QWhy do the water levels fluctuate at Carter Lake, Flatiron Reservoir, Pinewood Reservoir, and Horsetooth Reservoir?
AThese are Bureau of Reclamation reservoirs used for water storage. In the winter the reservoirs are filled and in the summer they are drawn down when the farmers call for water. Cities use the water, too, for industry and drinking water.
QHow deep is the water?
AAt Carter Lake, the average depth is 80 feet, with the deepest point being 180 feet. The deepest point in Horsetooth Reservoir is 212 feet.
QHow big are the lakes?
AHorsetooth Reservoir is 6.5 miles long and 1/2 mile wide with several coves. Carter Lake is 3 miles long and 1 mile wide, an oval. Flatiron Reservoir is a small lake for fishing and no boating. Pinewood Reservoir is 100 acres of wakeless only boating.
QHow many boats are allowed on the lakes?
AThere are vessel capacity limits on both Carter Lake and Horsetooth Reservoir. Those limits are often reached on weekends during the summer. At high water Carter Lake's maximum capacity is 187 boats. At high water, Horsetooth Reservoir's maximum capacity is 380. No boats are allowed at Flatiron Reservoir due to rapidly fluctuating water levels. This includes belly boats. Pinewood Reservoir has no-wake-speed boating--perfect for canoeing and belly boats.
QWhat's the altitude?
AHorsetooth Reservoir - 5,430 feet; Carter Lake - 5,760 feet; Flatiron Reservoir - 5,470 feet; Pinewood Reservoir - 6,580 feet
QWhat is the access to dams?
ADue to the Bureau of Reclamation's security requirements, no recreation activity is allowed on any of the dams, or within 100 feet of any of the dams while on land.
QHow can I get current information about the lakes?
ACall the Reservoir Hotline at 970-679-4554, which is regularly updated by rangers. Also, you can go online to www.larimer.org/naturalresources. Go to "Parks and Open Lands Areas" and select the area you desire. Rangers regularly update fishing conditions, water levels, special events, etc., so visitors can get the most up-to-date information.
QWhen are you open?
AOur parks are open year round, although some campgrounds are closed during the off season (November - March).
QAny place to hike close by?
AAt Horsetooth Reservoir you can walk the shorelines around South Bay and around Inlet Bay. Nearby Horsetooth Mountain Open Space offers 29 miles of trails, Lory State Park offers 25 miles, and Rimrock Open Space offers 6 miles.
Carter Lake has a 3½ -mile trail on the west side and a 1-mile trail on the southeast. There are 4 miles of trails at nearby Pinewood Reservoir. Devil's Backbone Open Space, which is about 10 miles from Carter Lake, has another 7 miles of trails. Rocky Mountain National Park is about 45 minutes away from Carter Lake.
QAre the campgrounds near the lakes?
ACampgrounds are located all around the lakes. Some campsites are right next to the water, some are a little farther away. All sites are within walking distance to the lakes.
QAre the campsites close together?
AIt depends on the campground design; however, most allow a reasonable amount of room between campsites.
QHow big are the campsites?
ACampsites vary in size from walk-in tent sites to pull-through sites for large RVs and 5th wheels.
QAre there drop-in campsites?
ADuring the recreation season, April through September, sites are only "first-come, first-served" if they have not been reserved. From October through April, almost all sites are "first-come, first-served."
QWhat's available at each campsite?
AEvery designated campsite has a fire ring with a grill, and a picnic table. Some campsites have electrical hookups with receptacles for 15 amps, 30 amps, and 50 amps. Every campground has drinking water and toilets.
QHow many campsites do you have?
AApproximately 340 camp sites, 24 camper cabins.
QDo you have full hookups?
ANo, but we have electrical hookups at several campgrounds. There are two dump stations at Horsetooth Reservoir (one at Inlet Bay and one at South Bay), one dump station at Carter Lake (at the South Entrance on County Road 8E), and one dump station at Hermit Park Open Space. There is drinking water in every campground.
