Rollins Pass East

The road that ascends from the Peak-to-Peak Highway to Rollins Pass follows a century-old rail crossing over the continental divide.  It is bumpy and tedious to drive, but rewards with a cluster of small paddleboarding lakes that can be easily accessed from the road.  Yankee Doodle, Jenny and Upper Forest Lakes are all refreshing summertime escapes, each with their own distinct sub-alpine settings.  There are scattered, primitive camping sites along Rollins Pass Road and any of these lakes make a nice addition to a car-camp outing here.  The upper parts of the road usually don't melt out until July.  Road status can be checked on the forest service website.  

Upper Forest Lake

The eastern approach to the pass departs the CO-119 segment of the Peak to Peak Highway at the small town of Rollinsville.  It is right where the Denver & Rio Grande West tracks cross under the highway, 2 miles south of the junction of highways 119 and 72, or 14 miles north of Blackhawk.  From Rollinsville, County Road 16 (Tolland Road) travels west through the rustic community of Tolland toward the east portal of the Moffat Tunnel.  At 6.5 miles from Rollinsville, just before East Portal, the Rollins Pass road turns sharply east (Forest Road 149) to begin its gently ascending path on the railroad grade up Rollins Pass.  The road becomes rougher and more potholed beyond this point, but is still navigable with a moderate-clearance vehicle--it just requires slow speeds and some patience.  The first Lake to appear is Yankee Doodle at 9.2 miles past the East Portal junction.  

Vicinity Map

    Location Info: [key]

    (Yankee / Jenny / Forest)

    
    Scenery: 4 / 3 / 5
    Shoreline Interest: 2 / 1 / 3
    

    Use: Low-moderate
    Fee: None
    Access: High Clearance 2WD,

    + 0.3 mi. hike for Upper Forest,

    4WD for Jenny Lake
    Full elev = 10700-10850; 

    minimal water level change
    Weather

Chatfield has gotten a lot bigger for paddleboards

The spring of 2023 has brought a lot of water to Colorado's Front Range.  It has been one of the most effective reservoir-filling events in memory.  All 3 of Denver's primary flood control reservoirs (Chatfield, Cherry Creek and Bear Creek) saw substantial surges in storm runoff.  The resulting rise in water level opened up new fronts of paddleboarding along all of the lakes' wooded inlets.  By the beginning of summer, the waters had gradually receded in Cherry Creek and Bear Creek.  Chatfield was different.  Under the reservoir's new re-allocation program, the waters continued to rise until they reached a new storage pool elevation of 5444.

Unbounded paddling on the Platte River Inlet

Purgatory Area

The southern leg of the Million Dollar Highway traverses several magnificent landscapes between the heights of Coal Bank Pass and the lazy flats of Durango's Animas Valley.  Paralleling this segment of the road for many miles are the colorful Hermosa Cliffs, which rise up 2000 feet immediately west.  The area around Purgatory Ski Mountain, in particular, hides an unlikely concentration of mid-elevation lakes on a bench of lumpy terrain between the base of the cliffs and the Animas River Gorge.  Not all of the lakes in this area are open to public use, but the ones that are have some great paddleboarding waters with especially photogenic surroundings.   

Beautiful Potato Lake

Haviland Lake

Haviland Lake sits at the foot of the Hermosa Cliffs, right about at their midpoint.  It is accessed from County Road 671, about 8.5 miles north of Hermosa or 9 miles south of Purgatory on U.S. 550.  The lake is 0.8 miles east of U.S. 550. and has roadside parking with shore access.  Haviland is a wake-free and sees very little variation in water level. 

Vicinity Map: Haviland & Electra

    Location Info: [key]

    Haviland Lake

    Scenery: 4
    Shoreline Interest: 3
    Use: Moderate
    Fee: SWA Pass required
    Access: Gravel
    Full elev = 8106; natural
    Rec info 
    Rec map 
    Weather 

Molas Lake

Molas Lake sits placidly along one of the most vista-rich stretches of the Million Dollar Highway.  

