Horsetooth Reservoir

Horsetooth Reservoir sits in the foothills just west of Fort Collins — close enough to ride a bike to from Old Town, dramatic enough to feel like a genuine mountain destination. The 6.5-km reservoir is flanked by red sandstone ridges and offers swimming, paddleboarding, kayaking, sailing, and motorboating from multiple launch points along its shoreline.

The Horsetooth Mountain Open Space above the reservoir has excellent hiking and mountain biking — the climb to the summit offers sweeping views east over Fort Collins and the Front Range plains. On summer weekends the reservoir fills up with a mix of Fort Collins residents and visitors from Denver. Camping is available at several sites along the shore. Water temperatures are cold even in summer — this is a mountain reservoir fed by snowmelt.

things to do nature sight
A story
Horsetooth takes its name from a distinctive rock formation on the ridge above the reservoir — a jagged notch in the skyline that, from the right angle on the plains, does bear a passing resemblance to a horse's tooth. The Arapaho people knew this landmark long before any reservoir existed here.