Caring for Button Rock Preserve

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Consultation has concluded

Within this walk-in only preserve you will find Longmont and Ralph Price Reservoirs along the North Saint Vrain Creek. Longmont manages this natural watershed and reservoirs to preserve the resource and provide storage for the City's Water Utility.

PROJECT UPDATE: To read the Button Rock Preserve Management Plan, go to the News tab below.

Overview

Button Rock Preserve is located 7 miles west of the town of Lyons in the lower montane foothills of the St. Vrain Creek watershed. A section of the North St. Vrain Creek runs through the eastern third of the Preserve and elevations range from 6,000 feet to almost 7,500 feet. The City of Longmont purchased the Preserve primarily to protect and maintain the main municipal drinking water source for Longmont and Lyons. The area also functions as a nature preserve to protect the fragile watershed and allow limited passive recreational opportunities.

Today, the Preserve is 2,671 acres and public recreation activities include passive recreational activities such as fishing, fly-fishing, rock climbing, hiking, wildlife observation, and dog walking.

Visitation and Use of the Preserve

As visitation continues to increase, the need to balance resource protection with passive recreation has become critical. Visitation policies were developed starting in the 1960s and 1970s and were substantially updated in the 1990s. We are evaluating current regulations to determine if they still align with the Preserve’s present-day management needs. Through the Caring for Button Rock Preserve project, a management plan will be developed and adopted as a foundation for long-term sustainable, adaptive management of Preserve resources based on best available information.

Visitation Through the Years

In 2021, the Preserve received more than four times the number of annual visitors than it did in 2000.

  • 1988: 3,200 people
  • 2000: 13,000 people
  • 2012: 31,000 people
  • 2020: 71,000 people
  • 2021: 58,000 people

The Button Rock Management Plan

The Button Rock Preserve Management Plan provides specific management direction in the areas of:

  • water quality protection
  • natural and cultural resource protection
  • existing infrastructure and improvements
  • recreation
  • rules and regulations

PROJECT UPDATE: To read the Button Rock Preserve Management Plan, go to the News tab below.

Overview

Button Rock Preserve is located 7 miles west of the town of Lyons in the lower montane foothills of the St. Vrain Creek watershed. A section of the North St. Vrain Creek runs through the eastern third of the Preserve and elevations range from 6,000 feet to almost 7,500 feet. The City of Longmont purchased the Preserve primarily to protect and maintain the main municipal drinking water source for Longmont and Lyons. The area also functions as a nature preserve to protect the fragile watershed and allow limited passive recreational opportunities.

Today, the Preserve is 2,671 acres and public recreation activities include passive recreational activities such as fishing, fly-fishing, rock climbing, hiking, wildlife observation, and dog walking.

Visitation and Use of the Preserve

As visitation continues to increase, the need to balance resource protection with passive recreation has become critical. Visitation policies were developed starting in the 1960s and 1970s and were substantially updated in the 1990s. We are evaluating current regulations to determine if they still align with the Preserve’s present-day management needs. Through the Caring for Button Rock Preserve project, a management plan will be developed and adopted as a foundation for long-term sustainable, adaptive management of Preserve resources based on best available information.

Visitation Through the Years

In 2021, the Preserve received more than four times the number of annual visitors than it did in 2000.

  • 1988: 3,200 people
  • 2000: 13,000 people
  • 2012: 31,000 people
  • 2020: 71,000 people
  • 2021: 58,000 people

The Button Rock Management Plan

The Button Rock Preserve Management Plan provides specific management direction in the areas of:

  • water quality protection
  • natural and cultural resource protection
  • existing infrastructure and improvements
  • recreation
  • rules and regulations

Tell your story

As the project team explores what sustainable management of this important property looks like, we need to hear from you. 

Please share your story of what you value most about Button Rock Preserve.

Thank you for providing insights to the Caring for Button Rock project team by submitting your story. It will be one piece of several tools and evaluations to inform development of the Button Rock Preserve Management Plan.

