You may see bighorn sheep, mule deer, rabbits, many kinds of birds, and maybe even a black bear if you are lucky. The bears generally avoid people and are not dangerous as long as you keep your distance. Fishing is a popular activity in the river as well.

You can hike any distance out and back along the wide riverside path. The farther you go, the fewer people and more wildlife you are likely to see. It’s just over 6 miles to the dam and reservoir, where narrower trails continue higher into the mountains. You may see backpackers and bikepackers loaded with gear as they perpare to embark on the Colorado Trail, a long-distance mountain trek from Denver to Durango. Waterton Canyon is its eastern terminus. Though the rest of the Colorado Trail is challenging, this first part through Waterton is level and easy. It’s the perfect place for a relaxed stroll through nature at any time of year.

Sources: https://www.denverwater.org/recreation/waterton-canyon-strontia-springs-resevoir http://coloradotrail.org/traveling-the-ct/starting-in-denver/