Wintering bald eagles hunt the fields above Stearns Lake on Broomfield's west edge

Drive to Broomfield’s western edge, past the newest rooftops, and the pavement gives way to old farm fields and a wide, quiet pond called Stearns Lake. This is the Carolyn Holmberg Preserve at Rock Creek Farm, and it holds a draw most newcomers drive right past: in winter, bald eagles hunt the open ground here.

The walking is easy. The Cradleboard Trail runs about 1.3 miles, flat and farm-country level, the kind of loop you can do before work or with a kid who tires fast. Boulder County, which manages the preserve, says to “look for waterfowl and raptors at Stearns Lake” and notes that bald eagles “regularly hunt here.” On a cold morning you may also see great blue herons at the water’s edge and black-tailed prairie dogs popping up across the fields.

A couple of honest notes. This is Boulder County open space, not a Broomfield park, so its rules apply: day use only, pets on leash, bikes on designated trails. And because eagles have nested on the property, the county sometimes closes a portion of the Cradleboard Trail with a seasonal detour to keep people back from the birds. Those dates shift year to year.

So before you go, check the official Boulder County preserve page for current closures and trail access.