CLOSED: This discussion has concluded.
  • Share Regional trails on Facebook Share Regional trails on Twitter Share Regional trails on Linkedin Email Regional trails link

    Regional trails

    by dquince, over 5 years ago

    We need more regional trail connectivity for bikes.

  • Share Bike access on Facebook Share Bike access on Twitter Share Bike access on Linkedin Email Bike access link

    Bike access

    by David LaSalle, over 5 years ago

    Please consider allowing bicycle trails and access through the preserve.  This would help complete an  amazing network for off-pavement human powered travel from Estes Park all the way to Lyons.  

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    Expanding Trail Networks to Increase Accessibility

    by agoodlock, over 5 years ago

    As a frequent visitor of the area and an avid mountain biker, I would strongly support efforts to increase bike access in the Button Rock Preserve area. Allowing for greater accessibility/connectivity would help alleviate environmental concerns for existing high use/high traffic trails in the area (e.g., Hall Ranch and Heil Ranch). Allowing access for mountain bikers would also draw in support from the mountain bike community and advocacy groups such as COMBA and other local volunteer organizations to perform regular trail maintenance and to build and maintain sustainable trails for current and future users. The mountain bike community in Lyons/Longmont... Continue reading

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    Bikes in Button Rock

    by alepert, over 5 years ago

    Bikes would be an excellent addition to Button Rock. The park is large enough to really spread the traffic out well, and would be an important connector between other popular trail systems

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    My neighborhood park

    by Jim Kearns, over 5 years ago

    Living next door to Botton Rock Preserve has been very fortunate for our family.  Although the traffic going up and down Longmont Dam Road can be busy and obnoxious at times, we are glad there is such a wonderful place for people to go enjoy the outdoors close to home.  We visit the preserve a few times week on average.  Riding bikes is a family activity we enjoy as well.  Unfortunately with the restrictions in place at Button Rock Preserve we have to drive somewhere to ride bikes or brave hwy 36, which we do not consider a safe option... Continue reading

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    regional connectivity

    by Curtismac, over 5 years ago

    Allowing bikes to pass though the area would be awesome, to be able to connect so many more trails together! 

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    Connectivity for Bicycles

    by Tree , over 5 years ago

    It would great to have accessibility for bicycles from Hall Ranch to Button Rock to Coulson Gulch.  The route already exists and would create great connectivity on trail all the way to Estes Park.  Not to mention having bike access from the parking lot would make it easier to carry fishing gear to the reservoir as well as open up additional recreation opportunities at Button Rock Preserve.  Thank you for your consideration!

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    Regional Connectivity

    by SenorBlanco, over 5 years ago

    I love exploring Button Rock area, and urge you to consider opening this up to bikes for greater regional connectivity. While I love hiking the area, you can only go so far on your feet in a given day. Allowing bikes to pass through this property and connect two incredible trail systems is long overdue.

  • Share Connecting Trail Network from Lyons to Estes (and vice versa) on Facebook Share Connecting Trail Network from Lyons to Estes (and vice versa) on Twitter Share Connecting Trail Network from Lyons to Estes (and vice versa) on Linkedin Email Connecting Trail Network from Lyons to Estes (and vice versa) link

    Connecting Trail Network from Lyons to Estes (and vice versa)

    by tomzim28, over 5 years ago

    It would be truly fantastic if the network of multi-use trails from Estes (Hermit Park) we’re connected down through Lion Gulch to Button Rock Preserve and ultimately to Hall Ranch. This would disperse the use drastically and allow for access to a single network of trail from many locations. 

    Please consider connecting the trail network!  And keeping the “off leash dogs area” intact at Button Rock ;-)

    Thank you for your consideration. 

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    Regional Connectivity and Bikes

    by Jaredmente, over 5 years ago

    Hi there. I appreciate the opportunity to voice my opinion. I’d love to see bicycle access granted in the preserve. A connector trail from Hall Ranch to the preserve that allowed bikes would be of great value to the community. Continuing connectivity northwest to Coulson Gulch would allow for regional connectivity between Lyons and Johnny Park and beyond. I know many members of our community at large have strong desires for such regional connectivity via bicycle. Let’s make it happen here!

    Thank you,

    Jared Crockett