QHow many people are allowed on a campsite? How many vehicles? How many tents?
AThe numbers depend on the specific site: however, the maximum for the largest sites is 8 people; 1 camping unit (for example, RV camper, pop-up) with an additional camping unit at an additional fee, and 2 tents; OR 4 tents and no camping units.
QCan we camp in our boat overnight?
AYes, you can, as long as you follow all Colorado State Boating Regulations and Coast Guard Regulations for lighting and overnight mooring. At Horsetooth Reservoir, boat-in, land camping is allowed on the west side only, north of Inlet Bay. You must check in with a ranger to apply for a backcountry permit. Boat-in, land camping is not allowed at Carter Lake.
QIs camping allowed on the shores?
AThe only shore camping allowed is boat-in camping along the west side of Horsetooth Reservoir, north of Inlet Bay. You must check in with a ranger before you camp.
QHow long can we camp in your parks? Can we just move to another space after time limit?
AThe maximum time limit is 14 days within any 30-day period anywhere in the entire system. That means that if you have stayed for 14 days in any campsites in any of our parks, you must leave for at least 16 days before you come back to camp.
QAre there shelters at the campsites?
ANo, most campsites do not have shelters, although there are a few at Carter Knolls Campground at Carter Lake, at Flatiron Campground at Flatiron Reservoir, at Inlet Bay Campground at Horsetooth Reservoir, and at Pinewood Reservoir.
QWhat are check-in and check-out times?
AFor campsites: You can come into your camp site at noon on your arrival day. The camp site must be vacated by 11 a.m. on the departure day. For camper cabins: Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend, check in is 1 p.m. Go to campground to campground host site. Labor Day weekend through Memorial Day weekend, check in is 1 - 4:30 p.m. only. Go to campground. A ranger will be by. If you will not be checking in by 4:30 p.m., call at least one day in advance to make special arrangements: (970) 679-4570 (Mon-Fri, 8-4:30). Cabins must be vacated by 11 a.m. on departure day.
QHow far in advance can we reserve sites?
AYou can reserve sites no sooner than 90 days and no later than three days before you want to come. (Example: If you want to camp on Friday night, you have to make your reservation by Tuesday night.)
QDo I get a refund if it rains the whole weekend?
ANo refunds are given for weather.
QAre there trees?
AIt depends on the specific campground. Some campgrounds have trees and some campgrounds are in the open with few trees. At Carter Lake, Eagle Campground is in the pines, while South Shore Campground has cottonwoods. At Horsetooth Reservoir, the South Bay Campground has few trees except around the tent sites. Inlet Bay Campground has some trees. Flatiron Reservoir has some campsites in the trees and some campsites in the open. Hermit Park Open Space has several wooded areas.
QWhat kind of toilets do you have?
AThese are "semi-primitive" campgrounds with vault toilets. There is one flush toilet at Eagle Campground at Carter Lake.
QAre there playgrounds?
AThere is a playground at Eagle Campground at Carter Lake.
QAre there showers?
ANo. The nearest showers are at the KOA Campgrounds in Wellington or on I-25 at Johnson's Corners, and at the Carter Valley Campground about 5 minutes north of Carter Lake.
QCan we have fires?
AUnless there is a fire ban, campfires are allowed. They must be in the fire rings, and you must bring your own wood.
QWhere can I get wood?
AYou'll need to bring it with you, or purchase it at a store before you get here. The Carter Lake Marina sells firewood. There is no wood gathering allowed in any of our parks. B.Y.O.W. - Bring Your Own Wood!
QAre pets allowed?
APets are allowed and must be on leash, not more than 10 feet long, at all times. We ask that owners not leave their pets unattended and that pets not be tied to trees or bushes at the campsites.
QIs alcohol allowed?
AThe only alcohol allowed is 3.2 percent, in cans, only. No glass containers or kegs are allowed in the parks.
QCan we swim?
ASwimming is allowed at the swim beaches only. There is a swim beach at Horsetooth Reservoir and a swim beach at Carter Lake.
