NOTE: Due to COVID-19, hours and amenities may be affected. Please check the status of your intended destination before visiting.
There's nothing like hanging out near a body of water in the summertime. The Colorado Macaroni Kid publishers love to visit our local reservoirs and lakes with their families. We've gathered some of our favorites in Our Favorite Colorado Reservoirs and Lakes - The Macaroni Kid Guide!
Fishing in Colorado
To fish in Colorado, fishing permits are required for residents ages 16 and older. Free Fishing Day in Colorado is the first weekend in June each year. For the 2020 season, residents may fish without a permit throughout Colorado on June 6th and 7th. To learn more about fishing or to purchase a season fishing pass, visit Colorado Parks & Wildlife.
Many of the reservoirs and lakes listed below are open year-round. Dates and times are subject to change without notice.
Photo Credit: Kristin Sancaktar
Aurora Reservoir
5800 Powhaton Road | Aurora, CO
Summer Hours: May: 5:30 AM - 9 PM | June & July: 5 AM - 9:30 PM | August: 5:30 AM - 9 PM
Amenities: playground, archery range, SCUBA, open water swim area, restrooms (port-o-lets), shelters, picnic tables
Daily Fees: $10/vehicle. Save with an annual pass.
Photo Credit: Beth Marketos
Bear Creek Lake Park
15600 W. Morrison Road | Lakewood, CO
Summer Hours: May - September: 6 AM - 10 PM
Amenities: hiking, picnicking, camping, fishing, boating, windsurfing, mountain or road biking, swim beach, archery range, educational programs, horseback riding, paddle sports, water skiing, and wakeboarding.
Daily Fees: $10/vehicle. Save with an annual pass. Camping starts at $35.
Photo Credit: Meredith LuxBoulder Reservoir
5565 N 51st Street | Boulder, CO
Summer Hours: Monday - Thursday: 10 AM - 6 PM, Friday - Sunday: 7 AM - 7 PM
Amenities: boating, fishing, swimming, paddle boarding, 5.3-mile loop trail for multi-use.
Daily Fees: Adults (19-59) $11.00. Youth (13-15) $6.50
Photo Credit: grfx4 from PixabayCarter Lake
4011 S County Road 31 | Loveland, CO
Summer Hours: 6 AM - 10 PM
Amenities: fishing, sailing, water skiing, camping, rock climbing, swimming, accessible activities, picnicking, scuba diving. Dogs are allowed.
Daily Fees: $9/vehicle. $9/boat trailer. $18 for vehicle + boat trailer. Camping starts at $20.
Photo Credit: Christen Reiner, Publisher of Macaroni Kid Lakewood-Littleton
Chatfield Reservoir
11500 N. Roxborough Park Road | Littleton, CO
Summer Hours: 5 AM - 10 PM*
*24-Hour access for campers, active fishermen with valid fishing licenses, and those boating with approved lighting
Amenities: biking, boating, camping, off-leash dog park, educational programs, horseback riding, hot air ballooning, hiking, camping, ice fishing, jet skiing, picnicking, snowshoeing, sailboarding, swimming, volleyball, model airplane flying, water skiing, wildlife viewing, and winter camping.
Daily Fees: $10/vehicle. Save with an annual pass. $3/dog off-leash pass. Camping starts at $36.
Photo Credit: Christen Reiner, Publisher of Macaroni Kid Lakewood-Littleton
Cherry Creek Reservoir
4201 S Parker Road | Aurora, CO
Summer Hours: 5 AM - 10 PM
Amenities: year-round camping, dog off-leash area (DOLA), horseback riding, shooting range, marina rentals (pontoons, deck boats, jet skis), fishing, swimming, 35 miles of multi-use trails
Daily Fees: $11/vehicle. Save with an annual pass. $3/dog off-leash pass. Camping starts at $28.
Photo Credit: Melissa Shrader, Publisher of Macaroni Kid Fort Collins and Macaroni Kid LovelandFlatiron Reservoir
1800 S Country Road 31 | Loveland CO
Summer Hours: 6 AM - 10 PM
Amenities: fishing, picnicking, and family camping. Swimming and boating are not allowed here, but nearby Carter Lake offers both!
Daily Fees: $9/vehicle. $9/boat trailer. $18 for vehicle + boat trailer. Camping starts at $20.
Photo Credit: Melissa Shrader, Publisher of Macaroni Kid Fort Collins and Macaroni Kid Loveland
Fossil Creek Reservoir
3340 Carpenter Road | Fort Collins, CO
Summer Hours: Daily; dawn to dusk
Amenities: birdwatching, hiking trails, .25 paved walking loop, picnic shelters, .76 mile hike to a viewing area.
