Horsetooth Reservoir
General Information and Common QuestionsLake Statistics
During Regular Year During Modernization of Dams Project Shoreline 25 miles Water Surface 2,040 acres 1,105 acres Number of boats which can safely boat on this amount of water 380 150 Surrounding Public Land 2,000 acres over 2,000 acres Length 6.5 miles over 5 miles Deepest point 205 feet 135 feet Capacity (full) 156,735 acre feet 47,142 acre feet Capacity (active) 149,732 acre feet 40,139 acre feet Elevation 5,430 feet 5,360 feet Are you open, and what's available?
Camping: North Inlet Bay Campground: 26 electrical sites
Shoreline Campground: 12 non-electrical sites
Stout Campground: 42 electrical sites, 8 non-electrical sites, 11 walk-in tent sites
Below High Water Camping: 15 designated sites, boat-in camping at the coves
Drinking water and toilets at all campgroundsGroup Use: At South Bay, a reservable area for 100 people, with covered pavilion, horseshoe & volleyball pits, grills. Call 679-4570 to reserve. Boat Ramps: Volunteers along with Parks and Open Lands staff extended two ramps in 2001, at the swimbeach and north of the swimbeach. One ramp can be in use at a time due to traffic patterns. Trails: Horsetooth Mountain Park: 28 miles of hiking, horseback riding, and mountain biking trails two miles west on County Road 38E
Fort Collins Foothills Trail: On the east side of the reservoir. (221-6660)Events: Storytellers, guided nature hikes, guided moonlight hikes, volunteer opportunities. Contact Patricia Brennan, Volunteer Coordinator, 679-4553. Where does the water come from?
Water entering Horsetooth Reservoir is almost entirely from the Colorado-Big Thompson Project, which brings water from the Colorado River Basin on the Western Slope of the Rockies, and conveys it through the Adams Tunnel to the Big Thompson River. Water enters Horsetooth Reservoir via the Charles Hansen Feeder Canal in Inlet Bay.
Where does the water go?
There are two outlets from Horsetooth Reservoir. One at Soldier Canyon Dam supplies the City of Fort Collins Water Treatment Facility, the Soldier Canyon Filter Plant, the Colorado State University Hydraulics Laboratory, and the Dixon Feeder Canal. An outlet at Horsetooth Dam feeds the Charles Hansen Supply Canal, which provides water for irrigation, as well as for municipal use.
What is the Bureau of Reclamation doing to the dams?
Three actions are being performed to modernize all four dams, and bring them to the current state of the art of dam design and construction. First, layers of sand and gravel are being added to each dam, to allow normal seepage through the dams while preventing erosion of the dams themselves. Second, a berm of additional material is being added to the base of each dam, to stabilize it in the case of an earthquake. Finally, a clay blanket will be placed along the bottom of Horsetooth Reservoir near Horsetooth Dam. The blanket will prevent seepage from entering the limestone formation near the dam.
How long will it take?
Construction began in March 2001, and is expected to conclude in late 2003.
How many dams are there?
There are four dams and a dike: Horsetooth Dam and the Satanka Dike enclose the north end of the reservoir. Three dams enclose the east side. They are, from North to South: Soldier Canyon, Dixon Canyon, and Spring Canyon.
When were the dams built?
1946 - 1949
What's that thing in the lake, over by Soldier Canyon Dam?
It's a 350-pound, solar powered, computerized buoy that measures water quality, at various water depths, 24 hours a day. The information is automatically sent to Fort Collins Utilities' water treatment facility where staff can adjust treatment processes as necessary to maintain superior drinking water quality.
How's the fishing...what's happened to the fish...what are plans for the future?
The fish are still there! True story: A fisherman did not want to purchase an annual permit if there weren't any fish in the lake. The park ranger made a deal: the guy could take his boat onto the lake to look for fish with his fish finder before he purchased an annual permit. An hour later, the boat returned to shore. The man walked up and bought annual permits for his truck and his boat.......no more questions asked! The Division of Wildlife will be doing regular stocking of the lake, will be stocking splake, and will also be restocking the prey base.
Are the north end and Satanka open? How about the Marina?
The marina is closed, and, the north end of the reservoir (that includes Satanka Cove, Satanka Dike, and the boat ramp) is closed to the public for recreation. There is no access to the reservoir through private land.
Where do we get gas for our boats?
You'll have to gas up before you get here. Buy fuel in town.
Can we drive OHV's and 4-wheel drives on the shoreline?
No. We continue to protect the reservoir from resource damage. And, we've been reseeding the bottom with native vegetation.
URBAN LEGENDS
What about the Loch Ness monster that lives in Horsetooth?
Even with the lowered water levels, there have been no official sightings of "Nessie." Of course, the lake is still 135 feet deep at its deepest point................
Are there buildings from the old town of Stout under the water?
No, all buildings were removed before the reservoir was filled. A few foundations remain, but those have once again been covered by water.
Last modified: 11/01/2007
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