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Standley Lake Regional Park and Wildlife Refuge
Visit just for the day or spend an entire week exploring Standley Lake Regional Park and Wildlife Refuge! Located at 100th Avenue and Simms Street in unincorporated Jefferson County, there's plenty of outdoor fun to experience at the 3,000 acre park. The most popular activities include paddle boarding, kayaking, rowing, fishing, picnics, walking, bicycling, camping, wildlife viewing and attending nature programs.
Standley Lake Master Plan
Thank you to everyone who participated in our first master plan survey. We had nearly 1000 respondents! Having your voice heard in this way allows us to build a master plan that represents what our community wants. Please check back here, and on our social media, for our next survey that will be opening soon.
Park Access
Standley Lake Regional Park is open year-round. The hours during the summer (May 1 to September 30) are sunrise to sunset for walk-in access and 6:30 am to 8 pm for those who drive in. The hours during the winter (October 1 to April 30) are sunrise to sunset for those who walk in and 7:30 am to one hour before sunset for drive-in access.
Lake Access
With 1,063 acres of surface area, Standley Lake is Westminster's largest body of water. It is also the Denver metropolitan area's third-largest reservoir. The water in Standley Lake is jointly owned by the cities of Westminster, Thornton, Northglenn, and the Farmers Reservoir and Irrigation Company (FRICO) and is the primary drinking water supply for all three cities serving over 300,000 people. For this reason, no swimming or wading is allowed in the water. Lake access is available May 1 to September 30 and requires the purchase of a daily paddle pass or annual paddle permit. All allowable recreation uses are outlined in the current intergovernmental agreement between the cities of Westminster, Thornton, and Northglenn and available on our park rules and regulations webpage.
Nature Center
Standley Lake Regional Park has a Nature Center located on the north side of the park. Visitors can view animal displays, see Standley Lake historical photos, borrow FREE binoculars and exploration packs, purchase passes and permits, obtain park information and visit the bullsnake, Toro, and the ornate box turtle, Ned! The Nature Center is open during the summer (May 1 - Sep 30) 8 am - 5 pm and the winter (Oct 1 - April 30) 8 am - 5 pm.
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Standley Lake Nature Center
Physical Address
11610 W 100th Ave.
Westminster, CO 80021
Phone: 303-425-1097
Nature Center Summer Hours (May 1 to Sept. 30): 8 am to 5 pm daily
Nature Center Winter Hours (Oct. 1 to Apr. 30): 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily, except Wednesday (variable hours Wednesday).
- Free Parking - There are two small lots that provide free walk-in and bicycle access to the park. One is located along the south side of West 100th Avenue at Owens Street, and the other is located south of the lake at West 86th Parkway and Simms Street. The free parking lots close at sunset daily.
- Daily Parks Pass ($7) - Allows entry of one vehicle into the park until sunset. Does not include use of paddle craft or camping.
- Senior / Person with Disabilities / Military Daily Parks Pass ($5) - Includes park entry for one vehicle (including all occupants of the vehicle) for any person with disabilities, military or seniors (aged 60 or older). Does not include paddle craft use or camping.
- Annual Day Use Permit ($65) - Allows 7-day-a-week access into park year-round. Permit does not include use of paddle craft or camping. Permit is valid only for the calendar year sold. Pass expires December 31.
- Senior / Person with Disabilities / Military Annual Permit ($35) - Allows seven-day-a-week access into park year-round for persons 60 and older, military personnel and/or any person with disabilities. Permit is valid only for the calendar year sold. Pass expires December 31. Does not include camping or use of paddle craft.
- Do you have to pay to walk in?
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There is no fee to walk, run or ride a bike into Standley Lake Regional Park. There are free parking lots at 86th Parkway and Simms Street and 100th Avenue and Owens Street where people can park and walk into the park. These parking lots are closed and locked at sunset (official MST). There is a $7 fee to drive into the park.
- Can I walk my paddle craft in, or do I have to come through the main entrance?
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Because of the City of Westminster’s Aquatic Nuisance Species Program (ANS), all paddle craft must enter the main entrance and check in at the gatehouse. All paddle craft must be sprayed (decontaminated) prior to launching before each use. There is no quarantine on kayaks, paddle boards or canoes (unless on a trailer). When you check in at the gatehouse, you may purchase a daily paddle pass then staff notifies a ranger to meet you at the spray station to spray your craft (paddle craft must be inflated prior to getting the spray if it is an inflatable). You then will receive a wristband indicating you have been sprayed. You must have a wristband to launch your paddle craft. Nothing enters the water without getting sprayed every time it is used on the lake. Also, all paddle craft must come in on top of a vehicle or in the bed of a truck.
- Why is swimming not allowed?
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Standley Lake is a drinking water supply for three cities, so due to water quality concerns, no swimming or wading is allowed.
- Why is boating not allowed on the lake?
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Trailered boats are not be permitted on Standley Lake due to increasing concerns of zebra and quagga mussel infestation.