Horsetooth Reservoir

Know BEFORE you go

Horsetooth Reservoir is the third busiest reservoir in the state of Colorado with an estimated million visitors a year. Plan to arrive before 9 a.m. or after 3 p.m. as the reservoir park will likely reach parking capacity, especially on weekends in the summer. Avoid a wait - come early or late! Check Colorado Trail Explorer (COTREX) at https://trails.colorado.gov for the most up-to-date trail conditions, closures, and alerts.

West of Fort Collins

Six and one-half miles of water beckon visitors to come out and play! Surrounded by 1,900 acres of public lands, this reservoir has it all: fishing, boating, camping, picnicking, swimming, scuba diving, rock climbing, and water skiing.

As part of the Colorado-Big Thompson Project to divert water from the west slope to the east slope for drinking water, irrigation, and hydropower generation, the reservoir is jointly operated by the Bureau of Reclamation and the Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District who manage water levels for irrigation, municipal, and industry use. Larimer County manages recreation.

Horsetooth Reservoir requires entrance and camping permits, and is open year round. It's located west of Fort Collins, Colorado, at an elevation of 5,420 feet.

Aerial view of Horsetooth Reservoir and the Visitor Center

Horsetooth Area Information Center

The Horsetooth Area Information Center, located in South Bay of Horsetooth Reservoir, is open to the public with info on recreation areas, trails, camping, boating, fishing and more. Front desk staff can be reached at (970) 498-5610. The center's hours are:

  • March – October: 9 AM – 4 PM, 7 days a week 
  • November – February: 9 AM – 4 PM, Monday – Friday (Closed for Lunch from 12:30 PM – 1:00 PM)

Brochure Brochure (Spanish) Trail Map Entrance Permits Boating Info Reserve a Campsite Regulations

Features

Accessible
Biking
Boating
Camping
Diving
Drinking
Fishing
Hiking
Horse
Marina
Permit
Picnic
Reservable
Restroom
Swimming
Webcam

Map & Directions

Horsetooth Reservoir

From Denver:

  1. Take I-25 north to the Harmony Road/Timnath exit (#265).
  2. Turn left (west) continuing on Harmony Road for 7 miles where it becomes County Road 38E at the Taft Hill Road intersection.

  3. Continue west on County Road 38E approximately 4 more miles to the entrance at the south end of the Reservoir.

    The entrance to South Bay (including campground, Group Pavilion, and swim beach) is at the south end of the reservoir. Watch for signs. To get to Inlet Bay (including Inlet Bay Marina and Inlet Bay Campground), continue west on 38E 1 3/4 miles past the South Bay entrance. Watch for signs and turn right on Shoreline Drive.

From Loveland:

  1. From Highway 34 (Eisenhower) go north on Wilson. Wilson becomes Taft Hill Road in Fort Collins. Turn left (west) onto County Road 38E and continue west to the reservoir.
  2. Continue directions from #3 above.

From Fort Collins:

  1. From Harmony and Taft Hill Road turn west onto County Road 38E.

    Continue from #3 above

Horsetooth Mountain Open Space

Follow the directions above to the Horsetooth Reservoir South Bay entrance. Continue west on County Road 38E about 21/2 miles from the South Bay Entrance or 1 mile from the Inlet Bay Entrance (Shoreline Drive). The parking area and trail head are on the north side of the road.

Soderberg Open Space

Follow the directions above to the Horsetooth Reservoir Inlet Bay entrance. Turn right on Shoreline Drive, continuing 1.2 miles to the Soderberg Open Space and trail head on the west side of the road.

Trails & Weather

Trails Report

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Weather

Air Quality

Updates every half hour.

Webcam

Live webcam from the Horsetooth Area Information Center, 4200 W County Rd 38 E, Fort Collins, CO

Check to see traffic at the South Shore Boat Ramp before you come. Parking at this popular boat ramp can fill on weekends and holidays during the summer. When the parking lot is full, boats may no longer be launched until space becomes available.

 

Conditions

Water Temp: 42°F     Updated:

Note: Water temperature not collected October-May due to varying water/ice conditions. 

View current boat ramp hours.

 

Horsetooth Reservoir water elevation is 5,430 feet full and 5,341 feet empty
Water Level Data courtesy U.S. Bureau of Reclamation

Fishing

Horsetooth Reservoir provides a wide variety of fishing opportunities. This large reservoir has excellent structure for anglers to explore. Whether fishing from shore or from a boat, anglers will have a wide variety of fishing opportunities.

  • Walleye: Daily limit of 5 total (no size restriction)
  • Smallmouth and largemouth bass: Daily limit of 5 total (size minimum is 12 inches; all bass in possession must be over 12 inches)
  • All species of trout in Horsetooth (rainbow, cut-bow, brown): Daily statewide limit of 4 total (no size restriction)
  • White bass, striped bass or wipers: Daily statewide limit of 10 total (no size restriction)
  • Panfish (including bluegill, white and black crappie, and all sunfish): Daily statewide limit of 20 total (no size restriction)

Please refer to the regulations brochure printed by Colorado Parks and Wildlife before fishing on any body of water. The regulations above are for Horsetooth Reservoir and the type of fish in Horsetooth.

View fish stocking reports from Colorado Parks and Wildlife.

No ice fishing. Ice is UNSAFE due to fluctuating water levels.

