Two Ponds National Wildlife Refuge is a 72.2-acre urban wildlife refuge located in Arvada, Colorado, approximately 12 miles northwest of downtown Denver. This natural area features a diverse landscape composed of prairie grasslands, wetlands, three small ponds, and riparian woodlands with mature cottonwood trees. From various points within the refuge, distant views of the Rocky Mountain Front Range are visible. The refuge provides a natural setting primarily for hiking, jogging, and wildlife observation, serving as a vital natural haven amidst…
93
Routes
4.8
(44)
Average rating
726
People visited

21
hikers
4.97km
01:19
50m
40m
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(1)
5
hikers
8.39km
02:14
90m
90m
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

3
hikers
4.81km
01:16
50m
30m
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

2
hikers
12.5km
03:12
60m
60m
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
Get access to more routes and recommendations from other explorers.
Sign up for free
Already have an account?

51
riders
44.9km
03:02
350m
350m
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(3)
37
riders
29.8km
01:49
140m
140m
Easy bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(5)
18
riders
15.5km
00:56
100m
100m
Easy bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

15
riders
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
Get access to more routes and recommendations from other explorers.
Sign up for free
Already have an account?

5.0
(3)
25
riders
33.1km
01:44
180m
180m
Moderate road ride. Great for any fitness level. Some segments of this route may be unpaved and difficult to ride.

5.0
(1)
23
riders
Easy road ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

5.0
(1)
20
riders
29.6km
01:21
210m
210m
Easy road ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

5.0
(1)
31
riders
21.4km
01:02
80m
80m
Easy road ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.
Get access to more routes and recommendations from other explorers.
Sign up for free
Already have an account?

18
riders
30.7km
01:42
180m
180m
Easy mountain bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Suitable for all skill levels.

12
riders
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Suitable for all skill levels.

6
riders
37.6km
02:37
430m
430m
Hard mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary. Some portions of the route may require you to push your bike.

8
riders
64.9km
05:14
1,220m
1,220m
Hard mountain bike ride. Very good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary. Some portions of the route may require you to push your bike.
Get access to more routes and recommendations from other explorers.
Sign up for free
Already have an account?

14
runners
12.2km
01:25
100m
100m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5
runners
Hard run. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

6
runners
16.4km
01:51
130m
130m
Hard run. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

2
runners
5.32km
00:34
30m
30m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
Get access to more routes and recommendations from other explorers.
Sign up for free
Already have an account?

4.5
(4)
13
riders
15.1km
00:52
130m
130m
Easy gravel ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

11
riders
Easy gravel ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

6
riders
22.0km
01:40
220m
220m
Moderate gravel ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(1)
8
riders
67.4km
04:02
570m
570m
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
Get access to more routes and recommendations from other explorers.
Sign up for free
Already have an account?
Two Ponds National Wildlife Refuge primarily offers opportunities for hiking, jogging, wildlife observation, photography, and birding. Environmental education programs are also available. Bicycling, including road cycling, touring cycling, and mountain biking, is prohibited within the refuge.
The refuge features a trail system approximately 1.5 to 3 miles (2.4 to 4.8 km) in length, offering easy and moderate routes. Some sections, particularly the 'crusher fines' trail loop on the West Side, are wheelchair accessible. Trails traverse prairie grasslands, wetland edges, and wooded areas. For more details, refer to Hiking in Two Ponds National Wildlife Refuge.
Yes, the refuge offers several easy hiking routes suitable for various fitness levels. Many trails are flat and well-maintained, providing a relaxed outdoor experience. Information on these routes can be found in the Easy hikes in Two Ponds National Wildlife Refuge guide.
The refuge is well-suited for families, offering accessible and easy trails for children and adults. It provides opportunities for wildlife viewing and environmental education. Specific family-friendly routes are detailed in the Family-friendly hikes in Two Ponds National Wildlife Refuge guide.
Information regarding dog policies within Two Ponds National Wildlife Refuge can vary. Visitors should consult the official refuge website or contact the refuge directly for current regulations. Komoot offers a guide for Dog-friendly hikes in Two Ponds National Wildlife Refuge, which may include trails where dogs are permitted.
The refuge is home to over 120 species of birds, including raptors, songbirds, and waterfowl, with 22 species nesting annually. Visitors might also spot mammals such as coyotes, red fox, beaver, and deer, as well as various turtles. It serves as a vital habitat for biodiversity.
The refuge features diverse landscapes including 63.2 acres of prairie grasslands (both short-grass and mixed-grass), 9 acres of wetlands, and three small ponds. Riparian woodlands with mature cottonwood trees line the edges of ponds and irrigation canals. Distant views of the Rocky Mountain Front Range are visible from various points.
Two Ponds National Wildlife Refuge is a popular destination on komoot, with more than 10,000 visitors sharing their experiences. Routes within the refuge have an average rating of 4.68 out of 5 stars. This indicates a high level of satisfaction among users.
Komoot offers several guides for the refuge, including Hiking in Two Ponds National Wildlife Refuge, Easy hikes in Two Ponds National Wildlife Refuge, and Family-friendly hikes in Two Ponds National Wildlife Refuge. Other guides cover dog-friendly hikes, city hikes, and hikes from bus stations.
For questions about Two Ponds National Wildlife Refuge, visitors can call (303) 289-0232 or (303) 289-0867. The refuge headquarters at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge can also be reached at 303-594-8249. Additional information is available on the official website.
The official website for Two Ponds National Wildlife Refuge is https://www.fws.gov/refuge/two-ponds/. This site provides comprehensive information regarding the refuge's regulations, activities, and educational programs.