While the famed Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad winds through the treacherous depths of the Animas River Gorge, U.S. 550 elegantly skirts the most rugged terrain via Coal Bank and Molas Passes.  An unlikely flat near the top of the pass provides a perched setting for Molas Lake.  Two additional lakes--Little Molas and Andrews--offer more paddling options very close by.  

Paddling in the heart of the San Juan Mountains

Molas Lake

Highly visible from U.S. 550, Molas Lake is located 5 miles south of Silverton--just below the summit of Molas Pass.  The lake is actually just outside of the San Juan National Forest boundary.  It is owned by the Town of Silverton and managed as a town park, open to the general public.  The town also operates a campground on the east shores of the lake; the west side is open for day use, free of charge.  A small, lakeside store at the campground entrance also offers paddleboard and kayak rentals.  

Vicinty Map

Location Info: [key]

(Molas / Little Molas / Andrews)

Scenery: 5 / 4 / 3
Shoreline Interest: 3 / 1 / 2
Use: Mod-High / Mod-Low / Mod-Low
Fee: None for day use
Access: Gravel
Full elev = 10520 / 10920 / 10800
Rec. info 

Rec. map
Weather 

Bozeman, Montana Area

Bozeman is a fun Montana city with a handful of good stand-up paddle places nearby.  Hyalite Reservoir, Fairy Lake and the Madison River are all well know locally as quick escapes on the water.  The Hyalite area, in particular, is surrounded by many miles of hiking and biking trails that easily roll into a multi-sport day.  

Hyalite Reservoir, view upvalley

Hyalite Reservoir

The Hyalite recreation area is one Bozeman's quickest escapes to Montana's forested high country.  It is understandably popular, but big enough to disperse a lot of the crowds.  It is accessed from Hyalite Canyon Road, 7 miles south from downtown Bozeman on 19th Street.  The first water access point to the water is 10 miles up the canyon, just before the road crosses the dam.   

Vicinity Map

    Hyalite Reservoir    

    Location Info: [key]

    Scenery: 3
    Shoreline Interest: 2
    Use: Moderate
    Fee: None for day use
    Access: Paved/Gravel
    Full elev: 6730

    Rec info 

    Weather 

Looking for SUP places in a certain part of Colorado?

New pages for each SUP region make it more user-friendly on mobile devices!  Just tap the pull-down menu next to "Home" and go!     

For PCs and notebooks, the SUP regions are still on the right sidebar, right below the links for the SUP Map and SUP Places list.  And if you want to jump to the  SUP general information pages, just scroll past the region indexes.  Happy trails!

Monument and Palmer Lake

The towns of Monument and Palmer Lake are home to a couple of inviting paddleboard spots in the highlands between Castle Rock and Colorado Springs.  This area, along the Palmer Divide, is hillier and more wooded than most of the I-25 corridor.  At 7,000 feet in elevation, with the backdrop of the sharply rising Rampart Range, Monument Lake and Palmer Lake feel much more like the foothills than a roadmap would suggest.  State Highway 105 (the Monument exit) runs through both towns and offers the quick access from the interstate.  For a more scenic drive from points north, try Spruce Mountain Road through Larkspur or Perry Park Road out of Sedalia.  

Palmer Lake; Rampart Range beyond

The Colorado Springs metro area has notably less publicly accessible water than Denver or the Northern Front Range.  Monument and Palmer lakes make a nice change of scenery from Prospect and Quail Lakes in town.  Because of their reasonably close proximity to the Springs, they can be very popular on summer weekends.  

