If you visit Fort Collins, you must check out Horsetooth Reservoir. From Harmony and Taft Hill Road turn west onto County Road 38E. Continue on 38 until you reach the Horsetooth Mt. 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). Check to see traffic at the South Shore Boat Ramp before you come. Open front door, walk about 50 feet, you’re there. Here are EIGHT THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW about Horsetooth Reservoir, located on the outskirts of Fort Collins: 1. Collection of firewood, including cutting of trees and branches, is not allowed. Horsetooth Mountain Open Space Trails can be accessed through the park’s trails. 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. Ice is UNSAFE due to fluctuating water levels. The roads and parking lots at Carter Lake and Horsetooth Reservoir will get a nearly $12 million boost within the coming years. Alcohol is only allowed in campsites and on boats. If you need to report a crime or ask a police related question, please call the Larimer County Sheriff's Office at 970-416-1985. (Hermit Park closes for the season December 20 - March 1), A permit to camp is required for each campsite for each night (. The best vantage point to see this shape is Horsetooth Road in downtown Fort Collins. It's located west of Fort Collins, Colorado, at an elevation of 5,420 feet. The center's hours are: The entrance to South Bay (including campground, Group Pavilion, and swim beach) is at the south end of the reservoir. Parking . A few weeks later, I returned to Horsetooth Reservoir to finish up the Foothills Trail and the other remaining short trails. The reservoir sits in the foothills just west of Fort Collins, Colorado, and offers nearly 20 miles of shoreline. It normally fluctuates up to 60 feet, with the lowest water being in mid September, excluding drought and excessive rain years. Horsetooth Reservoir water elevation is 5,430 feet full and 5,341 feet empty At six-and-a-half miles long and half a mile wide, the reservoir provides ample, shallow coves that make fishing smallmouth bass a favorite. Immediate Vicinity Horsetooth Mountain Park. Effective November 1, 2020 - February 28, 2021, same day, Between November - February 2021, same day reservations at Horsetooth Reservoir and Hermit Park must still be done at the park. Add to Favorites. Watch for signs. Open Space entrance, parking lot, and trailhead. Find First Available Date. Want to go camping but don't feel like trekking up I-70 or dealing with the mountains? When the parking lot is full, boats may no longer be launched until space becomes available. The reservoir gets its name from a Native American legend in which a giant, slain by Chief Maunamoku with a tomahawk from the heavens, turned into a stone formation now known as Horsetooth Rock. This large reservoir has excellent structure for anglers to explore. Becoming airborne while crossing a wake too close to another vessel. Six and one-half miles of water beckon visitors to come out and play! Horsetooth Reservoir, Colorado - Campsites, Cabins & Lodging. The northernmost parking lot on the east side of the reservoir does not require payment to … This place has 2 boat launches and plenty of reserve camp spots and a bunch of nice boat only camping areas. Lots of questions being a newbie to town. Horsetooth Mountain (also refered to as Horsetooth Rock by the locals) is a small mountain that sits just 15 minutes outside of Fort Collins. On the west side of Fort Collins, Horsetooth Reservoir County Park stretches over 1,900 acres from Lory State Park at the base of the Rocky Mountain foothills to Horsetooth Mountain. 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. Same day camping reservations are allowed during regular business hours. The scenic 2,711-acre Horsetooth Mountain Open Space has 29 miles of hiking, biking, and horseback riding trails and is just across the street from Horsetooth Stoop. 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. Hiking Project is built by hikers like you. Boats entering Horsetooth Reservoir must be inspected for aquatic nuisance species (ANS), which limits boating to specific hours. Turn left (west) continuing on Harmony Road for 7 miles where it becomes County Road 38E at the Taft Hill Road intersection. Sorry I have been posting on here a ton lately. Visitors have the best chance of getting a space if they plan to arrive before 10 a.m. or after 4 p.m. If you visit Fort Collins, you must check out Horsetooth Reservoir. Take I-25 north to the Harmony Road/Timnath exit (#265). With more than 8,000 miles of rivers and 2,000 lakes, Colorado has a lot to offer in the way of fishing, but Horsetooth Reservoir keeps rising to the top when it comes to the best spots to reel one in. Because Horsetooth mountain dominates the western horizon o… If you visit Fort Collins, you must check out Horsetooth Reservoir. Amazing Sunsets, Biking, Boating and More at The Horsetooth Stoop! Horsetooth Mountain, Hermit Park and Ramsay-Shockey open spaces $9/vehicle Daily entrance permits are available at entrance stations and self-serve stations prior to entering the parks, at the Natural Resources Administrative Offices , the Horsetooth Area Information Center and at nearby retail outlets . Categories appear once the search form is submitted. INRIX receives parking information, including pricing, from many sources. Book online for as low as $5 to save time & money when you park. This place has 2 boat launches and plenty of reserve camp spots and a bunch of nice boat only camping areas. Codes, Policies, Ordinances & Resolutions, {{ vm.round(vm.lat,4) }},{{ vm.round(vm.lon,4) }}, Funding for my Project/Organization (GOAL), {{ vm.getLength(r.meta.length.display_value) }}, {{ vm.getElev(r.meta.max_elevation.value,r.meta.min_elevation.value) | number: 0 }} ft, March-October: 9 AM - 4 PM, 7 days a week, November-February: 9 AM - 4 PM, Monday-Friday. Follow the directions above to the Horsetooth Reservoir South Bay entrance. Beautiful scenery, close to town, and plenty of parking really make this place a Fort Collins jem. Horsetooth Reservoir: Great place to ride road or mountain bikes - See 33 traveler reviews, 14 candid photos, and great deals for Fort Collins, CO, at Tripadvisor. Map of Facilities. At the fork in the road at the reservoir, head straight (bear left) following the signs to Horsetooth Mt. Horsetooth Reservoir generally fills during the winter and spring. Cliff diving or jumping in the water is extremely dangerous and prohibited in all areas. Seasonal closures will begin in October, weather-dependent. (Call 970-619-4570 for more information on same day reservations.) Beautiful scenery, close to town, and plenty of parking really make this place a Fort Collins jem. For specifics, ask a ranger or see a kiosk for a copy of the Regulations. Parking Info & Fees. Add Your Photos. 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