Grand Mesa

Grand Mesa is Colorado's wonderland of water.  The lush plateau at 10,000 feet of elevation features thick forests, subalpine meadows and more than a hundred lakes.  There are a handful of developed campgrounds off the main roads and many more dispersed sites in the surrounding national forest.  The vast array of lakes make for a great multi-day excursion that can be complemented with nearby hiking and mountain biking, or even with a vineyard escape to Palisade.  

Waterdog Lake; Grand Mesa

The mesa top region is traversed by the Grand Mesa Scenic Byway (State Highway 65).  Water access ranges from roadside Cobbett Lake and Island Lake (featured below) to many secluded lakes only reachable by high-clearance or four-wheel-drive.  

Vicinity Map

Location Info: [key]

(Island Lake)

Scenery: 4
Shoreline Interest: 2
Use: Low-moderate
Fee: $4 or as posted
Access: Gravel
Full elev = 10260
Rec info 
Weather 

Chatfield State Park

Chatfield State Park is one of the most popular spots for stand-up paddleboarding in Colorado. 

Non-motorized ponds and large wake-free areas of the main reservoir make for a variety of inviting paddling opportunities.  In addition, multiple rental sites for paddleboards, kayaks and other crafts set up within the park.  There are enough places to explore that it will take multiple trips to tour them all.  

Chatfield Gravel Pond

Chatfield's proximity to Denver makes it a convenient place for a half-day time window or a great opportunity to stretch the early or late limits of the season.  Summer weekends can be very busy.  Once the park reaches capacity, incoming vehicles will be turned back at the gates.  But if you have already made it into the park, there is plenty of water acreage for everyone.  Better yet, early mornings, weekdays, spring and fall offer the chance to avoid crowds altogether.  The  photo of solitary padding above is from a warm day in mid-November.  

Vicinity map

Location info: [key]

Scenery: 2
Shoreline Interest: 2-3
Use: High
Fee: $9/vehicle
Access: Paved
Full (active) elev = 5430; Best near full, 

late season drawdown possible;  

Water level 

(scroll down to "water levels")
Rec map 
Rec info 
Weather 

Clear Lake

Clear Lake is a compact, mountain lake above Georgetown that offers a scenic, high-country paddleboard experience a short distance from Denver.  With substantially less visibility and wind exposure than better-known Georgetown lake, it features calm waters and steep, forested shorelines.  

Clear Lake

Clear Lake is close enough to Denver to visit in a half-day from the metro area.  It also makes for a refreshing late day add-on after a hike of Mt. Bierstadt, Square Top Mtn, or other Guanella Pass area trails.  Interstate 70 traffic can be heavy on summer weekends, so check travel speeds before heading up.  Sometimes a good window can be found on Saturday afternoons when earlier recreators have already left and return traffic to Denver is lighter than on Sundays.  Late afternoon and early evening also tend to be calmer than mid-day.  

Vicinity Map

    Location Info: [key]

    Scenery: 4
    Shoreline Interest: 2
    Non-motorized
    Use: Moderate
    Fee: None
    Access: Gravel
    Full elev = 9860; 

    Best near full
    Weather

Barr Lake

Barr Lake floats under the radar of many Denver area paddlers as compared to more popular places like Soda Lake and Chatfield.  Its appeal is calm water, moderate visitation and heavily wooded coves that create a sanctuary for wildlife.  

Barr Lake

Located just outside the 470 beltway, Barr Lake is one of the closest stand-up paddle places to the Denver area.  It is especially convenient for residents of the northern or eastern parts of the metro area and those with state parks passes.  Its location in the opposite direction from the mountains and its lack of visibility from major roads help to moderate the number of visitors on busy summer days.  

Vicinity Map

    Location Info: [key]

    Scenery: 3
    Shoreline Interest: 3
    Wakeless
    Use: Moderate
    Fee: $9/vehicle
    Access: Paved
    Full elev = 5105; 

    best near full, 

    late season drawdown possible
    Rec. info 

    Rec. map
    Weather 

Dowdy Lake

Dowdy Lake is an absolute gem as a stand-up paddle destination.  It is non-motorized, small enough that its wind exposure is limited, but big enough to have plenty of coves, islands and outcrops to explore.  

☆ One of many boulder outcrops in Dowdy Lake

Dowdy lake is in the Red Feather Lakes Community.  At a little under 2 hours from Denver, it may seem a bit far for a day trip but is comparable to ski day at Beaver Creek and worth the travel time.  It also offers camping right at the lake, but the reserveable sites fill up quickly once they are made available on the spring.  Despite its distance from Denver and major highways, Dowdy Lake is quite popular in the summertime and the parking areas may fill up on weekend afternoons.  Neighboring West Lake provides a nice alternative to Dowdy and sees fewer visitors.  

Vicinity Map

    Location Info: [key]

    Dowdy Lake / West Lake

    Scenery: 4 / 4
    Shoreline Interest: 5 / 3
    Dowdy - Wakeless 

    West - Non Motorized
    Use: Mod-High / Moderate
    Fees: $7/vehicle
    Access: Gravel
    Full elevs: 8150 / 8240 

    minimal variation; natural
    Rec info

    Weather

Crested Butte Area

The Crested Butte Area has always been a top-tier destination for Colorado mountain adventures.  With only one paved road into town, Crested Butte is pleasantly isolated in Colorado's colorful central mountains.  As a ski town, it offers summertime resort lodging, much of which is pet friendly!  There is also a broad variety of beautiful camping sites scattered through the scenic valleys that radiate from town.  Either (or a combination of both) can make for a great mountain getaway.  

Lake Irwin

Emerald Lake

The area does not have the same density or expanse of lakes as Grand County or Grand Mesa, but what it lacks in water acreage it makes up for in scenery. The three lakes featured below all make for a great afternoon (or morning) to complement a half-day of mountain biking or hiking in the Crested Butte area.

Vicinity Map