The parking lot at Button Rock Preserve is open daily from 3:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. It is unlawful to leave a vehicle in this parking lot outside these hours. 

Button Rock Preserve is located in a quiet river valley about 7 miles west of Lyons. Within this walk-in only preserve you will find Longmont and Ralph Price Reservoirs along the North St. Vrain Creek. Longmont manages this natural watershed and reservoirs to preserve the resource and provide storage for the City’s water utility.

The preserve creates a unique experience for visitors, providing opportunities to view wildlife, the natural environment and water management facilities at a close level. Trails within Button Rock Preserve offer scenic views and plenty of exercise for an afternoon outing. These trails also enable anglers to access many back-country fishing locations (license/permit required).

Learn more about activities, amenities and regulations on the complete Button Rock Preserve webpage. If you have additional questions, please contact Parks, Open Space & Trails.

Directions

To get to the preserve from Longmont, travel west on Highway 66 to Lyons. Proceed west on Highway 36 for 4 miles. Turn left at Boulder County Road 80 and continue for 3 miles where you will arrive at a gate across the roadway that restricts vehicle access. Limited parking is provided and the preserve is beyond the gate.

View a map of Button Rock Preserve >

Button Rock Management Plan

The Longmont City Council recently accepted the new Button Rock Preserve Management Plan, which describes Button Rock Preserve’s purpose, goals and short- and long-term objectives and priorities. The water resources, ecology, native wildlife and cultural resources data gives managers a science-based lens through which to address present-day management concerns at the Preserve. To view the final management plan, please visit the Natural Resources Department’s Plan, Maps & Reports webpage.