Horsetooth Reservoir

Horsetooth Reservoir is right in Fort Collins's backyard at the edge of the Northern Colorado foothills.  The uniquely shaped lake takes advantage of long, natural valley behind a hogback to create a six-mile long impoundment with four separate dams.  The resulting water body has  a mostly linear, open shoreline on its east side but an interesting, complex western shoreline with multiple coves, inlets and islands.  As an added bonus, there are several wakeless zones on lake's western shore that make it ideal for stand-up paddleboarding and kayaking.

The shorelines of Horsetooth Reservoir are contained in two separate recreation entities: Horsetooth Mountain Park (managed by Larimer County Open Space) on the eastern and southwestern shores, and Lory State Park (managed by Colorado Parks and Wildlife) on the northwestern shore.  Fees for both of these areas are $9/day (subject to change; check parks websites linked above).  Season passes for Colorado State Parks and Larimer County are also honored at Lory and Horsetooth, respectively, but aren't transferable.  

Horsetooth Reservoir

Vicinity Map

    Location Info [key]:

    Scenery: 3

    Shoreline Interest: 4

    Use: High

    Fee: $9/vehicle

    Access: Paved, Gravel

    Full elev = 5430; Best near full

    Water level info

    Recreation map

    Rec info - Larimer County Parks

    Rec info - Lory State Park

    Weather