Major infrastructure improvements complete at Horsetooth and Carter Lake reservoirs

In partnership with the Central Federal Lands Highway Division (CFLHD) and the Bureau of Reclamation (BOR), Larimer County Department of Natural Resources (LCDNR) announces the successful completion of its Federal Lands Access Project (FLAP). The project was a collection of eight separate improvement projects at Horsetooth and Carter Lake reservoirs, which began in June 2025 and was completed fourteen months earlier than anticipated.

Funded by a $12 million federal grant —including $11 million from the Colorado Federal Lands Access Program (FLAP) and $1 million from the Bureau of Reclamation's Federal Lands Transportation Program—coupled with a $3 million matching investment from Larimer County, the $15 million dollar transformation upgrades the aging infrastructure of two of Northern Colorado’s two most popular water recreation destinations.

“The opportunity to leverage federal grant dollars was instrumental for Larimer County as it quadrupled our communities local matching investment. The grant award allowed the complex multi-location project to simultaneously move forward and be completed in a very short period of time. Without the federal partnership and funding, it would not have been possible,” said Daylan Figgs, Director, LCDNR.

As a result of the federally managed project, the visiting public can now enjoy:

6 campground & day use areas fully paved: Complete road and parking lot resurfacing at Inlet Bay and South Bay (Horsetooth), Eagle Campground, North Pines, Big Thompson, and the new Quarry lot (Carter Lake).
777 optimized parking spaces, a 13% net increase: Reconfigured, freshly striped parking stalls across both reservoirs—including an entirely new overflow lot at Carter Lake —designed to maximize vehicle capacity, customer convenience, and eliminate unsafe road shoulder parking.
3 new dedicated turn lanes: Built directly on West County Road 38E (into Horsetooth South Bay) and North County Road 31 (into Carter Lake’s Quarry and Big Thompson areas) to remove reservoir-bound traffic from the active road lanes and decrease traffic backups.
Erosion control and a smoother ride: 7.5 total miles of previously bumpy, dusty gravel roads and parking lots transformed into smooth asphalt. The paving of gravel access roads helps to eliminate seasonal washouts, reduces costly maintenance, and ensures a smoother ride for vehicles and trailers.
Expanded recreation access at Carter Lake: With the completion of the newly rebuilt Big Thompson Day Use Area, expanded recreation access was realized at Carter Lake through a new quarter-mile shoreline Eastside Trail, expanded "no-wake" zone and swim area.

“Thanks to our invaluable partnership with Central Federal Lands and the Bureau of Reclamation, we have successfully extended the life of these vital community assets by another 25 years while directly easing traffic congestion, streamlining parking, and creating new ways for families to safely enjoy the water's edge. We are proud to deliver a safer, smoother, and more accessible experience at both reservoirs," said Chris Fleming, Visitor Services Manager, LCDNR.

The project team prioritized sustainability by aggressively recycling and reusing materials on-site. By pulverizing and reusing the old parking lot and entrance road surfaces, the project eliminated the need to import 5,200 tons of new aggregate base. Furthermore, the team blended old asphalt millings into the new paving mix, crushed demolished concrete into recycled aggregate, repurposed excavated rock and topsoil on-site, and salvaged existing traffic signs.

Thank you to the following main contractors and construction groups that assisted in completing FLAP, including twelve Colorado-based organizations:

Partnering Agencies

FHWA – Central Federal Land Highways Division – Lakewood, CO
Larimer County Department of Natural Resources – Loveland, CO
Bureau of Reclamation – Loveland, CO

Designer of Record

DJ&A - Missoula, MT

Construction Management (contracted to FHWA-CFLHD)

Rocksol Consulting Group – Thornton, CO

Construction Prime

FDT Water Infrastructure - Tempe, AZ

Construction Subcontractors

Asphalt Testing Services, LLC – Loveland CO
AVI Professional Corp. – Ft. Collins, CO
CMT Technical Services – Centennial, CO
DNR Construction, LLC – Greeley, CO
Mountain Navigation Inc – Lakewood, CO
Quandary Consultants, LLC – Denver, CO
Radco Inc – Brawley, CA
S&S Striping and Signage – Brighton, CO
Simon Contractors - Ft. Collins, CO

With construction safely wrapping up, all standard parking lots, boat ramps, and campground corridors have fully reopened to public use.

Larimer County extends its sincere gratitude to local recreators and visitors for their patience and caution throughout the active construction phases.

For additional information, please go to https://www.larimer.gov/federal-lands-access-program

About the Project

This $15 million modernization effort was led by the Central Federal Lands Highway Division. Funding included $11 million from the Colorado Federal Lands Access Program (FLAP), $1 million from the Bureau of Reclamation’s Federal Lands Transportation Program (FLTP), and a $3 million match from Larimer County.

Locations of completed improvements:

Two turn lanes along N. County Road 31 - Carter Lake
Eagle Campground main access road and parking lot - Carter Lake
Quarry Day Use Area and overflow parking - Carter Lake
Big Thompson Day Use Area and Eastside trail shoreline access - Carter Lake
North Pines access road and parking lot- Carter Lake
Inlet Bay access road and parking lot - Horsetooth Reservoir
South Bay access road and parking lot -Horsetooth Reservoir
Turn lane expansion along W. County Road 38E into South Bay - Horsetooth Reservoir

Carter Lake and Horsetooth Reservoir are among the top ten most-visited outdoor destinations in Colorado, attracting over 1.5 million visitors annually. Since 1954, LCDNR has managed recreation at these sites under an agreement with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, ensuring these natural spaces remain safe and accessible for the community.