Cherry Creek Reservoir (in rare form)

On average, May is Denver's wettest month. But May of 2023 was one for the recordbooks!  During a multiday soaking event, Denver officially recorded 4.9 inches of rain that caused streams to swell and reservoirs to rise.  Cherry Creek Reservoir, in particular, saw a dramatic impact from the surge of rainwater.  The resulting inundation of the southern shorelines made for a novel paddleboarding experience.  For some backstory, continue reading;  to skip to the paddling, click this link to our Cherry Creek Reservoir post.  

Paddling Cherry Creek at high water

Cherry Creek Dam is one of the three units the make up up the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Tri Lakes Project.  The other two elements are Chatfield and Bear Creek.  Together, the three structures protect Denver from flash floods that could threaten the city during prolonged periods of widespread rainfall upstream.  When significant rain events occur, the dams constrain outflows and reservoir levels rise.  During the May 2023 storm, the water level in Cherry Creek rose 10 feet.  The water level of Chatfield rose 7 feet.  The water level in Bear Creek rose 28 feet!  

Cherry Creek water level rise, May 2023

Cherry Creek Reservoir

Compared to the other major lakes in the Denver metro area (Chatfield, Barr, Big Soda), Cherry Creek is not one that we have spent much time at.  The reasons are that some of the elements that help make an enjoyable paddleboarding experience are simply less abundant at Cherry Creek.  

Smooth waters at south end of Cherry Creek Reservoir

For example, both Chatfield and Cherry Creek get very busy with motorized boats and waterskiers/wakeboarders on summer weekends.  But where Chatfield has large no-wake zones and accessory ponds, Cherry Creek does not.  The squarish shape of Cherry Creek Reservoir also lacks protective coves or inlets to shield the waves and chop that propagate from the open waters of the lake.  There are still some areas can offer easy launching of paddleboards, and there are plenty of times to find calm conditions, but other lakes in the region can typically one-up Cherry Creek.

Vicinity Map

    Location Info: [key]

    Scenery: 1
    Shoreline Interest: 1
    Use: High
    Fee: $9/vehicle
    Access: Paved

    Full (normal) elev = 5550 

    (scroll down to "water levels")

    Rec map

    Rec. info

    Weather 

How can I find out if Barr (or any) Lake is full?

 ...without having to travel there and see for myself...

It's always nice to know ahead of time if favorite paddleboarding places are at their high-water mark, or if they have a bathtub ring of dirt and gravel.  Some of Colorado's most popular lakes have frequently updated, or even real-time reports on water level readily available online.  Barr Lake is not one of them.  What's more, a few feet of rise or drop in water level can be a whole world of difference in paddling experience.

Barr Lake nearing high water in April 2023

Google Maps is a common go-to for many users seeking satellite imagery.  Its resolution is very good and shoreline details such as trees, rock outcrops and access trails are plainly visible.  The imagery on Google Maps is also a helpful supplement to river trip beta, clearly showing areas of riffle, whitewater and sandbars.  However, the interval between imagery updates for a particular area on Goggle Maps ranges from a few months to over a year. 

So, how to find out the current conditions at Barr Lake?  Introducing Sentinel Playground...: