had by all.

Also look for Lair of the Bear for great, flat walking. one of the Open Spaces

After seeing crazy pricing in the mountains for water sports we found this little gem which is an amazing city park. Nice patrons, friendly staff, and tons of activities to choose from. We spent two days here, much to our surprise!!

Stand up Paddle boarding at this lake was fun. I went to a BBQ and they have some boats ect you can rent. There are hiking trails, but I would rent a boat and relax on water unless you are someone who has to talk all the time. I

Camped here for two nights in our van and it was nice. A bit of a long drive in from the road to the campground. The late night entrance is quite close and we used that once. Booked this on line and our reservation was ready for us when we arrived. Comfort stations were good and clean. Coin op showers did not use. Sites are nice. No trees but roomy with tables, fire pits and power. Compared to provincial camp fees in Ontario the fee was dirt cheap. I'd stay there again it was very economical.
There are lots of things to do there, trails, horses, lake, boating, etc. but we did not stay there for that.

Nice park somewhat near the mountains. On a clear day it is very pretty with all the colors. Great weather in CO even in the winter.

We love to kayak at Bear Creek Lake Park. It's local, peaceful and well-maintained. Can't wait for the 2013 kayaking season!

Lots of trails for people, horses, and bikes; volleyball; camping; and water sports.

Only negative so far is that you must pay to enter, except on occasional free days.

We love riding at this park. It is $5 to get in, and it is worth it! Many water crossings, and lots of easy hills make this a trail rider's dream. Park at the arena and you can let your horse blow off some steam before you get on. A new water pump and trough were a nice addition. Great for photos. You'll see coyotes, rabbits, prairie dogs and deer. Enjoy!

This is a great place for family and friends to gather and enjoy the outdoors. The have a lake and boating available or you can choose to have a picnic and one of many spots around the park. A great place for kids and dog to roam and just have old fashioned fun.

Any time of year is beautiful at Bear Creek Lake Park in Lakewood, CO. Located at 15600 W. Morrison Rd., the park is close to Denver and Lakewood and is the perfect place for outdoor family adventure. On your way into the park, stop at the entrance hut to purchase a day pass for $5 per vehicle or a season pass for $45 for a calendar year. There are numerous parking areas all over the park and miles of seemingly endless multiple-use trails to explore on foot, bicycle or horseback. The trails are mostly flat with mild hills for hiking or biking with the kids. There are also many opportunities for a dip in the creek if you bring the family dog! We bought the season pass and usually take our dog walking here at least once a week.

The family can also spend the day relaxing and picnicking at the swim beach or enjoying a guided horse-back ride starting at the Stables. The opportunities and amenities are plentiful. The fisherman in your family can even enjoy the day throwing in some lines. Most of the picnic shelters and areas are near restrooms and trash cans and many of the shelters can be reserved.

We have camped in the park a few times, and I'm always pleasantly surprised how nice it is. There are 30 amp and 50 amp electric hookups with approx. 50 sites that are well maintained and level. The sites are big, with enough room for a large RV, car, picnic table and chairs to sit around the campfire. There are no water or sewer hookups, but there is a dump station and water spickets. In addition to the campsites, there are 3 cabins and 2 yurts. The park is a reservation only system, and it books up well in advance. There is a swim beach that is more gravel than sand, but still nice. Archery, horseback riding, a large lake for fishing and water skiing lessons are available. The bicycle trails are wonderful - you can ride from Denver through Morrison going through the park on smooth paved trails for miles! Within site is Red Rocks Amphitheater and Bandimere Speedway. Great park being that it's in the middle of a residential area. When it gets full hookups, I'll give it 5 stars!

This is a very nice park. Fishing and wild geese makes for a nice view. Lots of trees and the lake looks clean. People very friendly. Lots of places to sit even to cook out. Very big park enjoy the weather and the scenery.

We get an annual pass because we live an hour away up at 9600' elevation. All winter while we've got a foot to 4 feet of snow we can blast down to this park and ride our road bikes in 50-60 degrees. There are miles of paved paths and roads as well. In summer we bring our camper and spend the night here at the campground when we go to concerts at Red Rocks nearby or the Denver botanic gardens. It's not the prettiest campground but it's inexpensive and convenient to the city. This park is a jewel on the edge of a big city.

Great place to go and relax and hang out by the water!! Beautiful and seren. Perfect for families camping. It's not too fat from Denver.

Neat campground but be aware that there is only electrical (20, 30, 50 amp) service. Must fill with water before you set up and may need to use the dump station. But, still a great place. Good base for touring the Rockies and going into Denver. Close to Red Rock Park. Easy access and a neat park.

love walking here, walking with my dog, watching birds, and just enjoying this quiet oasis.There are walking paths and a nice quiet path near Bear Creek, or you can go over to the lakes.

