Horse Creek Reservoir

Horse Creek Reservoir is a plains reservoir in Adams County, Colorado, located northeast of the Denver metro area near the rural outskirts of the Front Range. With a 2.5-star rating driven largely by access confusion, this reservoir has a complicated reputation: members of the private gun club that controls much of the shoreline praise it as an incredible hidden gem, while many visitors arrive only to discover that access is restricted and leave frustrated.

Access at Horse Creek Reservoir is the single most important thing to understand before visiting. Large portions of the reservoir are controlled by a private gun club, with no trespassing signs posted throughout. Membership in the club reportedly involves a multi-year waiting list, with one visitor noting a nine-year wait. However, some public access does exist, and visitors who find the open areas report a quality fishing experience with relatively uncrowded conditions. Verify current access rules before making the drive, as online information has historically been unreliable and many visitors have wasted an hour or more traveling to the reservoir without knowing about the restrictions.

For those who can access the water, fishing at Horse Creek Reservoir is legitimately productive. The reservoir holds an impressive variety of species including blue catfish, crappie, wiper, walleye, carp, and drum. Depths range from 4 to 18 feet with submerged timber providing excellent fish habitat. Large carp exceeding 24 inches are visible swimming alongside boats, and the variety of warmwater species makes this an unusual fishery for the Front Range plains. Boat fishing is effective given the structure and depth variation throughout the reservoir.

Facilities are minimal and rough. Two boat ramps exist — one for low water and one for high water — but there is no dock or tie-up pole, so boaters typically beach their craft on the sandy shore or on the ramp itself. Public restrooms are available but have been reported as extremely poorly maintained, with visitors recommending bringing your own toilet paper and hand sanitizer. There is no concession, no drinking water, and no developed recreation area.

Horse Creek Reservoir sits on the open plains, so expect wind exposure, limited shade, and full sun. The reservoir is relatively easy to reach by road from the Denver metro area, making it geographically convenient even if access logistics are complicated. For those with club membership or verified public access, this is a surprisingly productive warmwater fishery with the kind of species diversity that is hard to find this close to Denver.