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Boating Cherry Creek
Sunset over the boats at Cherry Creek Reservoir.

Colorado Boating

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Thanks to great snow, Colorado has many great lakes, lots of which allow boating. Some locations like the Dillon Reservoir have rental boats. If you’re looking for more adrenaline-filled floats, then go river tubing or whitewater rafting.

Gas-Powered Motorized Boating

These lakes have the fewest restrictions and permit boats with gas-powered motors, as well as electric and non-motorized watercraft (some exceptions apply). Most of the boatable lakes are owned by the city, state, or federal government. Sometimes boat rentals are available at a marina.

Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area

Arkansas Headwaters State Park – Leadville-Pueblo

Barr Lake State Park

Barr Lake State Park – Brighton

Bear Creek Lake Park

Bear Creek Lake Park – Lakewood

Image of two people fishing at Beaver Creek Reservoir in South Fork

Beaver Creek Reservoir SWA – South Fork

Image of the Big meadows Reservoir SWA in South Fork, Colorado

Big Meadows Reservoir SWA – South Fork

Boulder Reservoir Colorado Summer

Boulder Reservoir Regional Park – Boulder

Boyd Lake State Park

Boyd Lake State Park – Loveland

Carter Lake Berthoud Colorado Moon Shining

Carter Lake Reservoir – Loveland

Chatfield State Park

Chatfield State Park – Littleton

Cherry Creek State Park

Cherry Creek State Park – Aurora

Cowdrey Lake State Wildlife Area Colorado

Cowdrey Lake SWA – Cowdrey

Crawford State Park

Crawford State Park – Crawford

Miramonte Reservoir, Colorado

Dan Noble SWA – Norwood

Dillon Marina Dillon Reservoir Colorado

Dillon Reservoir Recreation Area – Frisco

Eleven Mile State Park

Eleven Mile State Park – Lake George

Harvey Gap State Park

Harvey Gap State Park – Rifle

Highline Lake State Park

Highline Lake State Park – Loma

Horsetooth Reservoir

Horsetooth Reservoir – Fort Collins

Jackson Lake State Park

Jackson Lake State Park – Orchard

John Martin Reservoir State Park

John Martin Reservoir State Park – Hasty

Kenney Reservoir Rangely Colorado

Kenney Reservoir – Rangely

Lake Catamount, Colorado

Lake Catamount – Steamboat Springs

Lake Meredith Reservoir Crowley County Colorado

Lake Meredith Reservoir – Ordway

Lake Nighthorse Durango Colorado

Lake Nighthorse – Durango

Lake Pueblo State Park

Lake Pueblo State Park – Pueblo

Lathrop State Park

Lathrop State Park – Walsenburg

Lory State Park

Lory State Park – Bellvue

Mancos State Park

Mancos State Park – Mancos

McPhee Reservoir West Side Dolores Colorado

McPhee Reservoir Recreation Area – Dolores

Grand Mesa National Forest Lake

Mesa Lakes – Grand Mesa

Navajo State Park

Navajo State Park – Arboles

North Sterling State Park

North Sterling State Park – Sterling

Pearl Lake State Park

Pearl Lake State Park – Clark

Ridgway State Park

Ridgway State Park – Ridgway

Rifle Gap State Park

Rifle Gap State Park – Rifle

Rio Grande Reservoir, CO

Rio Grande Reservoir – Creede

San Luis State Park

San Luis Lakes SWA – Mosca

Sloan's Lake Park Denver

Sloan’s Lake Park – Denver

Spinney Mountain State Park

Spinney Mountain State Park – Lake George

Stagecoach State Park

Stagecoach State Park – Oak Creek

Standley Lake Westminster Colorado

Standley Lake Regional Park – Westminster

State Forest State Park

State Forest State Park – Walden

Steamboat Lake State Park

Steamboat Lake State Park – Clark

Sweitzer Lake State Park

Sweitzer Lake State Park – Delta

Trinidad Lake State Park

Trinidad Lake State Park – Trinidad

Vallecito Lake Bayfield Colorado

Vallecito Lake – Bayfield

Vega State Park

Vega State Park – Collbran

Wolford Mountain Reservoir, CO

Wolford Mountain Reservoir – Kremmling

Yamcolo Reservoir Yampa Colorado

Yamcolo Reservoir – Yampa

Yampa River State Park

Yampa River State Park – Hayden

Electric-Only Motorized Boating

These lakes prohibit the use of gas-powered motors, but still allow electric motors. Non-motorized watercraft including kayaks and canoes will enjoy these lakes too.

