Sedgwick Bar State Wildlife Area sits right on the South Platte River

Down on the valley floor in Sedgwick County, Sedgwick Bar is a piece of public land that runs along the South Platte River. It is a quiet spot for fishing, walking, and watching wildlife, but it is worth knowing how it is run before you go.

Sedgwick Bar is a State Wildlife Area, managed by Colorado Parks and Wildlife. State Wildlife Areas are not state parks. They are held mainly to support wildlife and the people who hunt and fish, so the rules are different. Anyone age 16 or older needs a valid hunting or fishing license, or a separate State Wildlife Area pass, just to set foot on the property. The parks pass you might use at a state park does not cover it.

The river setting makes this a good place to see plains and riverbottom wildlife. Colorado Parks and Wildlife lists fishing and nature viewing here, along with seasonal hunting for game such as deer, dove, quail, rabbit, squirrel, turkey, and waterfowl. A few practical rules come with that: the property has set daily hours, and during waterfowl seasons there are limits on launching or taking out boats.

Because hours, allowed uses, and access rules can change, this note does not lock them in. Check the current rules for Sedgwick Bar on the Colorado Parks and Wildlife State Wildlife Area page before you visit.