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10 Best Lakes in Colorado

Colorado is a landlocked state, but that doesn鈥檛 mean we lack a place to dip our toes to cool off during the summer. Colorado is home to more than 4,000 bodies of water, both natural and man-made, from high alpine lakes that require a hike through the backcountry to massive reservoirs outside major cities like Boulder and Denver.

The lakes in Colorado create endless recreational opportunities or all sorts of water sports, from sailing to boating to jet skiing. Fishing as you absorb all the natural beauty during summer and ice-fishing during winter. Here is a list of the 10 best lakes in Colorado;

1. Grand Lake

Grand Lake – Flickr

Grand Lake was formed by glacial activity near the headwaters of the Colorado River, which occurred from 30000 BP (before present) to 10000 BP. The glacial terminal moraine created a natural dam. Natural tributaries to the lake are the North Inlet and East Inlet, both of which flow out of Rocky Mountain National Park, which surrounds the lake on three sides.

The Lake has a surface area of 507 acres (205 ha), a maximum depth of 389 ft (119 m), an elevation of 8,367 ft (2,550 m), approximately 4 miles of shoreline and a total water volume of 68,621 acre鈰協t (84,643,000 m3).

Grand Lake is the largest and deepest natural lake in Colorado. The Lake was named Spirit Lake by the Ute Tribe because they believed the lake’s cold waters to be the dwelling place of departed souls.

The “Western Gateway” to Rocky Mountain National Park, Grand Lake has something for everyone from swimming, Kayaking, paddling, rowing and fishing.

2. Lake Granby

Lake Granby – Flickr

Lake Granby is an alpine lake that was created by the erection of Granby Dam, completed in 1950, as part of the Bureau of Reclamation’s Colorado-Big Thompson Project with 40 miles of shoreline. It is the third-largest body of water in Colorado, with 7,256 surface acres of water.

One of the best fishing lakes in Colorado, Lake Granby is popular with anglers and is continually stocked with rainbow trout and kokanee salmon. Other recreational activities include enjoy miles of snowmobile trails surrounding the lake in the winter, or kayaking or boating against a backdrop of the Continental Divide and the famous high-elevation Lake Granby Yacht Club鈥檚 race series during the summer.

3. Lake San Cristobal

Lake San Cristobal – Flickr

Lake San Cristobal is actually a natural dam that was formed 700 years ago by a massive rock slide of partially decomposed volcanic rock called the Slumgullion Slide. Located in the San Juan Mountains in the Rio Grande National Forest of southwest Colorado.

It is the second-largest natural lake in Colorado measuring 2.1 miles (3.4 km) long, up to 89 feet (27 m) deep, has a surface area of 0.52 square miles (1.3 km2), at an elevation of 9,003 feet (2,744 m) and holds about 11,000 acre-feet (14,000,000 m3) of water.

The name San Crist贸bal means Saint Christopher in the Spanish language. The Lake San Cristobal is full of trout and is popular for fishing, boating, kayaking, and canoeing. At the south end of the lake, in the Red Gulch Day Use Area, there鈥檚 even pavilions and picnic tables for scenic parties and gatherings.

4. Steamboat Lake

Steamboat Lake – Flickr

One of the three lakes in Colorado to carry a gold medal designation is Steamboat Lake. The lake is actually a reservoir, created in 1967-68, and covers about 1050 acres. Located in northwestern Colorado, north of the town of Steamboat Springs.

With its scenic view of Hahn鈥檚 Peak rising up in the background, it offers year-round recreation opportunities. During winter, when the lake freezes over, it is popular with ice-fishing enthusiasts. In summer, activities range from jet skiing and fishing to boating, canoeing, and stand up paddleboarding. There are also hiking trails around the lake and opportunities for horseback riding and mountain biking.

5. Shadow Mountain Lake

Shadow Montain Lake – Flickr

Shadow Mountain Lake is a high-elevation reservoir sandwiched between Grand Lake and Lake Granby. It was created by Shadow Mountain Dam and water storage began in 1947. The creation of Shadow Mountain Lake was authorized by the Colorado-Big Thompson bill, passed in 1937 which also created the Colorado-Big Thompson Project.

The dramatic peaks of the Rocky Mountains in the background provide a beautiful scenic view. The Lake has great fishing, including brown trout, rainbow trout, and salmon. There are also opportunities for fly-fishing on many of the surrounding creeks or the Colorado River. Boating is popular in summer, as well as jet skiing, waterskiing, sailing, and kayaking.

6. Manitou Lake

Manitou Lake – Flickr

Manitou Lake is a 5-acre reservoir north of Woodland Park in Teller County, Colorado. The reservoir’s earthen dam was built in 1937 and impounds Trout Creek. It鈥檚 one of the closest bodies of water to Colorado Springs and makes a great summer getaway.

It is an easy, four-mile loop hike to Monarch Lake in the Indian Peaks Wilderness, just south of Rocky Mountain National Park by the town of Granby.

Manitou is famous for its fish, which include bass, perch, whitefish, pike and pickerel, but most notably, lake trout and ling. Other recreational opportunities include non-motorized boating activities like kayaking, canoeing and stand-up paddleboarding.

7. Two Rivers Lake

Two Rivers Lake – Flickr

Two Rivers Lake is a subalpine lake at the headwaters of Mill Creek, just below the Continental Divide. The lake is a twin to Lake Helene, which lies over a rise at the headwaters of Fern Creek. The lake can be accessed via the Fern Lake or Bear Lake trails. Bear Lake is the easier of the two and is 5.6 miles round-trip.

At an elevation of 10,620 feet Two Rivers Lake is considered to be one of Rocky Mountain National Park鈥檚 most gorgeous lakes as on a clear day, the lake is like a mirrored glass with the 12,129-foot Notchtop Mountain reflected in the shallow water.

8. Slaon鈥檚 Lake

Slaon’s Lake – Flickr

Sloan’s Lake, also known as Sloan Lake and Sloans Lake, is the central feature of Sloan’s Lake Park. The true history of the creation of Sloan Lake may never be officially known, but homesteader Thomas Sloan acquired the parcel in 1866 and began to improve it for agriculture. Sloan dug a well for irrigation, inadvertently tapping into an aquifer. Within days, his land was flooded by a large lake, often referred to as 鈥淪loan鈥檚 Leak.鈥�

Penny Island, a mostly barren 67,396 square foot island, is found at the center of the lake. Recreational activities within the lake include fishing and boating.

9. Crater Lake

Crater Lake – Flickr

Crater Lake is a clear, natural body of water located in the Maroon Bells Snowmass Wilderness outside of Aspen, Colorado. The Lake can be reached via a heavily-trafficked out and back hiking trail, about two miles from the Maroon Lake parking lot in the White River National Forest. At an elevation of 692-feet, the lake fluctuates in size before ultimately drying up in October each year.

Backed by the purple-hued Maroon Bell peaks that rise regally behind it and are mirrored in its glassy surface, Crater Lake is easily one of Colorado’s most stunning natural tableaus. To add to its beauty, in early October, the aspen trees surrounding Crater Lake turn golden.

10. Dream Lake

Dream Lake – Flickr

Dream Lake is a high alpine lake located in Rocky Mountain National Park in northern Colorado, located east of the continental divide. The lake is accessed via the popular Bear Lake trail head and is at the base of Hallett’s Peak

In the early morning hours, Dream Lake is a vision straight out of a fairy tale, with the sun turning its surface pink and purple.