Arapaho & Roosevelt National Forests Pawnee NG
1 mi northwest · USDA Forest Service
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Outdoors
Boating and kayaking near Fort Collins
Lakes, reservoirs and rivers near Fort Collins for boating, kayaking, canoeing and paddleboarding.
23places to boat and paddle
1 mito the closest
10within 30 miles
May–Septemberbest months
Good to know: Life jackets are required for children on most waters, and many lakes require an invasive-species inspection or a launch fee.
Closest picks
Horsetooth Reservoir
6 mi west · Bureau of Reclamation
Horsetooth Reservoir, Colorado-Big Thompson Project , furnishes the main water supply for the Poudre Valley. The reservoir is 6.5 miles long, and is formed by four large earthfill dams.
Carter Reservoir (Carter Lake)
16 mi southwest · Bureau of Reclamation
Developments include 5 campgrounds with 151 campsites and 3 boat-launch ramps. A concession-operated public marina located at the north end of the lake (970.667.1062).
Map of all 23 places
Map of 23 places loads as you scroll.
Within 30 miles (10)
Arapaho & Roosevelt National Forests Pawnee NG
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- Biking
- Boating
- Camping
- Climbing
- Fire Lookouts/Cabins Overnight
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Horse Camping
Horsetooth Reservoir
Horsetooth Reservoir, Colorado-Big Thompson Project , furnishes the main water supply for the Poudre Valley. The reservoir is 6.5 miles long, and is formed by four large earthfill dams.
- Biking
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Nature education
- Picnicking
- Ranger programs
Carter Reservoir (Carter Lake)
Developments include 5 campgrounds with 151 campsites and 3 boat-launch ramps. A concession-operated public marina located at the north end of the lake (970.667.1062).
- Biking
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Nature education
- Picnicking
- Ranger programs
Pinewood Lake
Pinewood Lake is located about 12 miles southwest of Loveland, Colorado. The Lake and Dam are a small part of the Colorado-Big Thompson Project , one of the largest and most complex ever constructed by Reclamation.
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Picnicking
- Wildlife viewing
Ansel Watrous
Ansel Watrous Campground is located on the Cache la Poudre River, 22 miles northwest of Fort Collins, Colo., along Highway 14. Visitors enjoy the area for its great rafting, fishing and hiking opportunities.
- Biking
- Birding
- Boating
- Camping
- Canoeing
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Kayaking
Stove Prairie
Stove Prairie Campground is located on the Cache la Poudre River, 26 miles northwest of Fort Collins, in north central Colorado. Visitors enjoy the area for its great rafting, fishing and hiking opportunities.
- Biking
- Birding
- Boating
- Camping
- Canoeing
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Kayaking
Narrows (Co)
Narrows Campground is located on the Cache la Poudre River, 32 miles northwest of Fort Collins, Colorado, along Highway 14. Visitors enjoy the area for its great rafting, fishing and hiking opportunities.
- Biking
- Birding
- Boating
- Camping
- Canoeing
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Kayaking
Mountain Park
Mountain Park Campground is located on the Cache la Poudre River, 40 miles northwest of Fort Collins, Colo., along Highway 14. Visitors enjoy the area for its great rafting, fishing and hiking opportunities.
- Biking
- Birding
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Rafting
- Water sports
Lake Estes
Lake Estes, a feature of the Colorado-Big Thompson Project , is formed by Olympus Dam constructed across the Big Thompson River.
- Biking
- Boating
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Picnicking
- Water sports
- Wildlife viewing
Rocky Mountain National Park Aspenglen Campground
Aspenglen is located on the east side of Rocky Mountain National Park near Fall River Entrance. All campsites in Aspenglen Campground are available by reservation only and can be reserved via Recreation.gov.
- Accessible Swimming
- Amphitheater
- Backpacking
- Biking
- Camping
- Canoeing
- Evening Programs
- Fishing
30 to 75 miles (13)
Dowdy Lake
Dowdy Lake Campground is located 48 miles northwest of Fort Collins, Colo., near the village of Red Feather Lakes. Visitors enjoy the area for its canoeing, fishing and trail opportunities.
- Biking
- Birding
- Boating
- Camping
- Canoeing
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Kayaking
Redfeather Ranger Station
The Redfeather Ranger Station has two cabins, and an office with a visitor's center. The Ranger Cabin and the Assistant Ranger Cabin are available for lodging. Guests must provide linens, bedding, pillows, towels and toiletries.