Bear Creek Lake is a family favorite. It is close to our house, so we buy the yearly pass for 2 of our vehicles. When the kids were young we enjoyed spending the day at the beach, playing in the sand, making mud pies, wading and swimming in the water. Now it is called a beach, but it is a Colorado beach, so we're not talking white sand and crystal clear blue water, but it never fails to entertain. We have also ridden our bikes on paved paths, hiked on wooded trails, gone looking for birds and other wildlife, including a moose one time! My husband and son like to take their boat there to fish, using their trolling motor. My daughter and I like to kayak and have gotten close to herons, beavers and pelicans to name a few. It is a nice place for a getaway without leaving the city. Unfortunately flooding as reeked havoc on some of the activities and scenery, but the crew there works hard to get it back in the best condition they can. Other activities are horseback riding, paddle boarding and paddle boat rentals, running trails with circuit/fitness activities and camping. Weekends and holidays do get busy with family gatherings at the many picnic shelter and people coming to play at the beach or just fish or hike. Afternoon/evenings are a great time to go with less of a crowd. Check out the visitor center too!

I ran a trail race here and was very impressed with the entire park. There is a beach with plenty of sand to relax on, a separate lake for water skiing, numerous areas for fishing, hiking, biking, running, grilling, camping.....

It's a beautiful location just east of Morrison off of 470 and 8.

Checked out this park today and it was really neat! I loved how much there was to do between the beach and trails and rentals. I was there for one purpose though, horseback riding! I ride horses at home, so I'm pretty picky about where I ride and the stables here fit the bill. The horses were all in great condition and seemed to be happy. I did the 1.5 hour ride and it was just the guide and me, so it was awesome! Rode to the top of Mt. Carbon for the awesome views. The price was great and I had a wonderful time.

I have lived downstream of the park for 20 years and have ridden my mountain bike in the park for that long. The park facilities are well maintained and the trail system is very well put together. My wife and I kayak/SUP in the park. Summer weekends in the park get very busy.

A good place for families, beautiful trails. Gets pretty crowded by 10 a.m. so get there early to claim your space.

Wonderful guide, obvious she has a love for horses. When she heard I had a horse years ago, she let me have more "horse time" walking one to water, petting another one.
Very safety oriented. Nice walk on trails with small inclines, over a shallow creek.
Interesting stable, guides are volunteers and rely on tips. Would do this ride again.

On the eve of the Super Blue Moon the parks ranger naturalist guided a dusk hike into the park’s Redtail Trail. The hike was sold out and about 40 people showed up. The ranger was very well versed in lunar information and the volunteers were really kind. I had hoped to see or hear some of the park’s Great Horned owls on the hike but despite the rangers request for quiet the group was noisy and inconsiderate. So any wild life fled in our advance.
I don’t think I would go again. The group was just too big and noisy. The moon was amazing.

We spent Memorial Day weekend at the swim beach at Bear Creek Lake Park. The water appeared much cleaner & was much higher than last summer. It is shallow so even the little kids can wade out pretty far, although it is quite cold. This is a great place to bring your grill, chairs, and beach toys & spend the day with your family. For $50 you can get an annual pass, which seems like a good value if you come often, especially since it's warm enough to swim here well into September.

A great place to spend the day or camp out as they have a camping area. I've seen lots of scouts use it. The park has two lakes. No motor boats with a motor over 10 HP on the fishing lake. The fishing lake even has a fish cleaning station. The swimming lake has sailing and paddle boarding rentals if you don't bring your own. Lots of hiking trails and bike and walking paths. It has a lovely small museum. Offers classes and has a wonderful program for kids. We use the archery range but can get busy on week ends during the summer. There is also a stable where you can go horse riding with a guide. I think that is a bit expensive but looks fun. You just need to go and learn about this gem of a place.

Came here on a Thursday afternoon and the place was hopping. We went to the rental part of the lake and gave an ID paid $20 for one hour, and we were off. Had a great time paddle boarding for the first time. Two of us were newbies and the third was a novice. The boards are easy to maneuver. You also get the paddle which can be shortened or lengthened. Balance is the key thing. Cruised around the lake and before we knew it our time was up. Afterwards we went to the swimming beach and hung out there for awhile. Fun day! Look forward to doing it all again!

This is a small lake, but if you go during the week, it's not terribly crowded.
There are good bike paths. There are several running competitions held here during the year, including the Yeti race in January--fun!

A great place to go swimming, horseback riding, bicycle riding, hiking, and a picturesque place for photography.

