Colorado Boatable Waters: A - C - Colorado State Parks

Adobe Creek Reservoir
Directions: From Las Animas, go 20 miles north on County Road 10 to the property.
Fee: None
Boating: Boat ramps, sail boating, windsurfing and water-skiing
Fish: Walleye, saugeye, crappie, largemouth bass, channel catfish, northern pike, white bass, bluegill, wiper and tiger muskie
Water Acres: 5,147
Elevation: 4,128 feet
Managing Agency: Division of Wildlife. For more information, call (303) 297-1192.

Antero Reservoir
Directions: From Hartsel go 5 miles southwest on Highway 24 to the reservoir.
Fee: None
Boating: No restrictions
Fish: Rainbow and brown trout
Water Acres: 5,000 (can fluctuate)
Elevation: 8,940 feet
Managing Agency: Division of Wildlife. For more information, call (303) 297-1192.

Arkansas River Headwaters Recreation Area
Directions: Click for directions to sections of the Arkansas River
Fees: Please see Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area Web site for additional information.
Boating: White-water/river boating
Fish: Brown and rainbow trout
Water Acres: 148 miles
Elevation: 4,000 to 9,000 feet
Managing Agency: Colorado State Parks. For more information, call (719) 539-7289.

Arvada Reservoir
Directions: Between Highway 93 and Indiana Street on West 66th.
Fee: $5 daily; $25 resident seasonal; $35 non-resident seasonal (seasonal passes can be purchased at Arvada City Hall)
Boating: Non-motorized only
Fish: Rainbow trout, walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, yellow perch and tiger muskie
Water Acres: 180
Elevation: 5,758 feet
Managing Agency: City of Arvada. For more information, call (303) 421-2550.

Atkinson Reservoir
Directions: Grand Mesa
Fee:
Boating: No boat ramp
Fish: Rainbow, brook and cutthroat trout
Water Acres: 87
Elevation: 10,120 feet
Managing Agency: USDA Forest Service, Grand Junction/Collbran Ranger District. For more information, call (970) 242-8211 or (970) 487-3534.

Aurora Reservoir
Directions: 2 miles east of Gunclub on Quincy. The entrance is the same for Arapahoe Park Racetrack.
Fee: $4 per vehicle
Boating: Electric, hand-propelled and sailboats only. One boat ramp
Fish: Largemouth and smallmouth bass, rainbow and brown trout, crappie, channel catfish, wiper, blue catfish, yellow perch and walleye
Water Acres: 640
Elevation: 5,930 feet
Managing Agency: City of Aurora. For more information call (303) 690-1286.

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Baron Reservoir
Directions:
Fee:
Boating: No boat ramp
Fish: Rainbow trout
Water Acres: 100
Elevation: 10,125 feet
Managing Agency: USDA Forest Service, Grand Junction/Collbran Ranger District. For more information, call (970) 242-8211 or (970) 487-3534.

Barr Lake State Park
Directions: Take I-76 northeast from Denver, exit on Bromley Lane. Go east to Picadilly Road, then south to the park entrance.
Fee: Please see Barr Lake State Park Fee Information for additional information.
Boating: Only sailboats, hand-propelled craft and boats with electric trolling motors or gasoline motors of 10 horsepower or less are permitted on Barr Lake. A boat ramp is located adjacent to the north parking lot.
Fish: Channel catfish, smallmouth and largemouth bass, rainbow trout, walleye, bluegill, wiper and tiger muskie are among the species that have been stocked at Barr Lake by the Colorado Division of Wildlife.
Water Acres: 1,918
Elevation: 5,100 feet
Managing Agency: Colorado State Parks. For more information, call (303) 659-6005.

Bear Creek Lake
Directions: 1/8 mile east of Highway C-470 on Morrison Road.
Fee: $3 per vehicle
Boating: 10 horsepower maximum
Fish: Tiger muskie, rainbow trout, smallmouth bass and saugeye.
Water Acres: 110
Elevation: Lake: 5,558 feet; Mt. Craven: 5,779 feet
Managing Agency: City of Lakewood. For more information, call (303) 697-6159.

