Walden Ponds Wildlife Habitat

Nature's healing influence, heartened by human support, has transformed Walden Ponds into a wetland habitat teeming with life.

Walden Ponds has multiuse trails and picnic shelters available for visitors and are located near 75th and Valmont Streets. Fishing is allowed.

Walking along the shorelines through the cattails, you might see red-winged or yellow-headed blackbirds, gulls, geese and any of the approximately twenty species of birds that winter or breed here; along with great blue heron, belted kingfishers, or even an occasional white pelican. Redheads, wigeons and ring-tailed ducks can also be seen on the ponds along with turtles, frogs, and fish.

Low Water Levels at Walden Ponds Wildlife Habitat

Unfortunately, we are currently in dry cycle and water levels have noticeably receded.

These ponds are groundwater fed. The Boulder County Parks & Open Space Department has a limited ability to divert water from Boulder Creek to increase their levels.

Until we are able to divert Boulder Creek water, we are dependent upon rain and snow runoff. We appreciate your concern and understanding
 

History

Gravel was first mined at Walden in April 1958. By the early 1970s, more than 50 of the 71.5 acres originally purchased, had already been mined. Open pits and puddles of groundwater were all that remained after the property had been stripped fifteen feet down to bedrock. 

In 1974, Boulder County initiated a reclamation program at Walden after county residents expressed strong interest in reclaiming the blemished landscape and creating a wildlife habitat. Piles of rock, called 'pit run', were compacted into dikes creating three ponds: Duck Pond, Picnic Pond and Cottonwood Marsh. More pit run was shaped into islands and peninsulas for waterfowl resting and nesting areas.

Tree and shrub seedlings were planted and dry areas were seeded to help foster natural re-vegetation. The ponds were allowed to fill with groundwater and then stocked with fish. Since then, two new ponds, Bass Pond and Pelican Marsh, have been added and the entire area has been re-worked.

Walden first opened to the public in October 1975 and is a work in progress, a park that is still evolving as a wildlife habitat and recreational retreat. In 2002, Boulder County Commissioners dedicated Ricki Weiser Wetlands to honor long-time, open-space activist, Ricki Weiser, who died shortly afterwards.

Trails

Walden Ponds has 2.6 miles of multiuse trails that guide hikers, equestrians, anglers and bicycle riders around ponds and marsh areas. 

Facilities

A group shelter, which can accommodate up to 50 people, is available for use on a first-come, first-serve basis. There are also picnic tables and grills provided at two locations at Walden Ponds. There are also public restrooms.

Fishing

Fishing is allowed at Walden Ponds. The ponds are stocked with largemouth and smallmouth bass, channel catfish, and bluegill. With the exception of Wally Toevs Pond, all ponds are catch and release for large and small mouth bass. Artificial flies and lures only. Creel limits for all species other than largemouth and smallmouth bass must adhere to the Colorado Wildlife Commission regulations. 

Wally Toevs Pond is restricted to seniors (64 and older) and/or handicapped individuals. Wally Toevs Pond is stocked with rainbow trout during the spring and fall months. The creel limit is set annually and cannot be exceeded.

Boats and single chambered devices are prohibited on all of the ponds.

Access

Walden Ponds Wildlife Habitat is located 5 miles northeast of Boulder, ½ mile south of the Jay Road and North 75th Street intersection on the west side of North 75th Street. All programs sponsored by Parks and Open Space meet at Cottonwood Marsh Group Picnic Shelter.

Visiting Walden Ponds Wildlife Habitat

Walden Ponds Wildlife Habitat Map:  Because all of our open space properties are environmentally sensitive, it is important for users to know the rules and regulations pertaining to our open space. Once the map is displayed, you can use the adobe toolbar to fit the map to your window, pan, zoom in or out, search or print the map on your own printer. The size of the original map and screen reduction are shown on the lower left hand status bar.

The Walden Ponds map is a 85 KB file and will require Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available free from Adobe. Map may not appear properly in your web browser, for best results, save map file to a directory on your computer (right click and choose "Save Target as" in Internet explorer or "Save Link as" in Netscape) and open using Adobe Reader.

 

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