Aurora Reservoir Kayaking Colorado

Aurora Reservoir

Dumont Lake Fall Colors Steamboat Springs CO

Dumont Lake – Steamboat Springs

Electra Lake Colorado

Electra Lake – Durango

Enochs Lake Colorado

Enochs Lake – Fruita

Haviland Lake Colorado

Haviland Lake SWA – Durango

Colorado River State Park

James M. Robb – Colorado River State Park – Clifton

North Lake SWA Stonewall Gap Colorado

North Lake SWA – Weston

Image of the Poudre Ponds in Greeley, Colorado

Poudre Ponds – Greeley

Saint Vrain State Park

Saint Vrain State Park – Firestone

Sylvan Lake State Park

Sylvan Lake State Park – Eagle

Non-Motorized Boating

For standup paddleboards (SUPs), kayaks and canoes, these lakes and reservoirs prevent noisy and fast motorized watercraft, including electric. For those really looking for some peace and tranquility these lakes open to non-motorized wakeless boating only are your best bet.

Alta Lakes at Telluride, CO

Alta Lakes – Telluride

Brush Hollow Reservoir Colorado

Brush Hollow SWA – Penrose

Buckeye Reservoir, CO

Buckeye Reservoir – Paradox

Chapman Reservoir Yampa Colorado

Chapman Reservoir – Yampa

North Delaney Lake SWA Colorado

Delaney Butte Lakes SWA – Walden

Evergreen Lake Marshlands Colorado

Evergreen Lake Park – Evergreen

Fish Creek Reservoir Steamboat Springs CO

Fish Creek Reservoir – Steamboat Springs

Freeman Reservoir Craig CO Aerial View

Freeman Reservoir – Craig

Gross Reservoir, CO

Gross Reservoir – Nederland

Image of the Harper Lake in Louisville, Colorado

Harper Lake – Louisville

Homestake Reservoir, CO

Homestake Reservoir – Leadville

Lake Henry Crowley County Colorado Bird

Lake Henry – Ordway

Lake Irwin, Colorado

Lake Irwin – Crested Butte

Aerial view of the Lemon Reservoir, CO

Lemon Reservoir – Durango

Little Molas Lake, CO

Little Molas Lake – Silverton

Image of the sun setting at Lost Lakes Campground in Paonia, Colorado

Lost Lake Campground – Paonia

Lower Cataract Lake, Summit County Colorado

Lower Cataract Lake – Heeney

Molas Lake Silverton Colorado

Molas Lake – Silverton

Priest Lake, Colorado

Priest Lake – Telluride

Fishing at Quail Lake Colorado Springs

Quail Lake Park – Colorado Springs

Stillwater Reservoir from North Derby Trail near Yampa Colorado

Stillwater Reservoir – Yampa

Trout Lake Ophir Colorado

Trout Lake – Ophir

Image of the Waneka Lake in Lafayette, Colorado

Waneka Lake Park – Lafayette

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Row Boats Grand Lake Colorado
Rowboats on Grand Lake. Photo: Daniel Weber

Whether you own a boat or not, sailing on Colorado’s pristine waters is easy to do. From Colorado’s eastern plains to the highest alpine lakes, you’ll find what you’re looking for in the Centennial State.

The primary boating season occurs between May and October when the warm weather makes for perfect conditions. The further you head south or go down in elevation the longer the boating season lasts.

Boat Lakes and Rentals

Boating can be found year-round in places like Navajo Lake, which runs south into New Mexico for the majority of the lake. Grand Lake is another very popular destination, considered the “Great Lakes of Colorado” because of the five neighboring lakes.

Boats can be rented at most major lakes and marinas. Daily and multi-day rentals are available in everything from wakeless canoes and rowboats to pontoons and high-powered speed boats.

Learn more about boating regulations from the Colorado State and Wildlife.

Boating in Colorado’s parks and wilderness

A variety of city and state parks, as well as federally owned land permit boating in its many lakes and reservoirs.

Arapaho National Recreation Area

Colorado Federal Lands

Confluence Park Delta Colorado

Colorado Public Parks

Roxborough State Park

Colorado State Parks

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