Golden Ponds
Four reclaimed gravel ponds in Longmont with big views of Longs Peak.
About Golden Ponds
Golden Ponds Nature Area is an 88-acre city park on Longmont's west side, with four ponds totaling about 56 acres of water. Paved and gravel paths, about 2.6 miles in all, circle the ponds, and the park is the western trailhead of the St. Vrain Greenway.
It is an easy, flat place to walk, fish or bird, and on clear days it offers a broad view of Longs Peak and the Front Range across the water. Great blue herons and cormorants are common, and birders regularly spot wood ducks, ospreys and bald eagles.
For a photographer, Golden Ponds is a quick, low-effort option for sunrise reflections of Longs Peak and for practicing bird photography close to home.
Four connected ponds on 94 acres in Longmont, with Longs Peak and the Front Range as a backdrop across the water. The park anchors the western end of the St. Vrain Greenway, and its 2.6 miles of trail, ADA-accessible fishing pier, and steady traffic of herons and cormorants make it an easy, low-key spot to work a reflection shot without driving into the mountains. Calm mornings before the wind picks up are your best window for a clean mirror image of Longs Peak.
History
The land was mined for gravel by Vernon Golden and later donated to the City of Longmont by the V.V. Golden Foundation; the city opened the park in 1990. A bronze sculpture of Vern helping a boy fish stands near the parking lot. The September 2013 flood heavily damaged the park, and the spillway on the easternmost pond was rebuilt in 2018. A concrete cascade and a 140-foot bridge over the river recall the site's industrial past.
Photographing Golden Ponds
Best light: Sunrise is the best bet: the peaks to the west catch first light while the ponds are often calm, giving you alpenglow reflections of Longs Peak. Spring and fall migration bring the most bird variety, and late April and May are good for swallows over the water.
Shots to look for
- Longs Peak and the Front Range reflected in the western ponds at sunrise, using cattails or shoreline grass as foreground.
- Great blue herons and cormorants hunting along the banks with a 100-400mm, shot from the trail at a low angle.
- The concrete cascade and footbridge on the St. Vrain, with a slow shutter for silky water.
- Cottonwoods turning gold along the ponds in October, framed against the mountains.
Photo tips
- The park opens an hour before sunrise, so you can be set up for first light legally.
- Calm mornings give the best reflections; wind picks up as the day warms.
- Bring a long lens for birds and keep your distance from nesting areas.
- It's flat and accessible, with an ADA-accessible fishing pier and restrooms.
Know before you go
- Open from one hour before sunrise to one hour after sunset.
- Dogs must be leashed and cleaned up after.
- Fishing is allowed for all ages; boating is limited to belly boats.
- The park connects directly to the St. Vrain Greenway for longer walks or rides.
Prints from Golden Ponds
Every photo is available as a print on metal, canvas, wood or fine art paper.
Frequently asked questions
Are dogs allowed at Golden Ponds?
Yes, on leash, and owners must pick up after them.
Can you fish at Golden Ponds?
Yes, fishing is open to all ages, and boating is limited to belly boats. A Colorado fishing license applies for anglers who need one.
What are Golden Ponds' hours?
The park is open from one hour before sunrise until one hour after sunset.
Featured in: Best Sunrise Photography Spots in Colorado · Photography Spots Near Denver
Combine it with
St. Vrain Greenway · Sawhill Ponds Wildlife Preserve · Rabbit Mountain · Union Reservoir
More Colorado spots
Mestaa'Ėhehe Mountain Fire Lookout · Rustler's Gulch · Lower, Middle and Upper Blue Lakes
Sources & further reading: longmontcolorado.gov · visitlongmont.org · coloradobirdingtrail.com. Conditions, fees and rules change; check with the managing agency before you go.