Walden and Sawhill Ponds

Walden and Sawhill Ponds

In a world where it often seems that nature is losing out to development, the Walden Wildlife Habitat and Sawhill Ponds are a refreshing confirmation that sometimes the opposite is the case. Not only have the ponds a distinctly urban setting, they were born of progress. The gravel that makes up the sediments along the Boulder Creek drainage, in which the ponds sit, was once mined extensively for use in road building. When the gravel mine began its long journey back to a more natural state—in the case of Walden Ponds, as a result of a reclamation project initiated by Boulder County in 1974—ponds and islands were sculpted of the remaining mined rock. Rain and meltwater filled the depressions, trees and shrubs were planted… and before long, a wildlife habitat capable of supporting a variety of bird, fish, insect, and mammal species had taken shape where once there was only rubble. This hike links trails through both the Walden Ponds Wildlife Habitat area, managed by Boulder County Parks and Open Space, and the Sawhill Ponds area, managed by the City of Boulder Mountain Parks. A number of spur trails exist in the Sawhill Ponds area; this route follows the main doubletrack trail (an old roadbed), which features interesting interpretive signs.

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