Sweetwater Lake

Nestled in the eastern foothills of the Flattops, Sweetwater Lake is one of Colorado's lesser known gems.  Imposing cliffs flank the lake on its north and south sides, creating dramatic vistas from many perspectives around the lake.  The mid-elevation terrain, natural shoreline and wild backdrop give the Sweetwater Lake a unique personality that will surely make it a favorite among the many paddleboarding waters in Colorado.

Sweetwater Lake

The land around the lake recently opened up to public use after many years of private ownership.  Acquisition of the surrounding land by the Forest Service was facilitated through the Eagle Valley Land Trust to protect the area from potential private development.  In October of 2021, Sweetwater Lake became the newest addition to Colorado's collection of state parks.  This will allow recreation on and around the lake to be managed under a partnership between Colorado Parks and Wildlife and the National Forest Service.    

Vicinity Map

    Location Info: [key]

    Scenery: 4
    Shoreline Interest: 2
    Use: Low-mod
    Fee: None
    Access: Gravel
    Full elev = 7709; natural

    Rec map
    Rec info 
    Weather 

Brainard Lake

The well-loved Brainard Lake area is one of the most popular portals into the spectacular alpine terrain above Boulder.  When conditions permit, it can also be a great place to spend a half-day on the water.  The jagged skyline of the Indian Peaks make Brainard Lake a very photogenic location, especially when the water is still enough for reflections.  

Brainard Lake with Indian Peaks beyond

The Brainard Lake Recreation Area is generally open for summer use between mid-June and mid-October.  Most uses require a timed-entry reservation through recreation.gov.  The area is very popular and entry windows aren't always readily available.  It's best to plan a week or more in advance or try for a weekday visit.  

Vicinity map

    Rec Area Info: [key]    

    Use: High

    Non-motorized
    Fee: $10 day use;
    Timed entry info
    Access: Paved
    Rec map
    Rec info 
    Weather 

    Lake info:

    [Brainard / Long / Red Rock]
    Scenery: 4 / 5 / 4
    Shoreline Interest: 2 / 3 / 3

    Full elev (natural): 

    10350 / 10520 / 10200