Things to do / Travel Guide
The eastern Colorado and Wyoming Rockies region is known for its excellent whitewater kayaking, but there are also plenty of top-notch rivers and creeks for paddling and sea kayaking. Those rivers on which you can sea kayak as well, are the South Platte River near Denver and the Cache la Poudre River near Fort Collins. There are many starting and stopping points on these rivers, and because of the region's centrality in kayaking and paddling, there is no shortage of outfitter choices in the major cities nearby. These outfitters can tell you where the calm waters are, and if it's whitewater you're after the choice is much larger.
Boulder, Colorado Kayaking and Paddling
Near Boulder, you can kayak or paddle in the summertime in Gross Reservoir on South Boulder Creek. The whole reservoir is open for use, and while you can see plenty of other kayaks and canoes tied up at the boathouse, it's a large place, so you can find your own spot for peace and quiet. The lake is formed like the spiked tail of a serpent, and there are a number of wide to narrow inlets for you to explore.
Fort Collins-area Kayaking and Paddling
There is beautiful kayaking and canoeing all around Fort Collins as well, on Horsetooth Reservoir to the west, and on the many reservoirs to the north. These reservoirs provide for the entire region's drinking water needs, irrigation, and hydroelectric power. On the Horsetooth there are three boat ramps, but the easiest access is from the northern and the southern ones. In the Arapaho Bend Natural Area, a series of linked lakes, you can see bass, yellow perch, and pumpkinseed fish in the water. Raccoons, beavers, rabbits, cormorants, skunks, and snapping turtles run, hide, and burrow along the shore.
There are also nice areas to kayak and paddle along the Cache la Poudre River. The river is known more for its whitewater, but closer to and within Fort Collins you can also find areas for flat water kayaking. You can paddle upstream or downstream, and some portions are above timberline, giving you stunning views of the mountains.
Another beautiful area to explore in your kayak or canoe is near the Redfeather Lakes, and in particular Dowdy Lake, the largest of these mountain lakes. It's an hour's drive from Fort Collins, and you get there by taking State Road 14 west (Redfeather Lakes Road). You get great Rocky Mountain scenery, and the shores are lined with aspen, pine, and spruce.
South of Fort Collins, nearer to Loveland, there are more reservoirs for you to kayak in, such as Lonetree Reservoir, Boyd Lake, and Carter Lake Reservoir. These lakes feature numerous bays where you can explore the shores. Herons and pelicans make their homes on these lakes; in the evening, the sun iridescently colors the waters and silhouettes the mountains as it sets.
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