McLellan Reservoir
Sitting safe behind a high fence, McLellan Reservoir is not accessible to the public. However, a good pullout along County Line Road lets you safely park and scan the lake, which is often full of waterfowl from fall through spring. Less common species like Hooded Merganser and Canvasback can be spotted, as well as the occasional Barrow’s Goldeneye among the more common species. When an ice shelf forms, gulls can congregate along its edge. The Highline Canal bike trail has a spur that rings the northern end of the reservoir, and there are several places you can scan through the trees to get a different perspective, as well as check for passerines and Great Horned Owl in the riparian habitat.
Restrictions: Private property; remain on the road
County: Arapahoe
Directions: From C-470: exit at Lucent Blvd. and go north for less than a mile to the "T" with County Line Rd. Go either west or east and pullout in any wide spot along County Line Rd. to scan the reservoir, located on the north side of the road. Watch for traffic on this busy road.
Dates of Access: Open all year
Hours: Daylight hours
Ownership: Private
Admission or Fees: Free
Parking: Free
Lodging: Hotels in nearby Littleton
Handicapped Access: Viewing from vehicle
Latitude: 39.565006
Longitude: -105.010299
Additional Resources
Learn more about birds reported at this location at eBird:
https://ebird.org/hotspot/L279254