Outdoors
Lakes near Fort Collins
30 named lakes within 30 miles, nearest first, with a map and directions.
Lakes within 30 mi
30
Closest
0.9 mi
Lake Sherwood
Within 10 miles
27
Reservoirs
25
Worth the drive
Map
Map of 30 places loads as you scroll.
All lakes, nearest first
- 0.9miLake Sherwoodreservoir
- 1miWarren Lakereservoir
- 3.2miRigden Reservoirreservoir
- 4.2miRobert Benson Lakereservoir
- 4.7miFossil Creek Reservoirreservoir
- 4.8miHorsetooth Reservoirreservoir
- 5miCollege Lake
- 5.3miKitchel Lakereservoir
- 5.6miTerry Lakereservoir
- 5.7miDonath Lakereservoir
- 5.7miRichards Lakereservoir
- 5.7miTimnath Reservoirreservoir
- 6.4miSouth Gray Reservoirreservoir
- 6.5miClaymore Lakereservoir
- 7.2miElder Reservoirreservoir
- 7.3miLee Lakereservoir
- 7.4miDixon Reservoirreservoir
- 7.5miHorseshoe Lake
- 7.6miJodee Reservoirreservoir
- 7.6miKyger Reservoirreservoir
- 7.8miBoyd Lakereservoir
- 7.8miWindsor Reservoirreservoir
- 8.3miWatson Lakereservoir
- 8.4miCobb Lakereservoir
- 8.5miHinkley Lakereservoir
- 8.6miHeinricy Lakereservoir
- 9.7miWindsor Lakereservoir
- 24.9miGem Lake
- 25.2miLake Estes
- 30miLily Lake
Straight-line distance from the center of Fort Collins; driving and trail distances are longer.
Before you go
Many reservoirs are drinking-water supplies with no swimming or body contact. Look for a designated swim beach.
Green, scummy or paint-like water can be a toxic blue-green algae bloom. Keep kids and dogs out and check the county advisory.
Boat launches often need a day pass or inspection for invasive mussels, and anglers 16 and older usually need a state fishing license.
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Questions
What is the closest lake to Fort Collins?
Lake Sherwood, about 0.9 miles from the center of Fort Collins.
How many lakes are near Fort Collins?
30 named lakes are within 30 miles, 27 of them within 10 miles.
Are the lakes near Fort Collins natural?
25 of the 30 are reservoirs made by dams; the rest are mapped as natural lakes. Swimming rules differ, so check each one.
Sources: Wikidata and OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), checked 2026-11-08; photos from Wikimedia Commons under the licenses shown. Access, fees and conditions change; check before visiting.