Vicinity Map [click to enlarge]

    Location Info [key]

    (Monument / Palmer)

    Scenery: 3 / 3
    Shoreline Interest: 2 / 1
    Use: High
    Fee: None
    Access: Paved
    Full elev = 6950 / 7250
    Rec. map: (Palmer)
    Rec. info: Monument / Palmer
    Weather: Monument / Palmer

Bear Creek Lake's Superpower

Bear Creek Lake is one of metro Denver's most inviting paddleboard places when conditions are good.  Despite the massive size of the dam that impounds it, the lake is fairly compact.  Its shoreline is interesting, with areas of trees and grassy shallows, and it is small enough that it doesn't get overrun by wind.  Furthermore, motorized boats are limited to 10 horsepower.  

Bear Creek water level up 20 feet

But Bear Creek's superpower is an obscure one.  The reservoir sees higher fluctuations above the normal water level than any lake in the region.  Above is the operative word here, because a rise in the water level means that the lake surface expands beyond the established shoreline.  And when there are lots of trees around the lakeshore, it creates a wonderful, shady overlap of lake and forest.  

Bear Creek Inlet, May 2023

Bear Creek Lake South Cove, May 2023

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...:

Twin Lakes Area

Twin Lakes is a well-recognized Colorado landmark that sits beneath the lofty Sawatch Range at the eastern gateway to Independence Pass.  A mountain backdrop of Twin Peaks and Mt. Hope makes Twin Lakes a popular subject for landscape photographers, particularly during the autumn color change.  

Twin Lakes Vista

The Sawatch Range rises abruptly from the sagebrush uplands of the Arkansas Valley, through mixed conifer and aspen forests to the rocky tundra of Colorado's tallest peaks.  Mountain vistas like this are typical of the Upper Arkansas Valley, which also contains Clear Creek Reservoir and Turquoise Lake.  All three of these locations are easily accessible from U.S. 24, with only a few minutes gravel or dirt road driving from the highway.  As far as stand-up-paddle places go, the region's best attributes are the scenery, pleasant summertime temperatures, and a plethora of nearby camping and recreational opportunities.  A couple hours of paddleboard time can make a great addition to a camping, mountain biking or fourteener climbing trip in the area.  

Vicinity Map

Twin Lakes Location info: [key]

(East / Middle / West)

Scenery: 4 / 4 / 4
Shoreline Interest: 3 / 2 / 2
Use: Moderate-high / Mod. / Mod.
Fee: Varies
Access: Gravel
Full elev = 9190; water level
Rec. info: East / Middle / West
Weather 

(Scroll down for Clear Creek, Turquoise info)

Alice's Wonderland

Are you one of the millions of travelers who have zoomed past the Alice exit on Interstate 70 west of Denver?  Have you ever pulled off the highway and ventured up Fall River Road to see what lurks up-valley?  If you follow the right paths, you will discover that many small, fantastic lakes live in the heights of this basin.  The sub-alpine tarns in this fun little pocket of Colorado delight paddleboarders, hikers and off-roaders  alike, but all have some form of effort tax.  

A gem in the wonderland

Idyllic St. Mary's Lake is not vehicle-accessible, but can be reached by a moderately steep 0.5 mile hike up the popular St. Mary's Glacier Trail.  Chinns Lake and Loch Lomond are accessed by jeep roads further down in the valley.  Each of these have their own unique wonderland features.  Both Chinns and Lomond have multiple neighbors of similar character that can be accessed by foot or 4WD vehicle.  The routes to all of these lakes generally aren't open and snow-free until mid-July.  They make a great retreat in the late summertime when temperatures on the flatlands below push triple digits.  

Vicinity Map

    Location Info: [key]

    

    (St. Marys / Chinns / Lomond)

    

    Scenery: 5 / 5 / 4 
    Shoreline Interest: 3 / 2 / 3
    Use: Moderate /  / Low-mod / Low-mod
    Fee: $5 parking / None / None
    Access: 0.6 mi. hike / 4WD / 4WD
    Full elev = 10750 / 11050 / 11200
    Weather

Tenmile Region

While Dillon Reservoir is the centerpiece of Summit County's paddleboard waters, there are more great places both downvalley (north) and upvalley (south).  This post features a few additional SUP opportunities in the Tenmile Creek area south of Frisco and Upper Blue River area south of Breckenridge.  

