‘The peace and quiet is wonderful:’ Bear Creek Lake Park draws visitors, even in winter

Even during the cold winter months, Littleton resident Maria Janisz needs to get out into nature.

This need isn’t just for her physical health, but emotional as well. And when the need strikes, there’s one place she goes –; Lakewood’s Bear Creek Lake Park.

“I’m here four or five times a week to do the fitness trail here,” she said on a clear, cold day in late February. “I like doing the stretches out here, and it’s so much nicer than being in a gym.”

Janisz isn’t alone in her devotion to the park, even during winter. Although visitor numbers certainly slow from the summer months, they by no means stop, said Drew Sprafke, Lakewood’s regional parks supervisor.

“We have a whole lot of activity here in the winter,” he said. “We’re very well known for keeping our trails plowed, so we have a lot of runners and cyclists come here first. We also have great ice fishing, and people love to come cross-country ski and snowshoe after we get a snowstorm.”

Some other popular winter activities include birding and wildlife viewing, and shoreline fishing when the ice starts to melt off the water. Park rangers and naturalists also host full-moon hikes and juniors and seniors events throughout the season.

“We have a very eager water sports community who call us frequently to see if they can get out on the water,” added park ranger Todd Taylor. “They’re out there in their wet suits as soon as they have the opportunity.”

The number of visitors is weather-dependent, but during the weekends –; particularly with the warm weather the area has seen recently –; Sprafke estimates about a thousand people are taking advantage of the park.

High visitor numbers and a variety of projects are more than enough to keep staff busy, especially since the staff size is half what it is during the summer. The parks staff doesn’t just maintain Bear Creek Lake Park, but all the city’s parks. There are eight year-round employees in the parks division and about 15 staff members to help out in the winter. During the summer, that number climbs to about 35.

“During the winter we’re doing a lot of trail clearing and plowing work,” Taylor said. “We’re also doing a lot of flooding reclamation work during these months.”

Park visitor numbers rise every year, Sprafke added, so he and staff have been looking at ways to mitigate traffic backup and expanding public use areas during these quieter months.

On any given day, a visitor could run into a race event like the Yeti Chase or Polar Prowl, come across a birding group looking for raptors and their nests, or find themselves on an empty trail.

“The quiet of this time of year is a big draw for visitors,” Taylor said. “People like coming out here when there’s no one around and just getting outside.”

That was certainly the case for Denver resident Anthony Lopez, who was at the park honing his archery skills. He said there is a range nearer to his home, but he likes being out in nature more.

“I come out here to practice, and I mountain bike here as well,” he said. “The peace and quiet is wonderful, and often wildlife come through. It’s like being out in the country.”

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