GO HIKE COLORADO
Get in Touch:
  • HOME
  • ABOUT
  • HIKES BY REGION
    • DENVER AREA >
      • Denver Mountain Parks
      • Jefferson County Open Space
      • Lakewood Parks
      • Denver Area Greenways
    • BOULDER AREA
    • DOUGLAS COUNTY
    • FORT COLLINS AREA
    • COLORADO SPRINGS AREA
    • FRONT RANGE
    • TENMILE & MOSQUITO RANGES
    • GORE RANGE
    • SANGRE DE CRISTO MOUNTAINS
    • PARK RANGE
    • SAWATCH RANGE
    • ELK MOUNTAINS
    • SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS
    • THE FLAT TOPS
    • GRAND MESA
    • COLORADO PLATEAU
    • EASTERN PLAINS
  • NATIONAL PARK HIKES
    • BENT'S OLD FORT NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE
    • BLACK CANYON OF THE GUNNISON NATIONAL PARK
    • COLORADO NATIONAL MONUMENT
    • CURECANTI NATIONAL RECREATION AREA
    • DINOSAUR NATIONAL MONUMENT
    • FLORISSANT FOSSIL BEDS NATIONAL MONUMENT
    • MESA VERDE NATIONAL PARK
    • ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK
    • GREAT SAND DUNES NATIONAL PARK
    • HOVENWEEP NATIONAL MONUMENT
    • SAND CREEK MASSACRE NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE
    • YUCCA HOUSE NATIONAL MONUMENT
  • HIKES BY CATEGORY
    • HIKES TO ALPINE LAKES
    • HIKES TO PEAKS & PASSES
    • HIKES THROUGH CANYONS
    • HIKES WITH FALL COLORS
    • HIKES ALONG THE I-70 CORRIDOR
    • HIKES ON PAVED TRAILS
    • HIKES FOR KIDS
    • HIKES TO WATERFALLS
    • HIKES ALONG RIVERS
    • HIKES WITH ROCK FORMATIONS
    • HIKES WITH WILDFLOWERS
    • WINTER HIKES
  • NEWS
  • WEBCAMS
  • $UPPORT GHC
  • INTERACTIVE MAP

Environmental Education Zone
Two Ponds National Wildlife Refuge

Date Hiked: May 28, 2017

Distance: 1 mi (RT)
Elevation Gain: 195 ft
Elevation Min/Max: 5,325 to 5,625 ft
Managing Agency: U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Fee: None

Two Ponds NWR Map & Info (FWS)

Directions: The Refuge is located at the intersection of W. 80th Ave and Kipling in Arvada, Colorado.  From I-70, take Wadsworth Blvd north to 80th Ave. Turn left (west) and follow 80th to Kipling Street.  Along the way you will see the sign and visitor center for Two Ponds Parking Area.

The Two Ponds National Wildlife Refuge's Environmental Education Zone is a hidden gem in suburban Arvada.  The hiking is very easy and great for young children.  There are self guided tours and various wildlife viewing blinds for viewing.  There are two separate loops that add up to about 1 mile of hiking.  

After you pass through the gate entrance you are treated to a finely manicured "prairie garden."  After you walk through the garden you arrive at the large pond and the fork in the road. To the right is Loop 2, which climbs a small hill with a birds eye view of the refuge before returning to the pond and the start of the first loop.  Loop 1 is the more scenic loop and climbs to another small hill with a view.  At the top of this hill is a gate that accesses the Prairie Management Zone Trail system.  

Exploring the refuge is self explanatory and you can meander as you please.  There are multiple benches along the way and a nice wildlife blind just south of the large pond.  The refuge is peaceful, idyllic, and unexpectedly tucked away.
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.