Standley Lake
Reviewed Aug. 20, 2018

Oasis in the heart of the burbs!

Tranquil exotic oasis right smack in the middle of Suburban Arvada! Who would have known!?

But here I am sneaking off in the morning with a paddle board and kayak atop my car to get in a morning of lovely peaceful Zen Joy in the designated "Quiet" waters on the Northwest shores of Standley. Views of Longs Peak and the Indian Peaks can be seen to the West. I paddle with my friend and large smiles in the calm waters, heading toward Bird Island- you can hear the ruckus of Cormorants, Grebes, Heron, and others birds all marking their space. It almost feels like I am in Costa Rica or someplace exotic! I love watching them in flight with their wings expanded, coming in for a landing, sometimes awkward but always interesting. Inside the visitor center there is a large "Eagle Cam" TV with live footage of the endangered Bald eagles nesting their eaglets. Several times a day if you're patient you can view them being fed. Something to see. If you don't have a paddle craft they rent them there. You can rent a kayak, a paddle board, a canoe, or a paddle bicycle on a pontoon! Take a friend and a picnic for a lovely day on this beautiful lake right here in Arvada. Your worries fall away and you can experience the joy in nature around you. Maybe weird but true!

Month of VisitJuly