Know BEFORE you go

CoTrex Trail ReportsHorsetooth Reservoir is the third busiest reservoir in the state of Colorado with an estimated million visitors a year. Plan to arrive before 10 a.m. or after 3 p.m. as the reservoir park will likely reach parking capacity, especially on weekends in the summer. Avoid a wait - come early or late! Check Colorado Trail Explorer (COTREX) at https://trails.colorado.gov for the most up-to-date trail conditions, closures, and alerts. Or check under the "Trails & Weather" tab below.

West of Fort Collins

Six and one-half miles of water beckon visitors to come out and play! Surrounded by 1,900 acres of public lands, this reservoir has it all: fishing, boating, camping, picnicking, swimming, scuba diving, rock climbing, and water skiing.

As part of the Colorado-Big Thompson Project to divert water from the west slope to the east slope for drinking water, irrigation, and hydropower generation, the reservoir is jointly operated by the Bureau of Reclamation and the Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District who manage water levels for irrigation, municipal, and industry use. Larimer County manages recreation.

Horsetooth Reservoir requires entrance and camping permits, and is open year round. It's located west of Fort Collins, Colorado, at an elevation of 5,420 feet.

Horsetooth Area Information Center

The Horsetooth Area Information Center, located in South Bay of Horsetooth Reservoir, is open to the public with info on recreation areas, trails, camping, boating, fishing and more. Front desk staff can be reached at (970) 498-5610. The center's hours are:

  • March-October: 9 AM - 4 PM, 7 days a week 
  • November-February: 9 AM - 4 PM; Closed from 12:30 PM - 1:00PM for Lunch, Monday-Friday
      

Features

Accessible Activities
Biking
Boating
Camping
Diving
Drinking Water
Fishing
Hiking
Marina
Permit Required
Picnic Area
Reservable Pavilions
Restroom
Swimming
Webcam

Accordion

Map

Horsetooth Reservoir

From Denver:

  1. Take I-25 north to the Harmony Road/Timnath exit (#265).
  2. Turn left (west) continuing on Harmony Road for 7 miles where it becomes County Road 38E at the Taft Hill Road intersection.
  3. Continue west on County Road 38E approximately 4 more miles to the entrance at the south end of the Reservoir.

    The entrance to South Bay (including campground, Group Pavilion, and swim beach) is at the south end of the reservoir. Watch for signs. To get to Inlet Bay (including Inlet Bay Marina and Inlet Bay Campground), continue west on 38E 1 3/4 miles past the South Bay entrance. Watch for signs and turn right on Shoreline Drive.

From Loveland:

  1. From Highway 34 (Eisenhower) go north on Wilson. Wilson becomes Taft Hill Road in Fort Collins. Turn left (west) onto County Road 38E and continue west to the reservoir.
  2. Continue directions from #3 above.

From Fort Collins:

  1. From Harmony and Taft Hill Road turn west onto County Road 38E.

    Continue from #3 above

Horsetooth Mountain Open Space

Follow the directions above to the Horsetooth Reservoir South Bay entrance. Continue west on County Road 38E about 21/2 miles from the South Bay Entrance or 1 mile from the Inlet Bay Entrance (Shoreline Drive). The parking area and trail head are on the north side of the road.

Soderberg Open Space

Follow the directions above to the Horsetooth Reservoir Inlet Bay entrance. Turn right on Shoreline Drive, continuing 1.2 miles to the Soderberg Open Space and trail head on the west side of the road.

Conditions

Note: Water temperature not collected October-May due to varying water/ice conditions. 

View current boat ramp hours.


Horsetooth Reservoir water elevation is 5,430 feet full and 5,341 feet empty
Water Level Data courtesy U.S. Bureau of Reclamation