Sawhill Ponds Wildlife Preserve
Eighteen quiet ponds east of Boulder, alive with herons, ducks and raptors.
About Sawhill Ponds Wildlife Preserve
Sawhill Ponds is a 208-acre State Wildlife Area on Boulder's east side, off 75th Street just north of Valmont Road. Colorado Parks and Wildlife owns it and the City of Boulder's Open Space and Mountain Parks department manages it. It sits beside Boulder County's Walden Ponds, and together they form one of the best urban birding spots on the Front Range.
Flat trails and maintenance roads wind between 18 ponds, cottonwoods and cattail marsh. There's a bird blind, a fishing pier and benches, and the whole area is mobility-friendly.
It's a good place for wildlife photography close to town: migrating ducks in spring and fall, nesting ospreys, herons, cormorants and wood ducks in summer, plus mountain views to the west over the water.
Eighteen individual ponds and connecting trails just outside Boulder, owned by Colorado Parks & Wildlife and managed by the city's Open Space and Mountain Parks Department. It's an easy, close-in spot for water-focused shots without needing a mountain drive — early morning fog off the ponds is a regular occurrence worth checking for before writing the day off as flat light.
History
Sawhill and the neighboring Walden Ponds are reclaimed gravel pits along Boulder Creek. Walden's conversion from mined pits to wildlife habitat began in 1974, and Sawhill followed a similar path, becoming a State Wildlife Area under a management agreement between CPW and the City of Boulder.
Photographing Sawhill Ponds Wildlife Preserve
Best light: Early morning is best for wildlife activity and calm water; with the mountains to the west, sunrise lights the Indian Peaks and Flatirons across the ponds. March is prime for migrating ducks, late spring and summer for nesting birds, and winter mornings can bring frost and steam off open water.
Shots to look for
- Great blue herons or egrets stalking the shallows, shot from the trails with a 100-500mm at eye level.
- Sunrise alpenglow on the mountains to the west reflected in a calm pond, with cattails as foreground.
- Ospreys on nest platforms or diving for fish with a long lens and fast shutter.
- Frosted cottonwoods and reeds on cold winter mornings.
Photo tips
- Use the bird blind for close, low-disturbance shots.
- Move slowly and keep your distance from nesting birds; some areas may close seasonally.
- No bikes are allowed, but the flat trails are easy with a long lens and a monopod.
- Combine with the Cottonwood Marsh boardwalk at adjacent Walden Ponds.
Know before you go
- Dogs must be on a hand-held leash at all times.
- Bicycles are not allowed; horses are limited to established maintenance roads.
- Fishing requires a CPW license for anglers 16 and older; float tubes are allowed, but kayaks, wading and swimming are not.
- Free to visit; open early morning to late evening (check posted hours).
- There's no drinking water on site.
Prints from Sawhill Ponds Wildlife Preserve
Every photo is available as a print on metal, canvas, wood or fine art paper.
Frequently asked questions
Are dogs allowed at Sawhill Ponds?
Yes, but they must be on a hand-held leash at all times.
Is there a fee to visit Sawhill Ponds?
No. Access is free, and you don't need a hunting or fishing license just to walk in.
What birds can you see at Sawhill Ponds?
Migrating ducks in spring and fall, plus herons, cormorants, ospreys, wood ducks, swallows and bald eagles at various times of year.
Featured in: Where to Photograph Wildlife in Colorado
Combine it with
Walden Ponds Wildlife Habitat · Boulder Creek Path · Golden Ponds · Flatirons
More Colorado spots
Sources & further reading: bouldercolorado.gov · cpw.state.co.us · coloradobirdingtrail.com · en.wikipedia.org. Conditions, fees and rules change; check with the managing agency before you go.