Beaver Creek Reservoir
Directions: From South Fork, go 2 miles southwest on Highway 160 to USFS Road 360 (Beaver Creek Road), then 6 miles south to the reservoir.
Fee: None
Boating: Wakeless only, boat ramp
Fish: Rainbow, brown and brook trout and kokanee salmon
Water Acres: 115
Elevation: 8,850 feet
Managing Agency: Division of Wildlife. For more information, call (303) 297-1192.

Big Creek Lakes
Directions: From Cowdrey, take County Road 6W, which turns into USFS Road 600, to the lakes.
Fee: Call (970) 723-8204 for fee information
Boating: Boat ramp, call (970) 723-8204 for boating restrictions
Fish: Rainbow, brown and lake trout
Water Acres: 450
Elevation: 9,000 feet
Managing Agency: USDA Forest Service. For more information, call (970) 723-8204.

Big Creek Reservoir
Directions: Grand Mesa
Fee:
Boating: Boat ramp
Fish: Rainbow trout
Water Acres: 63
Elevation: 8,240 feet
Managing Agency: USDA Forest Service, Grand Junction/Collbran Ranger District. For more information, call (970) 242-8211 or (970) 487-3534.

Big Meadows Reservoir
Directions: From South Fork, go 11 miles west on Highway 160 to USFS Road 410, then 2 miles west to the reservoir.
Fee: None
Boating: Boat ramp
Fish: Rainbow and brook trout
Water Acres: 113
Elevation: 9,200 feet
Managing Agency: Division of Wildlife. For more information, call (303) 297-1192.

Birdland Lake
Directions: West 51st Avenue and Garrison Street
Fee: None
Boating: Non-motorized only
Fish: Bluegill, channel catfish, sunfish, largemouth bass and yellow perch
Water Acres: 3
Elevation: 5,337 feet
Managing Agency: City of Arvada. For more information, call (303) 421-2550.

Blue Mesa Reservoir
Directions: From Gunnison, go 10 miles west on Highway 50 to the reservoir.
Fee: Boat fees (all motorized and state registered vessels): $4 for 2 days, $10 for 14 days, or $30 for a 2000 boat pass
Boating: Five boat ramps, windsurfing, sailing and water-skiing
Fish: Rainbow, brown, brook and lake trout and kokanee salmon
Water Acres: 9,000
Elevation: 7,519 feet
Managing Agency: Curecanti National Recreation Area. For more information, call (970) 641-2337.

Boedecker Reservoir
Directions: From Loveland, go 2 miles west on First Street to County Road 21, then 1/2 mile south to the reservoir.
Fee: None
Boating: Boat ramp, wakeless only
Fish: Bluegill, channel catfish, largemouth and smallmouth bass, crappie, walleye, saugeye and yellow perch
Water Acres: 308
Elevation: 6,062 feet
Managing Agency: Division of Wildlife. For more information, call (303) 297-1192.

Bonham Reservoir
Directions: Grand Mesa
Fee:
Boating: No boat ramp
Fish: Rainbow and cutthroat trout
Water Acres: 88
Elevation: 9,790 feet
Managing Agency: USDA Forest Service, Grand Junction/Collbran Ranger District. For more information, call (970) 242-8211 or (970) 487-3534.

Bonny Lake State Park
Directions: Take I-70 east to Burlington, then north 23 miles on U.S. 385. Turn east on County Road 2 or 3 for 1.5 miles.
Fees: See Bonny Lake State Park Fees.
Boating: During the summer, the surface of the reservoir is zoned with buoys to designate wakeless, water-skiing and swimming areas. Bonny has three boat ramps.
Fish: Walleye, northern pike, freshwater drum, white bass, wiper, crappie, bluegill and channel catfish
Water Acres: 1,900
Elevation: 3,670 feet
Managing Agency: Colorado State Parks. For more information, call (970) 354-7306.

