Horsetooth Reservoir reservoir
Horsetooth Reservoir
Horsetooth Reservoir is a popular recreational area in Colorado, located west of Fort Collins. The reservoir was constructed in 1949 by the Bureau of Reclamation for irrigation purposes, and it has since become a significant source of water for the region. Horsetooth Reservoir is fed by several streams, including Spring Creek and the Cache la Poudre River, which provide the majority of the surface flow. Additionally, snowpack from the surrounding mountains contributes to the reservoir's water levels. The reservoir is used for various recreational activities, such as camping, boating, fishing, and hiking. The water is also used to irrigate agricultural land in the area, supporting the local farming industry.
Daily levels at Horsetooth Reservoir
Storage volume, pool elevation, and total release plotted from the operating agency's daily observations.
Storage
acre-ft · code 17
Pool Elevation
ft · code 49
Plan around the weather
Same NOAA / yr.no feed Snoflo's iOS app uses. Watch the precipitation column on the meteogram -- rain on the basin upstream typically lifts inflow 24-72 hours later.
Next 5 days, hour by hour
Temperature line with weather symbols on top, snow + rain accumulation as columns, humidity as a dotted line.
5-day forecast table
Every 3 hours, broken out across temperature, snow, rain, humidity, and wind. Each cell is colour-coded relative to the column min/max.
| Time | Condition | Temp (°F) | Snow (in) | Rain (in) | Humidity (%) | Wind (mps) | Wind dir |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading detailed forecast… | |||||||
15-day temperature & precipitation
Daily temperatures, snow, and rain projected over the next two weeks.
Nearby streamflow gauges
USGS streamgauges around Horsetooth Reservoir -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Cache La Poudre R A Mo Of Cn | 417 cfs | → |
| Cache La Poudre River At Fort Collins | 237 cfs | → |
| Cache La Poudre R Ab Boxelder C | 226 cfs | → |
| Buckhorn Creek Near Masonville | 21 cfs | → |
| North Fork Cache La Poudre R. At Livermore | 8 cfs | → |
| Big Thompson River At Loveland | 73 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Horsetooth Reservoir.
⚓ Boat launches
- Boat Ramp Larimer County
- Filter Plant River Access Point (Put-In)
- Bridges River Access Point (Take-Out)
- Bridges River Access Point (Take-Out #2)
- Bridges River Access Point (Put-In)
- Pineview River Access Point (Put-In, Take-Out)
⛺ Campgrounds
- Inlet Bay - Horsetooth Reservoir
- South Bay - Horsetooth Reservoir
- Ansel Watrous Campground
- Ansel Watrous
- Boyd Lake State Park
- Stove Prairie Campground
🎣 Fishing spots
- Watson Lake
- Horsetooth Reservoir
- Ft. Collins City Park
- Sheldon Lake (City Park)
- North Shields Ponds
- Avery Pond
🛶 Paddle runs
More paddle runs →Track Horsetooth Reservoir in the Snoflo app
Save this reservoir as a favorite and set push alerts when storage crosses a threshold (e.g. "alert me at 80% of normal").
About Horsetooth Reservoir
Where does the data for Horsetooth Reservoir come from?
Daily storage, pool elevation, and release rates are sourced from USGS, USBR, and USACE monitoring stations. Weather forecast comes from NOAA / yr.no -- the same feed Snoflo's iOS app uses.
How often is the report updated?
Storage observations are updated daily by the operating agency. The 15-day weather forecast refreshes throughout the day. Snoflo caches and renders the most recent observation -- check the "as of" timestamp on the storage card.
What does the Hazard hazard rating mean?
The Corps of Engineers' hazard potential classification grades probable consequences if the dam fails: High = probable loss of human life; Significant = no probable loss of human life but possible economic loss / environmental damage; Low = no probable loss of human life, only minor economic / environmental losses. See the Dam Data Reference card above for the full definitions.
What's "% of normal"?
The current storage value compared to the historical average storage on this calendar day. 100% = right on average; values above 100% mean above-normal storage (wet year); values below mean below-normal (dry year or drought).
Can I get alerts when storage crosses a threshold?
Yes -- alerts are managed in the Snoflo iOS app. Favorite this reservoir, set a threshold, and you'll get a push the moment conditions cross.
Other water bodies near here
Snoflo-tracked reservoirs and dams within driving distance of Horsetooth Reservoir.