Nice park on the west side of Denver area with miles of paved and unpaved trails. Running, road cycling, and mountain biking are all very good here. Avoid weekend crowds, but even then not too bad.

This large open space park (2000+ acres) gives you the feeling of open country yet you are on the edge of the city. Hiking trails and waterfront are just part of the parks attractions.

This is a very good place to take out your paddleboard and cruise around on the lake with no motor boats to contend with. On a reasonably cool or overcast day it's perfect to be out on the water. It's relatively isolated from roads and highways, but right in town. You can also take your mountain bike on a great cross country ride with views of the lake and areas surrounding. Day pass is reasonable price. Main drawback is that you're not supposed to swim in the lake and you'll get a ticket if they catch you. Looks like the fishing is good from what I've observed.

This State park has several things going for it. Good fishing, camping, bike trails galore, a model airplane flying area with runways and more, the Family ShootingCenter is one of the most carefully controlled sites I have been to. The park staff is awesome and it is always clean abd inviting.

We just love coming here to camp and enjoy the beach. The campground is clean and quiet. The beach is relaxing and kept very clean.

We went horseback riding while we were there. Our guide, Molly, was awesome! She really knew the area and was hilarious! The views were amazing from the saddle! We saw magpies and prairie dogs! Everything was just beautiful! Remember to bring water and wear sunscreen, though, because of how easy it is to get dehydrated!

$7 gets you access to the park. $55/1.5 hours of horseback riding!

So much to do here! My boys love this place. We pull the RV out for a week during the summer and the boys are always busy here. Turtle pond is fun to fish for little perch (catch and release). You get a little fish with every cast! And there are turtles everywhere as well as bull frogs. The bike trail is nice to ride. The archery range is fun if you have a bow to shoot. We've never done the horse trails but always see them riding by. The actual lake is good to fish also. The swim beach is a good time but sometimes crowds are a problem. It's camping in the big city style. Can see Home Depot out the RV front door. Haha!

This is a really well maintained canpground and park. It is only about 20 minutes from downtown Denver and is easy to get too. The campground sites are enormous amd proivide ample room for kids to run around.

Took my dog for a walk around the lake...great place to visit. Was a little crowded on the weekends, but it was peaceful and nice on a weekdy.

If you live in Colorado you know that lakes and swim beaches are made-man and not too great. I really wanted to like the swim beach at Bear Creek. The truth is, the sand is gravel and not sandy, so do not forget chairs because this stuff is not comfortable.
The amount of people on a weekday was alarming, so do not attempt a weekend venture here unless you like swimming in people soup. The water quality depends on the amount of children and people packed into the swim areas of the water. I did not kayak or try any other water activities, but the water looked to be a bit cleaner in these areas.
I might add the toilets do not have plumbing so depending on the wind, you may get whiffs of “outhouse” in varying degrees throughout the day.
Overall, I was not impressed but since I’ve lived in Colorado for the past 20 years, I understand this is an average set up for swimming and there is not much else this close to the city.

Great place to play sand volleyball or rent a paddle boat, or engage in any number of water activities, but if it's that "Colorado beauty" that you're looking for, this is not the place to be.

Note that this lake closes in the fall. I visited in September and it was closed. The park around the lake is very nice with a little playground for kids. Not the nicest bathrooms as they are basically indoor porta-potties. The broader park is also worth visiting for horse back riding, biking or other water activities.

Bear Creek reservoir is an awesome place to take a boat out on the water. Bring your own (no motor) or rent a canoe or kayak. Awesome views of Red Rocks and the surrounding foothills. Great place for family picnics and water recreation on the "beach".

The lake is awesome, fish there all the time. The campsites can be dirty. Single access boat ramp so be patient.

This is a great park for kayaking and stand up paddleboarding!
There is a great, isolated beach from which to launch either type of watercraft.

Great scenic park just outside of Denver. Only $5 for a daily pass! Lots to offer...camping, horse back riding, swimming, boating, hiking, biking, you name it!

Avoid on weekends, it's way too crowded unless you like that sort of thing. A ton of bikes, joggers and hikers and too many boats and fisherman on the banks. It's kind of like the Truman show, where humans are the exhibit

This is a great park with wonderful scenery, abundant wildlife and a spectacular view of the mountains. There are literally miles and miles of walking and cycling paths. We visited it every day during our stay.

We enjoyed a lovely hot late summer day at this lake with the kids. Playground, bathroom facilities, picnic tables, sand volleyball courts, grass and beach were all clean. Gradual slope into the lake which was great for little ones. No lifeguards. It was wonderful to be in the water on a hot day.