Colorado, known for it’s breath taking mountains which make for the ultimate skiing experience in the winter. Many, may wonder, “is there anything to see in the summertime besides the mountains”. Well, you’re in luck because when the ice is gone and all the snow has melted away, Colorado has some of the most beautiful lakes with a mountain scenery. Near and far from main cities, there are a bunch of lakes you, your family, travel group, or partner can go to visit during your visit to Colorado. Let’s take a look in closer detail of some of Colorado’s top lakes.
Grand Lake
For starters, let’s start with the Grand Lake. The Grand Lake, which was originally called Spirit Lake, is located about 98 miles from the Mile High City, Denver. The Grand Lake is the largest and deepest natural lake with more than 500 acres and reaching a depth of approximately 400 feet. It was called the Spirit Lake because it was a sacred place for the Ute tribe, native to Colorado. However, the summertime isn’t the only time you should visit the Grand Lake, you should definitely check it out in the winter. In the winter time the Grand Lake is used for ice fishing! In addition to ice fishing, visitors can also enjoy some of the nearby local carnivals, and a variety of other ice sports! In the summer you can enjoy the scenery of beautiful mountains while you either go hiking, canoeing, fishing, boating, or sightseeing. You can also stay at a cabin at the Grand Lake Lodge to really take in the whole experience.
Emerald Lake
Another amazing lake within the Rocky Mountain National Park is Emerald Lake. Emerald Lake is just 4 miles away from the Bear Lake trail and had proven to be a very popular hike in the Rocky Mountain National Park. Because of it’s popularity, it can get quite busy and crowded, so it’s always advised to plan your hiking trip earlier in the day to avoid unwanted crowds, and noise, and to really enjoy that peaceful experience with nature. If you were ever so interested in spending the night in the woods, there’s campgrounds very close by Emerald Lake. There’s campgrounds for you to rent at Moraine Park, Glacier Basin, and on the east side of the Rocky Mountain National Park.
Boulder Reservoir
The wonderful Boulder Reservoir is really a unique lake not just in Colorado but in the USA. it provides a drinking water area an also a wide array of activities for travelers and locals to partake in. The Boulder Reservoir is located around 5 miles northeast of Boulder which makes it easy to ge to especially if you have a hotel in Boulder. In the summertime, you can enjoy different watercraft activities such as rowboating, powerboating, kayaking or sailboating. You can also bring your bathing suits and go for a swim in one of the designated areas only. If ever you’ve had enough hiking and swimming for one day, you can always enjoy the city life in Boulder City.
Hanging Lake
If you’re anywhere near or in Aspen, and you want to see a lake, you’ll want to head on over to hanging lake. Hanging Lake is around 50 miles north of Aspen and is located near the historic Hotel Colorado in Glenwood Springs which was made back in 1893. Hanging Lake is a slightly green lake and is located on a cliff from the Bridal Veil Falls. The lake has a lot of restrictions as there are no fishing, dogs, drones, or swimming allowed. You’re not even allowed to have any contact with the water. In the peak season, you’ll need to make a reservation for an allotted time slot, and pay for a permit.
Shadow Mountain Lake
If you want to fish for brown and rainbow trout and salmon then Shadow Mountain Lake is a lake you have to go. In order to take advantage of the fishing you can do, you’ll need a Colorado fishing license. You are also able to do power boating, jet skiing, kayaking, and canoeing. If you’re looking for a more authentic experience, you can camp at one of the many noelectric sites at Green Ridge Campground on the south side of the lake. Or you can also stay at the Black Bear Lodge, as well.
Horsetooth Reservoir
If you’re in Fort Collins, you should head on down to Horsetooth Reservoir. The Horsetooth Reservoir was named after a Native American Legend, and today the reservoir is a popular recreational spot for Colorado State University students and local residents to take a break from the city life. It’s a great place to go especially in the summertime, where you can go and escape the city life. At Horsetooth Reservoir, you’re allowed to go fishing, scuba diving, boating, swimming, paddleboarding, hiking, horseback riding, and more! You can also camp at the Horsetooth Reservoir and there are also boat campsites on the water, but in any case, there are plenty of hotels nearby.
Conclusion:
All in all whether you’re coming to Colorado to visit or you live here, Colorado’s got some amazing lakes. Of course, you’ll want to come in the summertime to enjoy the full extent of the water and camping activities that these lakes have to offer. However, in the winter time, there are some winter activities you can also partake in as well, if the weather permits. One of the best lakes to visit is the Grand Lake. The reason is because the Grand Lake is the largest and deepest natural lake with more than 500 acres and reaches a depth of approximately 400 feet. If you’d prefer to jet ski and take advantage of other amazing water activities, Boulder Reservoir would be for you. In the summertime at Boulder Reservoir, you can enjoy activities such as rowboating, powerboating, kayaking, sailboating, or even swim in a designated area. Although in this article only a handful of lakes were mentioned, there are many more lakes and campsites for you to explore in the grand state of Colorado. If you’re in need of a ride, Epic Limo Vail offers the best Denver airport limo service in Colorado, and we can bring you where you need to go.