Boulder Reservoir
Directions: From Highway 36, go north to the Longmont Diagonal (Highway 119) and turn northeast. At Jay Road turn west and then north almost immediately onto 51st street.
Fee: Daily: $4 adults; $1.75 under 18; 4 and under free
Seasonal: Resident -- $80 family; $35 adult; non-resident -- $110 family; $50 adult.
Boating: Motorboats allowed only with city permit, non-motorized boats need no permit
Fish: Walleye, channel catfish, black crappie, bluegill, largemouth bass, yellow perch and rainbow trout
Water Acres: 540
Elevation: 5,173 feet
Managing Agency: Boulder Parks and Recreation. For more information, call (303) 441-3468.

Boyd Lake State Park
Directions: Exit I-25 west at U.S. 34 near Loveland, turn north onto Madison Avenue, then follow the signs.
Fees: Please see Boyd Lake State Park fees.
Boating: Two paved launch ramps. A six-lane ramp is located north of the swim beach, while a two-lane ramp is located just north of the group picnic area. The entire lake is open to boating and sailing. Only the south end of the lake is open to water-skiing. The ski pattern is counterclockwise.
Fish: Bass, catfish, crappie, perch, rainbow trout and walleye
Water Acres: 1,750
Elevation: 4,958 feet
Managing Agency: Colorado State Parks. For more information, call (970) 669-1739.

Brainard Lake
Directions: Boulder County, Roosevelt National Forest. From Ward, go north 1/4 mile on Highway 72 to Brainard Lake Road. Go west about 4 miles.
Fee: $5 daily; if camping, only the $12 camping fee is required
Boating: Non-motorized only
Fish: Rainbow trout (stocked)
Water Acres: 15.6
Elevation: 10.350 feet
Managing Agency: U.S. Forest Service-Boulder Ranger District. For more information, call (303) 444-6600.

Brush Hollow Reservoir
Directions: From Penrose, go 2 miles west on County Road 123, then 2 miles north to the property.
Fee: None
Boating: Boat ramp, wakeless only
Fish: Walleye, saugeye, crappie, largemouth bass, channel catfish and bluegill
Water Acres: 200
Elevation: 5,500 feet
Managing Agency: Division of Wildlife. For more information, call (303) 297-1192.

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Carter Lake
Directions: I-25 north to Colorado Highway 56 (Berthoud exit) west, follow the signs to Carter Lake.
Fee: $6 daily fee; $6 daily boat fee; $7 camping
Boating: No restrictions
Fish: Kokanee salmon
Water Acres: 1,140
Elevation: 5,760 feet
Managing Agency: Larimer County. For more information, call (970) 679-4570.

Cedar Mesa Reservoir
Directions: Four-wheel drive access
Fee:
Boating: No boat ramp
Fish: Cutthroat trout
Water Acres: 38
Elevation: 9,960 feet
Managing Agency: USDA Forest Service, Grand Junction/Collbran Ranger District. For more information, call (970) 242-8211 or (970) 487-3534.

Chatfield State Park
Directions: From Denver, take Wadsworth Blvd. (Colorado Highway 121) south past C-470, and turn left into the Park at the Deer Creek entrance. As an alternate route, take Santa Fe Blvd. south to Titan Road, turn west on Titan Road to Roxborough Park Road, and turn north to the Plum Creek entrance.
Fees: Please see Chatfield State Park Fees.
Boating: Three boat ramps, water-skiing, sailboarding and personal watercraft
Fish: Trout and bass, channel catfish, yellow perch, crappie, bluegill, sunfish and carp. The lake is periodically stocked with rainbow trout and other fish by the Colorado Division of Wildlife.
Water Acres: 1,550
Elevation: 5,430 feet
Managing Agency: Colorado State Parks. For more information, call (303) 791-7275.

Cherry Creek State Park
Directions: One mile south of I-225 on Parker Road, adjacent to south Denver.
Fees: Please see Cherry Creek State Park Fees.
Boating: Two boat ramps, water-skiing, personal watercraft and sailboarding
Fish: Trout, walleye, bass, crappie, pike, carp and catfish, state record walleye have been caught at the reservoir
Water Acres: 880
Elevation: 5,550 feet
Managing Agency: Colorado State Parks. For more information, call (303) 699-3860.

