Once a blighted swath of gravel pits, the Sawhill Ponds Nature Preserve is now one of the best wetland areas along the Colorado Front Range. Natural and managed restoration has produced an appealing mix of ponds, marsh, meadows and riparian woodlands across the floodplain of Boulder Creek. Owned by the City of Boulder, the refuge is located 4 miles east of the downtown area.
A network of trails takes the visitor through these wetlands, traversing the meadows and running atop earthen levees. Great blue herons, black-crowned night herons, snowy egrets, yellow-headed blackbirds, pied-billed grebes, cinnamon teal, marsh wrens, eastern and western kingbirds, common yellowthroats, western wood pewees, killdeer and spotted sandpipers are among the summer residents. Patient birders may also find American bitterns, soras and Virginia rails hunting in the cattails. Raptors include red-tailed and Swainson's hawks, American kestrels and great horned owls.
In addition to the large variety of birds, visitors may see coyotes, red fox, mule and white-tailed deer, beaver, muskrat and raccoons at Sawhill Ponds. Resident reptiles include painted turtles, garter snakes, king snakes and an occasional rattlesnake; of course, a variety of amphibians also inhabit these wetlands. Plan to visit at dawn or dusk for the best wildlife viewing.
