• Menu
  • Skip to right header navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Uncover Colorado Logo

  • Blog
  • Activities
  • Events
  • Towns
  • Lodging
  • Dining
  • Transport
  • Made in CO
  • Search
  • Blog
  • Activities
  • Events
  • Towns
  • Lodging
  • Dining
  • Transport
  • Made in CO
  • Search
Pinewood Reservoir, CO
Pinewood Reservoir. Photo: Kimon Berlin

Pinewood Reservoir – Loveland

FacebookTwitter

Above Loveland, Colorado the Pinewood Reservoir occupies 100 acres of water within Larimer County’s Ramsay-Shockey Open Space. The scenic reservoir is easy to access from the front range, making it extremely popular for fishing, camping, and enjoying the great outdoors.

Pinewood Reservoir History

In 1952, the Pinewood Reservoir was completed as part of the Colorado-Big Thompson Project, which diverts water from west of the Great Continental Divide to the cities in Colorado’s Front Range. To create the reservoir, water was diverted through the Olympus, Pole Hill and Rattlesnake Tunnels from Lake Estes to the proposed site. The project cost a total of $1.2 million dollars.

Originally, the reservoir was known as “Rattlesnake Reservoir,” until the name was changed to Pinewood Reservoir in 1966. In 1997, the 177 acres of land adjacent to the reservoir was purchased by Larimer County. This established the Ramsay-Shockey Open Space in order to safely expand the area’s recreational activities while providing ongoing protection for native wildlife habitats.

Activities at Pinewood Reservoir

Pinewood Reservoir, CO
Pinewood Reservoir, CO. Photo: Brendan Bombaci

With 3 miles of shoreline so close to Denver, Fort Collins, and Loveland, Pinewood Reservoir attracts many outdoor enthusiasts taking part in a variety of activities.

Boating: Wakeless, non-motorized boats are permitted on Pinewood Reservoir. The lake is popular for kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, and canoes. To launch, visitors can use the boat ramp which is located near the campground on the reservoir’s eastern shore.

Camping: There are 27 campsites operated by the Larimer County Department of Natural Resources at Pinewood Reservoir. There is running water, toilets, 16 RV electric sites and 11 non-electric walk-in tent sites. Campers are permitted to stay for 14 days out of every 30 day period and reservations can be made ahead of time online.

Read about the Camping near Loveland and Fort Collins. 

Fishing: Pinewood Reservoir is extremely popular for trout fishing among anglers with a valid Colorado fishing license. In addition to Rainbow, Brown, Lake, and Snake River cutthroat trout, stocked Tiger Muskies can also be caught here. Fishing can be done along the shore, or from a boat on the water. Although the area is open year round, ice fishing is strictly prohibited in Pinewood Reservoir.

Pinewood Reservoir, CO
Pinewood Reservoir. Photo: Kimon Berlin

Hiking & Mountain Biking: There are hiking and mountain biking opportunities at the Pinewood Reservoir along the Ramsay-Shockey and Blue Mountain trails. Visitors have the option of circumnavigating the reservoir or heading up the Shoshone Trail for a higher elevation view of the area.

Horseback Riding: There are a few horseback riding outfitters located near the Pinewood, Flatiron, and Crater Lake reservoirs. The area is popular for new and expert trail riding.

Picnicking: There are multiple day use areas equipped with picnic tables and restrooms around the Pinewood Reservoir. Alcoholic beverages are prohibited in the day-use areas.

Swimming: Swimming & cliff diving is prohibited in Pinewood Reservoir.

Details

Address: Pole Hill Rd, Loveland, CO 80537

Phone: 970-619-4570

Season: Year Round

Hours: 24/7, Quiet Hours Observed: 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.

Fees: Entrance Fees & Camping Fees

Maps: Pinewood Reservoir Trail Map 2019 (PDF)

Campground: Reservations

Website: larimer.org/naturalresources/parks/pinewood-reservoir

Primary Sidebar

Join our Colorado travel community

Enter your email below and grab our free locals' guide and monthly what's up designed to help you live your Colorado life and uncover fun things to do. —and never miss out again.

Colorado Public Parks

  • All Public Parks
  • Acacia Park
  • America the Beautiful Park
  • Aurora Reservoir
  • Barker Meadow Reservoir
  • Bear Creek Lake
  • Bear Creek Regional Park
  • Benson Sculpture Garden
  • Berkeley Lake Park
  • Boulder Reservoir Regional Park
  • Central Park – Denver
  • Chautauqua Park
  • Cheesman Park
  • City Park
  • Civic Center
  • Confluence Park Delta
  • Confluence Park Denver
  • Coyote Ridge Natural Area
  • Cuchara Mountain Park
  • Daniels Park
  • Devil’s Backbone Open Space
  • Dillon Reservoir
  • Echo Lake
  • Evergreen Lake
  • Fountain Creek Regional Park
  • Four Corners
  • Garden Of The Gods
  • Georgetown Lake
  • Grand Lake
  • Green Mountain
  • Horsetooth Mountain Open Space – Fort Collins
  • Horsetooth Reservoir
  • Island Grove Regional Park
  • Jeff Co Open Space
  • Keystone Lake
  • Lake Estes
  • Lake Nighthorse
  • Lake San Cristobal
  • Maxwell Natural Area
  • McIntosh Lake
  • Memorial Park
  • Monument Lake
  • Mount Falcon Park
  • North Cheyenne Cañon Park
  • North Slope Recreation Area
  • North Table Mountain Park
  • Paint Mines Interpretive Park
  • Palmer Lake Recreation Area
  • Palmer Park
  • Philip S. Miller Park
  • Pine Valley Ranch Park
  • Pineridge Natural Area
  • Pinewood Reservoir
  • Red Fox Meadows Natural Area
  • Red Mountain Open Space
  • Red Rock Canyon Open Space
  • Red Rocks Amphitheatre and Park
  • Reservoir Ridge Natural Area
  • Rifle Mountain Park – Rifle
  • Rimrock Open Space
  • Sloan’s Lake
  • Standley Lake
  • Summit Lake Park
  • Telluride Town Park
  • Ute Valley Park
  • Vallecito Lake
  • Wash Park
  • Westminster City Park
  • Williams Fork Reservoir
  • Waterton Canyon
  • Wolford Mountain Reservoir

Footer

Get In Touch

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Write For Us
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Resources
Facebook Instagram Pinterest Twitter

Disclosure: Uncover Colorado is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

Things To Do

  • Travel Blog
  • Colorado Activities
  • Colorado Events
  • Colorado Towns
  • Colorado Hotels
  • Colorado Restaurants
  • Colorado Transportation
  • Made in Colorado

Visit Mile High Happy Hour for Denver neighborhoods' restaurant happy hours.

Winter Activities

  • Camping
  • Cross Country Skiing
  • Federal Lands
  • Hot Springs
  • Ice Skating
  • Skiing and Snowboarding
  • Snow Tubing
  • State Parks

Vacation like a VIP! Leisurely Lifestyle shares life and travel hacks, as well as cheap luxury travel.

Copyright © 2021 · Uncover Colorado - Vacations, Travel & Tourism | Sitemap | Privacy Policy | Disclaimer