Elevated
Aerial view of Chatfield Reservoir, with a marina, a curved breakwater, and the foothills beyond the water.

Day Trips

Front Range — Central

Chatfield and Cherry Creek. Denver-area water for the days that start and end on the Front Range.

Public water rules change by lake and by season. A name on this page does not mean wakesurfing, ballast, or towing is allowed. Check the agency that manages the water before you launch.

  • Chatfield Reservoir

    The closest real watersports lake to Denver — busy, useful, and worth knowing well.

    Read the guide

  • Cherry Creek Reservoir

    One of the closest public lakes to the Elevated shop in Arvada.

    Read the guide

More water

Other regions

Horsetooth Reservoir at Inlet Bay, with boats in the marina and the red-rock foothills.
Day Trips

Front Range — North

Horsetooth · Boyd · Carter

Lake Pueblo between rocky canyon walls.
Day Trips

Front Range — South

Lake Pueblo

The town of Grand Lake along the shore, with docks and mountains above the water.
Weekenders

Colorado Mountains

Grand Lake · Granby · Steamboat

Sunset over the canyon walls at Alcova Reservoir.
Weekenders

Southern Wyoming

Glendo · Guernsey · Grayrocks · Alcova · Pathfinder

Aerial view of a sandy beach at Lake McConaughy, with boats on the water and campers along the shore.
Weekenders

Nebraska

Lake McConaughy

Aerial view of Lake Nighthorse and its dam, with forested hills around the water.
Weekenders

Southwest Colorado

Vallecito · Navajo · McPhee

A houseboat on Lake Powell at sunset, with sandstone cliffs behind the water.
Adventures

Destination Lakes

Powell · Havasu · Lake Tahoe · Flathead · Table Rock · Ozarks

All destination guides