Bill Gillespie Nature Trail

Dogs No Dogs

Features Birding · Fall Colors · Lake · River/Creek · Wildlife

Trail is a mix of hard packed gravel and concrete. The gravel areas can be muddy depending on recent weather conditions.

This is a great nature trail featuring many species of birds, and offering fishing and relaxation in the city of Northglenn.

The trail as plotted is about a one mile long loop that starts along the south bank of the lake. You cross a foot bridge to the main lake area and run west under the cover of large cottonwood trees to the next foot bridge. You can cross this bridge to the west which will take you to the Hugh Danahy Park Loop for an extra 0.25 miles through the park's amenities, and before you know it, you're back to the nature trail.

From here, follow the trail northeast. Watch for seasonal birds both in the trees above and on the water. I've seen an owl and great blue heron on occasion. At the east end of the lake, you'll be running parallel to Huron Street and can choose to walk by the lake or along the street depending on the number of folks fishing the lake during your visit.

At the southeast corner of the lake, you turn west to the foot bridge near the fishing pier and head back out to Naiad Drive.

The nature in the area includes turtles, bats, ducks, geese, herons, red-winged black birds, muskrats, raccoons, fox, coyote. Willows and cottonwoods surround the Croke Reservoir and groomed park lawns dominate Hugh Danahy Park.