Where is Kountze Lake located?

Kountze Lake is located in Jefferson County, Colorado.

Is a permit required at Kountze Lake?

Permit information is not currently available. Check with the managing agency for current requirements.

Kountze Lake

lake

Jefferson County, Colorado

4.7(17 reviews)

About Kountze Lake

Kountze Lake is a quiet urban oasis tucked inside Belmar Park in Lakewood, Jefferson County, sitting at about 5,522 feet in elevation just minutes from downtown Denver. If you want mountain views without the mountain drive, this is the spot. The lake's western shoreline frames the Rocky Mountain foothills so cleanly that sunset photographers consider it one of the best vantage points along the Front Range.

Belmar Park surrounds the lake with a network of paved and gravel walking trails that loop roughly three miles through open meadows, wetland ponds, and cottonwood-lined corridors. The terrain is flat and accessible, making the park popular with families pushing strollers, runners logging morning miles, and dog owners enjoying the off-leash-friendly sections of trail. Horseback riders have dedicated equestrian paths along the western side of the park, and cyclists frequently pass through on paved routes.

Bird watching is the standout activity at Kountze Lake. The surrounding wetlands attract an impressive roster of species year-round, including Hooded Merganser, Wood Duck, Great Blue Heron, various egret species, and breeding American Avocet during spring and summer. The Colorado Birding Trail lists Belmar Park as a recognized birding site, and early mornings often draw photographers with long lenses lined up along the shore.

The lake itself is not open to fishing or swimming, so expect a peaceful, contemplative atmosphere rather than a recreational free-for-all. A historic marble boat ramp on the east shoreline is a remnant of the property's past as the estate of May Bonfils Stanton, a prominent Colorado figure whose family owned The Denver Post. The Lakewood Heritage Center sits on the park's southern edge and offers exhibits on the area's ranching and cultural history.

Paved parking is available at the Belmar Library lot off West Virginia Avenue and at the Heritage Center off South Yarrow Street and West Ohio Avenue. Both lots are free. The park has benches and shaded observation decks scattered along the trails, though the larger wooden structures are starting to show some age. Restroom access is available at the library and the Heritage Center.

Kountze Lake is the kind of place that feels a world apart from the surrounding suburbs despite being hemmed in by condos and shopping centers. For residents and visitors who want a short, scenic loop with reliable wildlife sightings and one of the metro area's best sunset backdrops, Belmar Park delivers every season of the year.

Reviews (10)

Dave Pigon

A beautiful place to relax and enjoy nature very peaceful

Jesse T

Cool little wildlife area with lots of cool birds. No fishing.

Carey Brown

Favorite walking spot for almost 40 years. Scenic if you like photography. And lots of birds. Sadly I'm developing some disabilities which prevent me from enjoying as much as I'd like.

Jeremy Janus

Kountze Lake is one of the best kept secrets near Denver! The lake is honestly one of my favorite to catch a sunset at and the park itself is beautiful. There's a wonderful bridge that makes it feel even more special in the fall when the leaves are changing. The sunsets perfectly over the rocky mountains and the viewpoint from here is outstanding. Some of my best sunset shots have come from here. It's a great place to explore!

Ishwar Acharya

Very beautiful lake to hangout.

Serik Suieu

Great park for walking. Nice view of the mountains and you can even see the snowy peaks in the distance.👍

Jason Dawson

Nice body of water but no fishing allowed. :(

Scott Bram

This place is a gem, a pocket of wilderness smack in the center of suburbia. When walking the dirt trails along the west-northwest side of the lake (between the ponds and the lake), you can almost forget that there’s condos 1/8 of a mile away. It can get relatively busy when the weather is nice although a majority of the foot traffic stays to the east side. Concrete paths travel the perimeter of Belmar Park, with (more or less) maintained gravel & dirt walking trails meandering throughout. There are a number of benches throughout the area (most of which are unshaded but clean and in good repair.) Most bridges and observation decks are in good enough shape—some of which are even reasonably new—although the larger and more heavily trafficked ones are beginning to show their age. Anything with wide soft tires will have no problem navigating most surfaces. Strollers with larger wheels will probably be ok for the most part, but the travel/“umbrella” style with small plastic wheels should stick to the paved paths. I don’t know which paths are technically classified as wheelchair accessible, but most surfaces could probably be traveled by the electric mobility vehicles that I’m aware of. Most hills are quite small in the immediate vicinity of the lake although elevation changes increase as you move south towards the Lakewood Heritage Center. Hand-powered wheelchairs may may become challenging for some users depending on the varying surfaces and conditions. Most main paths are about 3–4 people wide. Dogs are welcome, as are horses (there are dedicated sections of trail for equestrian use with turned/prepped dirt, along with shared use portions.) My preferred parking is the south end of the library lot (accessible via the W Virginia Ave traffic circle or the driveway off S Yarrow St) which is also recommended for anyone with limited mobility, but it’s not much further if you park at the Heritage Center lot (entrance at the intersection of W Ohio Ave & S Yarrow St.)

Joane Talcott

Lots of birds, nice trail that goes around the lake with a few shaded spots to sit.

Brian McCartney

#SmallMouth