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Private and Tranquil Retreat at Beaver Brook Watershed

Evergreen, Colorado

4.0/5
based on 5 reviews

Description

Added by Amy Kesic

Private and Tranquil. Beautiful Setting. Fishing. Dog Walking. Hiking. Snowshoeing.

Note: This is NOT the Beaver Brook Trail in Genesee Park/Lookout Mountain!

If you enjoy the scenery and ambiance of Evergreen, but Evergreen Lake has become too crowded for your tastes, Beaver Brook Watershed (owned by the City of Golden) is an excellent alternative. It’s a small, secluded area and won’t be open for paddleboats or motorized recreation anytime soon. This is the perfect spot for someone looking for a simple, tranquil recreational area to do some walking, fishing, or picnicking.

The Upper Beaver Brook reservoir is a pretty little lake surrounded by hills of evergreen trees. The west end has a lovely grassy marsh area with Squaw Mountain as the backdrop. A maintenance road goes partially around the dam, and a trail goes rest of the way if you care to circle the lake.

The lake is about 0.5 miles from where you park on Old Squaw Pass Rd. Slip through the small opening at the gate and continue on the gravel road until you find the water. The road forks, but either direction brings you there: the right fork goes to the dam wall and the left is an access road toward the west end. I saw some vague references online to an unmarked trail that lies between Upper Beaver Brook (Number 3A) Reservoir (the one detailed in this article) and Lower Beaver Brook (Number 2) Reservoir that lies to the northeast. I have not yet explored this hike, but I will be checking it out next time I go.

Permitted Activities:
  • Hiking
  • Mountain biking on trails
  • Snowshoeing
  • Cross country skiing
  • Picnicking
  • Horseback riding
  • Dogs are permitted on leash only
Prohibited Activities:
  • Motorized vehicles
  • Vandalism
  • Fires
  • Target shooting
  • Cutting down trees
  • Swimming and entry into the water
  • Dogs in the water
  • Dumping

Camping and special events by permit only.

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Features

Chillin
Camping
Fishing
Photography
Mountain Biking
Skiing
Snowshoeing
Hiking
Easy Parking
Family Friendly
Forest
Lake
Scenic

Private and Tranquil Retreat at Beaver Brook Watershed Reviews

My husband and I didn’t feel like going on a typical hike. So this was the next best thing! The reservoir is about half a mile from the trail head/road and then half a mile back (1 mile total). We brought an eno and snacks and made an afternoon out of it! There weren’t very many people there we only maybe saw 4 people! Definitely recommend!

They are doing construction on the reservoir, and the trail is currently closed

Beautiful place! I was there for about an hour and only saw about 3 people. Very low key and beautiful. Icy trails at this time of year but manageable on a sunny day!

This is a great hike with little foot traffic. The area is mostly USFS land, with a small portion owned by the State Land Board. The City of Golden had plans to sell the land around the reservoir to developers, but Clear Creek County and the USFS purchased the property with the help of GOCO funds. Limited hunting is allowed in the fall, so keep this in mind when hunting in the fall.

Took my coffee, snacks, and study notes to get some peace and quiet for the afternoon. Saw a few other people out walking as well. Beautiful and quiet spot.

Leave No Trace

Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!

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