Boating

Read more about the seasonal Satanka Paddlecraft Only Zone designation (scroll to bottom of boating page)

  • Boats entering Horsetooth Reservoir must be inspected for aquatic nuisance species (ANS), which limits boating to specific hours. View current boating hours.
  • Direction of travel is counter-clockwise.
  • State law requires boat and jet ski operators to be 16 years of age or older (14- 16-year-olds may take a boating safety course for a driving certificate).
  • Water-skiing is best early mornings and evenings during the week.
  • Water-skiers must have an observer and use a red or orange flag.
  • Personal water crafts (jet skis, wave runners) must observe state laws - NO careless and improper operation, including:
    • Operating a vessel while facing backward.
    • Becoming airborne while crossing a wake too close to another vessel.
    • Unsafe weaving through boat traffic.
    • Causing another boat to swerve or abruptly cut speed to avoid a collision.
  • Register a boat

 

Camping

  • Campground hosts on duty during the summer.
  • March 1 - October 31: Sites can be reserved from 180 days to 1 day in advance the arrival date at www.larimercamping.com or by calling the reservation call center at 1-800-397-7795.
  • November 1 - February 28/29 same day reservations can be made online at Carter Lake, Flatiron Reservoir, and Pinewood Reservoir. Campers MUST make a reservation and purchase a park entrance permit BEFORE setting up at any campsite.
  • November 1 - February 28/29 same day reservations at Horsetooth Reservoir and Hermit Park must still be done at the park. (Hermit Park closes for the season Dec 20 - March 1)
  • A permit to camp is required for each campsite for each night (in addition to Park Entrance Permits).
  • Maximum of 14 nights in any 30-day period.

Diving

  • Horsetooth Reservoir: Scuba diving is permitted at the South Bay Swim Area within the designated swim area, and at Lower Sunrise. It is also allowed at Dixon, Quarry, and Orchard Coves on weekdays only. If you have questions, contact the Horsetooth Area Information Center at (970) 498-5610.
  • Notification of scuba diving activity to the Larimer County Department of Natural Resources prior to each day’s diving is required. If you are doing an early morning dive, call the day before. For Horsetooth Reservoir dives, call (970) 498-5610. If there is no answer, call the Administration Office at (970) 619-4570 and leave a voicemail message. Visitor Center staff will forward the information to field staff.
  • If leaving a message, it must include:
    • The dive leader’s name
    • The type of class being conducted (if applicable)
    • The number of divers in the group
    • The anticipated time in and out of the water.
    • (This same notification process must be followed at the conclusion of the days’ diving to inform the park staff when the group is out of the water.)

SCUBA DIVINGA ACTIVITY POLICIES AND REGULATIONS MUST BE FOLLOWED:

  1. Scuba diving alone or conducting classes without a certified instructor is prohibited. A short‐term concession license is required for anyone conducting business on the reservoirs (call 970-619‐4570 for information).
  2. Every person in the water, outside a designated swimming area, using an underwater breathing device often known as scuba gear, shall display a diver's flag, having one diagonal white stripe on a red background and capable of being identified at a distance of not less than one hundred yards. Such flag shall be placed at or near the point of submergence, and shall constitute a warning that a diver is submerged and may be within a radius of one hundred feet from such a flag. Vessels shall keep a distance of one hundred feet from the diver's flag. Scuba divers shall keep a safe distance from dam outlet structures.
  3. If a vessel is engaged in diving operations and as a consequence is restricted in its ability to maneuver, a rigid replica of the international code flag "A" or alpha flag shall be displayed. The flag must be not less than one meter in height and the flag must be blue and white in color.
  4. The requirement that the alpha flag be displayed from a vessel restricted in its ability to maneuver does not relieve the requirement that the diver's flag also be displayed at or near the point of submergence.
  5. Night Diving:
    • It is suggested that scuba divers remain in water depth less than 40 feet.
    • A shore marker emitting sufficient light for scuba divers to see from the furthest point of submergence from shore is required.
    • The scuba diver’s flag must be lit with a strobe light.
    • Scuba divers must have a glow flare attached to the top of their air tanks.

Photos

Click a photo to enlarge.

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Image © Richard Ernst
Image © Jeanie Sumrall-Ajero
Image © Jeanie Sumrall-Ajero
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Image © Jim Janicki

Tips & Info

Water Levels

Water levels fluctuate. Horsetooth Reservoir generally fills during the winter and spring. It normally fluctuates up to 60 feet, with the lowest water being in mid September, excluding drought and excessive rain years.

Swim Beaches

  • Horsetooth Swim Beach and Sunrise Swim Beach are open from Memorial Day weekend through Oct 1, though exact opening/closing dates can vary each year. Please call 970-619-4570 for the most up to date information.
  • Dogs are not allowed at the swim beaches.

Concessionaires

 

 

Regulations

For specifics, ask a ranger or see a kiosk for a copy of the Regulations.

  • Cliff diving or jumping in the water is extremely dangerous and prohibited in all areas.
  • Quiet hours are 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.
  • Collection of firewood, including cutting of trees and branches, is not allowed.
  • Firearms or fireworks are prohibited.
  • Glass containers are not allowed.
  • Drones are prohibited.
  • Alcohol is only allowed in campsites and on boats. No alcohol in day use areas.
  • Dogs must be on leashes not longer than 10 feet at all times. Dogs are not allowed at the swim beach.
  • Due to Homeland Security restrictions, no recreation activity is allowed on dams or within 100 feet of dams when on land.

Management Plan