- Backpacking
- Biking
- Birding
- Boating
- Camping
- Canoeing
- Climbing
- Fishing
Rocky Mountain National Park Moraine Park Campground
Moraine Park Campground is located on the east side of Rocky Mountain National Park, overlooking Moraine Park. To access the campground, enter RMNP via Beaver Meadows, Fall River or Grand Lake Entrances and follow signs to Bear Lake Road.
- Amphitheater
- Backpacking
- Biking
- Camping
- Evening Programs
- Fishing
- Guided Interpretive Walks
- Hiking
West Lake
West Lake Campground is located 48 miles northwest of Fort Collins, in north central Colorado, near the village of Red Feather Lakes. Visitors enjoy the area for its canoeing, fishing and trail opportunities.
- Biking
- Boating
- Camping
- Canoeing
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Wildlife viewing
Bellaire Lake Campground
Bellaire Campground is located 47 miles northwest of Fort Collins, Colo., near the Red Feather Lakes village. Visitors enjoy the area for its canoeing, fishing and trail opportunities.
- Biking
- Camping
- Canoeing
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Non-Motorized Boating
- Wildlife viewing
Rocky Mountain National Park Glacier Basin Campground
All campsites at Glacier Basin Campground are available by reservation only through Recreation.gov. To make a reservation, visit www.recreation.gov, use the Recreation.gov Mobile App, or call 1-877-444-6777.
- Amphitheater
- Backpacking
- Biking
- Camping
- Canoeing
- Evening Programs
- Fishing
- Guided Interpretive Walks
Shadow Mountain Lake
Shadow Mountain Dam and Reservoir, Colorado-Big Thompson Project , are on the Colorado River below its confluence with the Grand Lake outlet. Developments include 1 campground with 80 campsites and 2 boat-launch ramps. Good access exists.
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Picnicking
- Recreational Vehicles
- Water sports
Lake Granby
Granby Dam and Lake Granby, features of the Colorado-Big Thompson Project are on the Colorado River near Granby, Colorado. Developments include 260 campsites and 3 boat-launch ramps.
- Biking
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Picnicking
- Recreational Vehicles
- Wildlife viewing
Willow Creek Reservoir
Willow Creek, a tributary on the Colorado River near Granby, Colorado, is diverted by Willow Creek Dam and Canal, features of the Colorado-Big Thompson Project.
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hunting
- Picnicking
- Recreational Vehicles
- Water sports
Medicine Bow-Routt NFs & Thunder Basin NG
to Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests and Thunder Basin National Grassland! Visitor opportunities abound on almost 2.9 million acres of National Forest System lands.
- Biking
- Boating
- Camping
- Climbing
- Fire Lookouts/Cabins Overnight
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Horse Camping
Bear Creek Lake
Bear Creek Dam, the last of three dams built to protect the Denver region from floods, is located on the southwest edge of suburban Lakewood at the confluence of Bear Creek and Turkey Creek.
- Biking
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Horseback riding
- Hotel/Lodge/Resort Privately Owned
- Picnicking
Cherry Creek Lake
Cherry Creek Dam, located at the southeast edge of Denver in Aurora, CO, was the first of the three dams to be built to protect the Denver region from catastrophic South Platte River floodwaters that plagued the area for more than 100…
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Picnicking
- Water sports
- Wildlife viewing
Chatfield Lake
Chatfield Dam, located southwest of Denver on the South Platte River, was the second of three dams built to protect the Denver region from floods.
- Biking
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Horseback riding
- Picnicking
- Water sports
Distances are straight-line miles from downtown Fort Collins. Listings come from Recreation.gov’s federal recreation database; check each official page for hours, fees, fire restrictions and closures before you go.
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Questions
Where is the closest place for boating & paddling near Fort Collins?
Arapaho & Roosevelt National Forests Pawnee NG (USDA Forest Service), about 1 miles northwest of Fort Collins as the crow flies. Next are Horsetooth Reservoir (6 mi) and Carter Reservoir (Carter Lake) (16 mi).
When is the best time for boating & paddling near Fort Collins?
Based on Fort Collins’s average highs, May–September. Conditions at higher elevations can be much cooler.
Who manages these places?
Federal agencies including USDA Forest Service, Bureau of Reclamation, National Park Service. Each listing links to its official page for hours, fees, closures and current conditions.