Clear Creek Reservoir
Directions: From Buena Vista, go 13 miles north on Highway 24 to County Road 390, then 1/2 mile west to the reservoir.
Fee: None
Boating: Boat ramps
Fish: Rainbow and brown trout and kokanee salmon
Water Acres: 407
Elevation: 8,875 feet
Managing Agency: Division of Wildlife. For more information, call (303) 297-1192.

Cobbett (Carp) Lake
Directions: Grand Mesa
Fee:
Boating: No boat ramp, non-motorized only
Fish: Rainbow trout
Water Acres: 12
Elevation: 10,260 feet
Managing Agency: USDA Forest Service, Grand Junction/Collbran Ranger District. For more information, call (970) 242-8211 or (970) 487-3534.

Colorado River State Park (now James M. Robb-Colorado River State Park)
Island Acres: I-70 to Exit 47, five miles east of Palisade.
Connected Lakes: Southwest portion of Grand Junction; travel northwest on Dike Road from Broadway.
Corn Lake: 32 Road, south of D Road at the Colorado River.
Wildlife Area: On D Road at 30 1/4 Road.
Fees: Please see James M. Robb-Colorado River State Park Fees.
Boating: Connected Lakes and Corn Lake have boat ramps. However, the ramp at Corn Lake is for river access only. Access to the Colorado River is currently offered at Corn Lake and Connected Lakes. River access at Island Acres is discouraged because of a man-made roller dam near Palisade. Hand-propelled craft and vessels with electric trolling motors are allowed at Connected Lakes and at three of the four lakes at Island Acres. Boating is not permitted at Wildlife Area, Corn Lake and the Swimmin' Hole at Island Acres. Water contact is prohibited at Wildlife Area and Corn Lake. (This includes belly boats.)
Fish: Good rainbow trout fishing is available throughout the park from March through May and September and October, especially at Island Acres and Corn Lake. The Colorado Division of Wildlife stocks Bullhead Flats, Roans Pothole and Old Orchard lakes at Island Acres and Corn Lake. (Fishing is not permitted in Swimmin' Hole Lake at Island Acres.) Catfish, bluegill, bass and crappie may be caught year-round.
Water Acres: 97 total
Elevation: 4,600 to 4,700 feet
Managing Agency: Colorado State Parks. For more information, call (970) 434-3388.

Cottonwood Lake #1
Directions: South of Collbran
Fee:
Boating: Boat ramp
Fish: Rainbow, cutthroat and brook trout
Water Acres: 77
Elevation: 10,065 feet
Managing Agency: USDA Forest Service, Grand Junction/Collbran Ranger District. For more information, call (970) 242-8211 or (970) 487-3534.

Cottonwood Lake #4
Directions: South of Collbran. High-clearance vehicle needed.
Fee:
Boating: No boat ramp
Fish: Rainbow trout
Water Acres: 32
Elevation: 10,205 feet
Managing Agency: USDA Forest Service, Grand Junction/Collbran Ranger District. For more information, call (970) 242-8211 or (970) 487-3534.

Cowdrey Lake
Directions: From Cowdrey, go 2 miles south on Highway 125 to the lake. From Walden, go 7 1/2 miles north on Highway 125. Entrance is on the west side of the road.
Fee: None
Boating: Boat ramp, wakeless only
Fish: Brown trout
Water Acres: 80
Elevation: 7,940 feet
Managing Agency: Division of Wildlife. For more information, call (303) 297-1192.

Crawford State Park
Directions: From Delta, take Colorado Highway 92 east to Hotchkiss. Stay right on 92 where it intersects Colorado Highway 133 and drive 10 miles to Crawford. The park is one mile south of town.
Fees: Please see Crawford State Park Fees.
Boating: Two boat ramps, water-skiing and sailboarding
Fish: Rainbow and German brown trout and channel catfish are stocked in the reservoir. Several record yellow perch have also been caught here.
Water Acres: 397
Elevation: 6,600 feet
Managing Agency: Colorado State Parks. For more information, call (970) 921-5721.

Last Updated: 2/23/2009