QCan pets be in the water?
APets can be in the water but are not allowed at the swim beaches due to health concerns.
QCan we rent boats and jet skis?
AAt Horsetooth Reservoir, you can rent jet skis, fishing boats, pontoon boats, pleasure boats, plus overnight slips at Inlet Bay Marina (970-223-0140). At Carter Lake, you can rent fishing boats and overnight slips at the Carter Lake Marina (970-667-1062).
QDo you have disability sites, bathrooms, fishing areas? What is wheelchair accessible?
AThere are wheelchair-accessible campsites and bathrooms throughout the parks. Flatiron Reservoir has an accessible fishing pier. There is a ½-mile accessible trail at South Shore Campground at Carter Lake, and Pinewood Reservoir has two sections of accessible trail.
QBikes allowed? ATVs, dirt bikes, snowmobiles allowed?
AMountain bikes are allowed. ATVs, dirt bikes, snowmobiles, scooters, go-peds, pocketbikes, and similar devices are not allowed. Only street-licensed vehicles are allowed to operate in the parks.
QCan we bring our own barbeques?
AYes, however, there may be limitations if a fire ban is in effect. Signs are posted when a fire ban is in effect; however, check with entrance station staff or rangers if you are unsure.
QCan we do fireworks on July 4th?
ANo, in order to protect the resource, no fireworks are allowed. The fire danger is too high.
QIs there somewhere nearby we can get supplies, buy fishing licenses, get bait?
AAt Horsetooth Reservoir, there is a small convenience store at the south end of the reservoir which sells fishing licenses and live bait. Inlet Bay Marina is a full service marina with limited provisions. There are many stores in Fort Collins, about 4 miles away.
For Carter Lake, Flatiron Reservoir, and Pinewood Reservoir, the Carter Lake Marina sells fishing licenses and has limited bait and supply options. The cities of Loveland and Berthoud are about 10 miles east.
QAre there restaurants nearby?
AFort Collins, Loveland, Berthoud, and Estes Park offer a wide variety of restaurants. The Windjammer Bar & Grill is located at the north end of Carter Lake.
QHow's the fishing? What fish are in the lakes?
AWe have great fishing. The lakes are periodically and regularly stocked by the Colorado State Division of Wildlife. Depending on the reservoir, fish may include: walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, wipers, rainbow trout, cutthroat trout, brown trout, lake trout, slake, carp, blue gill, yellow perch, black crappie, kokanee salmon, tiger muskie, or sizzoid shad.
QWhat are your prices?
AYou'll need a park entrance permit for each day you are in the park. Prices differ depending on residency and the time of year. For current permit prices, please see a current brochure or go to our web site at www.larimer.org/naturalresources. You can purchase a daily permit that is good from noon until noon the following day, or you can purchase an annual park entrance permit which is valid for the calendar year. Boats need permits, too, for each day they are put on the water. To camp, you must buy a campsite in addition to the park entrance permit.
QWhat's the weather like?
AIt depends on the time of year. Spring and early summer (April - June) can be wet and rainy with warm days and cold nights. Summer months (June - August) can have warm to very hot days, cool evenings, and sometimes cold nights. July and August may bring thunder and lightning storms. Fall (September, October, and November) usually brings warm days, cold nights, little moisture, and no crowds. Winter (December, January, February, and March) is cold, with occasional snow storms.
QDo you spray for mosquitoes?
ANo. Due to West Nile virus, we suggest that campers use personal, over-the-counter mosquito sprays.
QDo you have group use areas?
AWe have four reservable group use areas, for day use only: one at South Bay Campground at Horsetooth Reservoir, one at Horsetooth Mountain Open Space, one at South Shore Campground at Carter Lake, and one at Flatiron Reservoir. These are reservable by calling the Natural Resources Administrative Offices at (970) 679-4570. Call the offices for other requests for group use as well. Other than at Hermit Park Open Space we don't have specific group camping sites, so groups need to reserve several individual sites together.