Bear Creek Lake Park – Lakewood, CO | Big Soda and Little Soda Lakes

Bear Creek Lake Park is hidden away on the Front Range next to C-470 and Red Rocks. It’s centered around three lakes in the foothills between Lakewood and Morrison: Bear Creek Lake, Big Soda Lake and Little Soda Lake.

Biking, boating, fishing and camping are the main attractions. Bear Creek Dam was the last of three dams built to protect the Denver-area from floods. It’s a surprisingly big park that’s home to namesake Bear Creek Lake.

Bear Creek Lake is the largest at around one hundred acres. It’s open to motorized boating from March 15 to November 15. Big Soda Lake is nearly the same size, and limited to non-motorized boats. Little Soda Lake is only open to private boats with the Water Ski School.

There are 47 campsites at the park, two yurts and three cabins. It’s the closest campground to Red Rocks, which makes it great for concerts.

Horseback riding, biking and hiking are popular on the park’s trails. There are 15 miles of multi-use dirt trails located within the park. Pets are welcome on-leash everywhere except the Swim Beach.

The Soda Lake Marina is open Memorial Day to Labor Day, and offers paddleboat, canoe, kayak and paddleboard rentals. Little Soda Lake has a Water Ski School, with a variety of lessons and camps. Lakewood’s Bear Creek Lake Park is a choice spot for water skiing school in the Denver Metro.

There is an admission fee for general and discount for senior admission. Camping is a nightly fee and you can make campsite reservations online.

Activities at Bear Creek Lake

Archery: Range is open year round.

Biking/Hiking: Fifteen miles of multi-use trails.

Boating: Two lakes for public boating, one for just for water ski school.

Bear Creek Lake – Motorized boating March 15-Nov 15
Big Soda Lake – Non-motorized craft
Little Soda Lake – Limited to private boats for Water Ski School

More water recreation can be found twenty minutes south at Chatfield State Park.

Camping: Forty-seven campsites, two yurts, three cabins.

Read about the Camping near Lakewood and Red Rocks.

Fishing: Bear Creek Lake is stocked with rainbow trout, saugeye and small mouth bass. Annually in May there is a Trout Fishing Tournament, open to 25 two-person watercraft 25 two-person shore fishing teams.

Horseback Riding: Stables open April to October, horseback riding, lessons, hayrides, bearcreekranchcolorado.com.

Swimming: Open on Big Soda Lake from Memorial Day to Labor Day

Visitor Center: Open daily, features wildlife exhibits.

Winter Recreation: Ice fishing, snowshoeing and cross country skiing, conditions permitting.

Archery Range.