Clinton Gulch; Tenmile Range beyond

Two of these places--Officer's Gulch Pond and Clinton Gulch Reservoir--are ridiculously close to major highways.  A third--Lower Crystal Lake--can only be accessed by four-wheel-drive vehicle or by foot.  These places might not have the all the attributes to top the favorites list, but they're all worthwhile considerations for paddleboarding excursions in Summit County.  

Vicinity Map

    Location Info: [key]

    (Officers / Clinton / Crystal)    

    

    Scenery: 4 / 3 / 3
    Shoreline Interest: 3 / 1 / 1
    Use: Mod / Mod / Low
    Fee: None
    Access: Paved / Paved / Mod 4WD
    Full elev = 9450 / 11080 / 11980
 

    Weather:

    Officer's

    Clinton

    Crystal

Pikes Peak North Slope

South Catamount, North Catamount and Crystal Creek Reservoirs are a cluster of three scenic lakes that are readily accessible from the Colorado Springs region.  These lakes all sit around 9,200 feet in elevation on the northern flank of Pikes Peak.  Together, they comprise the North Slope Recreation Area.  

South Catamount Reservoir

The North Slope is accessed from the Pikes Peak Highway and requires a $5/adult day pass to get through the entrance gate.  Children under 16 get in for free.  A limited number of free parking passes area also available to reserve online, but these may run out on busy days.  The North Slope day passes are labeled as "fishing" passes, but are good for all permitted water activities.  Fishing is not mandatory.  The North Slope recreation passes are separate from the timed entry reservations that are required to drive the full length of the Pikes Peak Highway.  They are not valid for access to the Pikes Peak summit.  

Vicinity Map

Location info: [key]

Forested reservoirs in Pikes Peak foothills
Scenery: 3
Shoreline Interest: 3 / 4 / 2

   (North / South / Crystal)
Use: Moderate
Fee: $5/adult; day pass required
Access: Gravel
Full elev = 9200+/-; Best near full
Rec. map 
Rec. info
Weather 

The legendary Axolotls of Lily Lake

Alright, they're not really axolotls and they're not legendary (yet), but they're still quite fascinating!  Our intrigue with these "axolotls" began at beautiful Lily Lake, just south of Estes Park.  Actually a part of Rocky Mountain National Park, Lily Lake is right next to the Peak-to-Peak with a great vista of Longs Peak, Mt. Meeker and Twin Sisters Mountain.  

The Danish cousins of Mexico's Axolotls

On a warm, mid-June paddle on Lily Lake, we noticed some small, bizarre-looking creatures swimming in the shallows of the lake only a few inches below the surface.  Then, upon paying closer attention, we realized there were hundreds--maybe thousands--of these amphibious animals within the lake.   They had four legs, a small tail, and six horn-like protrusions around their faces.  And we were baffled as to what these creatures could be.  

A beautiful June day on Lily Lake

What is going on with Gross Reservoir?

Paddle enthusiasts who frequent Gross Reservoir may be surprised by the road closures on the south side of the lake this year.  The closures are due to the commencement in spring 2022 of a massive project to raise the dam and expand the reservoir.  The bad news is that Osprey Point boat launch and all other south side recreational amenities are planned to remain closed through May 2027 (yes, 5 years; no typo).  The good news is that watercraft access to the lake will be maintained from the north shore, near Flagstaff Road, and from the US Forest Service land on Winiger Ridge.  

Reservoir Expansion (GIS Map: Denver Water)

To see an interactive map of current conditions and recreation impacts, scroll down or click here.

We've expanded our SUP Places Map

More places to stand-up paddle: near and far, popular and secluded, with more to come in 2023.  View the map here!

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