A Day at the Lake

First Impressions


I truly wish the city and suburbs of Denver would realize the treasure they have here — sparkling water hugging the base of proud mountains, the kind of vista that could make the most conservative man weep. Unfortunately, the shoreline of Standley Lake looks like it had been through a frat party and nobody bothered to clean up afterward. A tiny piece of heaven, accessorized with… snack wrappers and abandoned soda bottles. The audacity.

A scenic lake shore with sandy beach and calm blue waters against distant mountains on a sunny day.

Dogs at the Lake


Jeremy and I decide to whisk the golden girls off for a little adventure, because sunshine and wiggly pups are good for the soul. As usual, Jeremy marches ahead like the noble pack leader he believes himself to be. His backpack is loaded with water bottles and a collapsible bowl — as prepared as Samwise himself with all of the travel gear. Meanwhile I trail behind, armed with my camera bag, ready to capture every majestic frame like a hermit who just discovered landscapes exist.


Sequoia, our tiny chaos bean, is still learning the delicate art of walking on a leash. She currently wears a little leader to help keep her from launching herself into orbit with excitement. Someday, when she’s full-grown and slightly less convinced she is a tornado, we’ll upgrade the girls to harnesses so their leashes don’t braid themselves into some sort of canine friendship knot. (Yes, we untangled them more than once — it was basically puppy macramé.)


Despite the questionable beach etiquette from humanity at large, the lake itself is breathtaking — this incredible deep blue, shining like it had been personally polished by the finest jewelers at Shane Company. Boats drift lazily across the surface, fishermen standing with patient determination, and the breeze smells like the kind of day you write poems about.

A path along a lake shore where someone walks a dog on a leash through dry grassland.
Two dogs and their companion walking along a dirt trail near a serene lake.

Trail Around the Lake


At the end of the beach, we scramble up to the main trail — which, thankfully, redeems things. The path winds through nature like it has been drawn by hand, with benches placed thoughtfully so those on a stroll can sit and bask in the view, mountains lounging in the background like they knew they are the main characters.


There are even picnic areas tucked into the scenery, inviting future barbecues and afternoon daydreams. Truly, this place has so much recreational potential. I absolutely see why people love it here. Now we just need the beach to get the tender love and care it deserves — because every pretty place needs a little housekeeping, darling.

A solitary bench sits among tall prairie grasses on a hilltop under blue skies.
Green benches surrounded by tall grasses with mountain views in the background.
Rolling hills and mountains frame a rural landscape with scattered trees under blue skies.