Fossil Creek Reservoir Natural Area is designated an Important Bird Area by the National Audubon Society. It provides crucial habitat to bald eagles, raptors, and many species of shorebirds, songbirds, and waterfowl.
Dogs, bikes, and horses are not allowed at Fossil Creek Reservoir Natural Area.
Daily Fees: FREE entrance. FREE educational activities from June to October.
Photo Credit: Melissa Shrader, Publisher of Macaroni Kid Fort Collins and Macaroni Kid Loveland
Horsetooth Reservoir
4200 W County Road 38 E | Fort Collins CO
Summer Hours: March-October: 9 AM - 4 PM, 7 days a week
Amenities: fishing, boating, camping, picnicking, swimming, scuba diving, rock climbing, water skiing, accessible activities. Dogs are allowed.
Daily Fees: $9/vehicle. $9/boat trailer. $18 for vehicle + boat trailer. Camping starts at $20.
Photo Credit: Debra Jaramillo, Publisher of Macaroni Kid Stapleton-Commerce City-Northfield
Lake Ladora at Rocky Mountain Wildlife Refuge
6550 Gateway Road | Commerce City, CO
Summer Hours: Sunrise to Sunset
Amenities: 1.8-mile hiking trail, boardwalk views, bird watching, public fishing (Tuesday, Saturdays, and Sundays only), wading (with calf, hip, or chest waders) after Memorial Day.
Daily Fees: Kids 15 and under are free. High school and college students fish fee-free with a valid ID.
Photo Credit: Debra Jaramillo, Publisher of Macaroni Kid Stapleton-Commerce City-Northfield
Lake Mary at Rocky Mountain Wildlife Refuge
6550 Gateway Road | Commerce City, CO
Summer Hours: Sunrise to Sunset
Amenities: half-mile trail, bird watching, floating boardwalk, fishing pier, accessible dock, public fishing (Tuesday, Saturdays, and Sundays only), wading (with calf, hip, or chest waders) after Memorial Day
Daily Fees: Kids 15 and under are free. High school and college students fish fee-free with a valid ID.
Photo Credit: Melissa Shrader, Publisher of Macaroni Kid Fort Collins and Macaroni Kid Loveland
Pinewood Reservoir
Pole Hill Road | Loveland CO
Summer Hours: 6 AM – 10 PM
Amenities: kayaking, camping, fishing, accessible activities, biking, camping, picnic area
Daily Fees: $9/vehicle. $9/boat trailer. $18 for vehicle + boat trailer. Camping starts at $20.
Photo Credit: Nicole Hoeper, Publisher of Macaroni Kid Colorado Springs
Prospect Lake
619 Prospect Lake Drive | Colorado Springs, CO
Summer Hours: Sunrise to Sunset
Amenities: paddle boards and kayaking rentals with SUP at the boathouse, swimming at (YMCA) Prospect Beach, fishing, boating*, two nearby playgrounds, tennis courts, skatepark, National Firefighters Memorial, walking/ biking trail.
*Please note: Gas-powered motorized watercraft are prohibited on the lake, All boats/ vessels must be operated in a wakeless manner.
Daily Fees: FREE!
Photo Credit: Brenda Bushey
Rueter-Hess Reservoir
Rueter Hess Reservoir (behind the Frank Jaeger Dam) | Castle Rock, CO
Summer Hours: Open by reservation only
Amenities: Future recreational opportunities may include soft-surface trails, non-motorized watercraft, and fishing. To start, however, the reservoir will only be open for limited recreational programming, such as paddle boarding and kayaking on certain days.
Daily Fees: $10 per watercraft on specified Paddle Days.
Photo Credit: Michele Pullo, Publisher of Macaroni Kid Boulder and Macaroni Kid Longmont
Union Reservoir
461 County Road 26 | Longmont, CO
Summer Hours: 6 AM - 9 PM
Amenities: wakeless boating, swimming, picnic areas, dog off-leash area, fishing, sailing (Union Sailing Club), windsurfing, paddleboard/kayak rentals (Rocky Mountain Paddleboard)
Daily Fees: $10/weekday vehicle. $12/weekend vehicle. $5/watercraft. $8/boat trailer. $2/bicycle or walk-in.
Our Favorite Colorado Reservoirs & Lakes - The Macaroni Kid Guide was compiled by the publishers of the following Macaroni Kid sites. Be sure to check them out for more Family Fun in your area!
Macaroni Kid Aurora
Macaroni Kid Boulder
Macaroni Kid Englewood, Greenwood Village, Centennial
Fort Collins Macaroni Kid
Macaroni Kid Highlands Ranch-Parker-Castle Rock-Lone Tree
Macaroni Kid Lakewood-Littleton
Macaroni Kid Longmont-Frederick
Macaroni Kid Stapleton-Commerce City-Northfield
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