Horsetooth Reservoir (Natural Resources)

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, Monday-Friday

Features

Accessible Activities

Biking

Boating

Camping

Drinking Water

Fishing

Hiking

Marina

Permit Required

Picnic Area

Reservable Pavilions

Restroom

Swimming

Webcam

Accordion

Map

Horsetooth Reservoir

From Denver:

Take I-25 north to the Harmony Road/Timnath exit (#265).
Turn left (west) continuing on Harmony Road for 7 miles where it becomes County Road 38E at the Taft Hill Road intersection.
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:

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.
Continue directions from #3 above.

From Fort Collins:

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.

Trails & Weather

Trails Report: Horsetooth Reservoir

All Trails Facebook Twitter

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Weather: Horsetooth Reservoir

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Webcam

Live webcam from the Horsetooth Area Information Center, 4200 W County Rd 38 E, Fort Collins, CO

Check to see traffic at the South Shore Boat Ramp before you come. Parking at this popular boat ramp can fill on weekends and holidays during the summer. When the parking lot is full, boats may no longer be launched until space becomes available.

Horsetooth Reservoir Webcam
Open in New Window

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

Fishing

Horsetooth Reservoir provides a wide variety of fishing opportunities. This large reservoir has excellent structure for anglers to explore. Whether fishing from shore or from a boat, anglers will have a wide variety of fishing opportunities.

Walleye: Daily limit of 5 total (no size restriction)
Smallmouth and largemouth bass: Daily limit of 5 total (size minimum is 12 inches; all bass in possession must be over 12 inches)
All species of trout in Horsetooth (rainbow, cut-bow, brown): Daily statewide limit of 4 total (no size restriction)
White bass, striped bass or wipers: Daily statewide limit of 10 total (no size restriction)
Panfish (including bluegill, white and black crappie, and all sunfish): Daily statewide limit of 20 total (no size restriction)

Please refer to the regulations brochure printed by Colorado Parks and Wildlife before fishing on any body of water. The regulations above are for Horsetooth Reservoir and the type of fish in Horsetooth.

View fish stocking reports from Colorado Parks and Wildlife.

No ice fishing. Ice is UNSAFE due to fluctuating water levels.

Walleye

Brown Trout

Rainbow Trout

White Bass

Smallmouth Bass

Largemouth Bass

Bluegill

Sunfish

Boating

Boats entering Horsetooth Reservoir must be inspected for aquatic nuisance species (ANS), which limits boating to specific hours. View current boating hours.
Direction of travel is counter-clockwise.
State law requires boat and jet ski operators to be 16 years of age or older (14- 16-year-olds may take a boating safety course for a driving certificate).
Water-skiing is best early mornings and evenings during the week.
Water-skiers must have an observer and use a red or orange flag.
Personal water crafts (jet skis, wave runners) must observe state laws - NO careless and improper operation, including:
- Operating a vessel while facing backward.
- Becoming airborne while crossing a wake too close to another vessel.
- Unsafe weaving through boat traffic.
- Causing another boat to swerve or abruptly cut speed to avoid a collision.

Camping

Electrical, tent, camper cabins.
Campground hosts on duty during the summer.
March - October: Sites can be reserved from 180 days to 1 day in advance at Horsetooth Reservoir, Carter Lake, Flatiron Reservoir, Pinewood Reservoir, and Hermit Park. Sites that are not reserved become available that day as first-come, first-served for people who are physically present at the parks.
- Effective November 1, 2020 - February 28, 2021, same day reservations can be made online at Carter Lake, Flatiron Reservoir, and Pinewood Reservoir. Campers MUST make a reservation and purchase a park entrance permit BEFORE setting up at any campsite.
- Between November - February 2021, same day reservations at Horsetooth Reservoir and Hermit Park must still be done at the park.
A permit to camp is required for each campsite for each night (in addition to Park Entrance Permits).
Maximum of 14 nights in any 30-day period.

Photos

Click a photo to enlarge.

Tips & Info

Water Levels

Water levels fluctuate. Horsetooth Reservoir generally fills during the winter and spring. It normally fluctuates up to 60 feet, with the lowest water being in mid September, excluding drought and excessive rain years.

Concessionaires

Inlet Bay Marina (970-223-0140) - full service marina located in Inlet Bay.

Regulations

For specifics, ask a ranger or see a kiosk for a copy of the Regulations.

Cliff diving or jumping in the water is extremely dangerous and prohibited in all areas.
Quiet hours are 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.
Collection of firewood, including cutting of trees and branches, is not allowed.
Firearms or fireworks are prohibited.
Glass containers are not allowed.
Drones are prohibited.
E-bikes are prohibited on natural surface trails.
Alcohol is only allowed in campsites and on boats. No alcohol in day use areas.
Dogs must be on leashes not longer than 10 feet at all times. Dogs are not allowed at the swim beach.
Due to Homeland Security restrictions, no recreation activity is allowed on dams or within 100 feet of dams when on land.

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Horsetooth Reservoir

West of Fort Collins

Horsetooth Area Information Center

Features

Accordion

Horsetooth Reservoir

From Denver:

From Loveland:

From Fort Collins:

Horsetooth Mountain Open Space

Soderberg Open Space

Trails Report: Horsetooth Reservoir

Weather: Horsetooth Reservoir

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NIGHT {{ vm.limitDays/2 }}-Day/Night Forecast

Water Levels

Concessionaires

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Horsetooth Reservoir

West of Fort Collins

Horsetooth Area Information Center

Features

Accordion

Horsetooth Reservoir

From Denver:

From Loveland:

From Fort Collins:

Horsetooth Mountain Open Space

Soderberg Open Space

Trails Report: Horsetooth Reservoir

Weather: Horsetooth Reservoir

ALL {{ vm.limitHours }}-Hour Forecast

NIGHT {{ vm.limitDays/2 }}-Day/Night Forecast

Water Levels

Concessionaires

I Want To

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