Best lakes around Bow Mar, Colorado, are central to the community's identity, known for its lakefront lifestyle. The town's name is derived from Bowles Lake and Marston Reservoir, underscoring its historical connection to these bodies of water. The area features a mix of recreational lakes and larger reservoirs, set against a backdrop of mountain views. This region offers diverse aquatic environments for exploration.
Last updated: June 24, 2026
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The Chatfield Reservoir is a 1,423-acre lake in Chatfield State Park. There is a hiking path that runs alongside the water.
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Bear Creek Lake Park spans 2,624 acres and is a great spot for hiking, biking, and horseback riding, as well as swimming, fishing, and boating year-round recreation. Open from April 1 to October 31, the campground is one of the closest full-service options near Denver. Visitors can also enjoy picnic shelters, paved and unpaved trails, an archery range, and scenic reservoirs.
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Explore the beauty of the Marjorie Perry Nature Preserve, with soft-surface trails winding through diverse habitats like grasslands, wetlands, and wooded areas. The preserve has views of the Rocky Mountains and opportunities for birdwatching and other wildlife viewing. To protect the ecosystem, visitors must stay on designated trails.
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This 59-acre preserve located along the High Line Canal is a great place for bird and wildlife watching and a scenic setting to run in.
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Chatfield Reservoir offers opertunity for fun activities like boating, biking, fishing, camping, and hiking. Established in the 1970s for flood control, the lake is now home to animals like deer and bald eagles. Chatfield Reservoir is water storage facility for the Denver area and features a marina for boaters.
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Chatfield State Park is a 5,300-acre park featuring a 1,400-acre reservoir. There are a bunch of different trails, ponds, and natural areas to check out while you bike around the park. Some trails are rougher than others, but you can usually tell when you are turning onto a rough singletrack path versus a smoother gravel path.
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This lake features a pleasant beach area that provides stunning views of the mountains in the background of the water. You'll witness various water activities in the area and even have the option to rent equipment like paddleboards.
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The Bow Mar area offers a diverse range of lakes, from large reservoirs with extensive recreational facilities to quieter nature preserves. You'll find options like Bear Creek Lake, which is part of a large park, and the serene Marjorie Perry Nature Preserve, known for its wildlife.
Yes, several lakes in the area are great for families. Bear Creek Lake and Big Soda Lake both offer a variety of activities suitable for all ages, including swimming, picnicking, and water sports. The Marjorie Perry Nature Preserve is also family-friendly for nature walks and birdwatching.
You can enjoy a wide range of activities. At Bear Creek Lake, you can hike, bike, horseback ride, swim, fish, and boat. Big Soda Lake is popular for its beach area and water activities like paddleboarding, with equipment rentals available. Chatfield Reservoir also offers boating, biking, fishing, camping, and hiking.
Many lakes offer trails directly. For example, Bear Creek Lake Park has extensive trails for hiking, biking, and horseback riding. Chatfield Reservoir also features numerous trails. For more specific routes, you can explore guides like Road Cycling Routes around Bow Mar, MTB Trails around Bow Mar, and Cycling around Bow Mar, which include routes like the 'Mount Carbon Loop – Bear Creek Lake loop'.
Yes, Big Soda Lake features a pleasant beach area with stunning mountain views, perfect for swimming and relaxing. The private lake within Bow Mar also has a private beach for residents.
The lakes and surrounding preserves are rich in biodiversity. At Marjorie Perry Nature Preserve, you can spot herons, ducks, pelicans, frogs, and turtles. Big Soda Lake is known for its variety of birds, and Chatfield Reservoir is home to animals like deer and bald eagles.
Yes, the Chatfield Dam Trail (Paved Section) is wheelchair accessible and offers great views of the boats, mountains, and a nearby dog park. Many other trails around the lakes are generally well-maintained, though specific accessibility can vary.
The town of Bow Mar itself is named after its historical connection to Bowles Lake and Marston Reservoir. These lakes, along with the private recreational lake within Bow Mar, have been central to the community's identity and development, originally supporting the area's agricultural past.
Yes, at Big Soda Lake, you have the option to rent equipment for various water activities, such as paddleboards, allowing you to fully enjoy the lake.
Visitors frequently praise the stunning mountain views, the diverse range of outdoor activities available, and the peaceful natural settings. Many appreciate the opportunities for birdwatching and wildlife viewing, as well as the well-maintained trails for hiking and biking.
While public access details for winter activities on all lakes vary, the private recreational lake within Bow Mar transforms into a venue for ice skating and ice hockey during the winter months for its residents, highlighting the area's versatility for year-round recreation.
For scenic walks with mountain views, Marjorie Perry Nature Preserve offers soft-surface trails with views of the Rocky Mountains. Big Soda Lake also provides stunning mountain backdrops from its beach area.


Still not found your perfect lake around Bow Mar? Check out the guides of these regions to see even more beautiful places.