What activities are available at Cheesman Lake?

Cheesman Lake offers Fishing, Fly Fishing, Hiking, Camping, Walking.

What amenities does Cheesman Lake have?

Cheesman Lake has Restrooms, Vault Toilets, Parking, Unpaved Trail.

Where is Cheesman Lake located?

Cheesman Lake is located in Douglas County, Colorado.

Is a permit required at Cheesman Lake?

Permit information is not currently available. Check with the managing agency for current requirements.

Cheesman Lake

reservoir

Douglas County, Colorado

4.0(41 reviews)

About Cheesman Lake

Cheesman Lake is a reservoir in Douglas County managed by Denver Water, sitting within the Pike National Forest about an hour southwest of the Denver metro area. The lake occupies a scenic canyon along the South Platte River, and despite significant burn scars from the 2002 Hayman Fire still visible on the surrounding hillsides, visitors consistently call the scenery beautiful. The reservoir serves as a drinking water source for Denver, which means strict access rules govern what you can and cannot do here.

Fishing is the primary activity at Cheesman Lake, with anglers pulling smallmouth bass, brook trout, brown trout, rainbow trout, and golden trout from the shoreline. There is no boat access of any kind — no kayaks, canoes, or motorized watercraft are allowed on the water. Swimming and any body contact with the water are also prohibited. The fishing season runs from May 1 through September 30, and fishing hours are limited to a half-hour before sunrise to a half-hour after sunset. Rangers actively enforce the sunset closure, so plan your departure accordingly.

Shore fishing access is limited to the west side of the lake, and reaching good fishing spots requires hiking steep, narrow, and sometimes slippery terrain with little to no shade. The Upper Cheesman Trail covers about four miles round-trip and offers relatively flat hiking with reservoir views, ending near the South Platte River where trout are plentiful. Dispersed camping is available on nearby Forest Road 211, and August visitors report finding open spots without much difficulty.

Getting to Cheesman Lake involves a roughly three-mile dirt road that can be rough, with washouts and construction delays possible. Navigation apps sometimes route visitors to closed access roads, including Turkey Creek Road which has a gate, so research your route carefully before heading out. Drone use is banned. The restroom facilities have been described as poorly maintained with no toilet paper. Despite the access challenges and restrictions, Cheesman Lake rewards visitors who come prepared with solitude, clean water, and quality fishing in a dramatic post-fire landscape that is slowly recovering.

Reviews (10)

Farzana Qambari

Very satisfying place

The Martels

This is not the correct route to this lake. So frustrating. Which we would have known beforehand.

Naveen gurung

In the national pikes forest range. Offroad for 3 miles to reach this lake. Nice and beautiful surroundings

Babalao

If you intend to shore fish here, be ready for hard to find, steep, and narrow 3 mile dirt road about 3 or 4 miles from Deckers. (from Denver) Paying attention to the road signs is critical. Lots of road work due to washouts and working crews fixing up rock and mud slides, so be prepared for road stops and delays. Do not even think about coming here without bug spray, the bitting flies will make you regret it and follow you all the way home... The shore fishing access trail has no shade whatsoever, and the steep, slippery terrain is not suitable for the feeble or the weak. The shore looked shallow and was very scummy. Other than that, great...

Jon Whirledge

Very pretty reservoir. Much of the area is burned several years ago. There is decent shade near the water.

Tom Marr

Perfect perspective on the whole dam. Loved to fly fish there could catch Brooke’s browns rainbow and golden trout!

Petar Neykov

It's cheesy

Drew Dixon

Cheesman Lake is a pretty good size lake! The family and I stopped by here on our way home to Douglas County after we went Turkey hunting earlier that morning. What can I say about this reservoir, well the water is rather clean in comparison to other reservoirs I have been to recently. The water doesn't have that green algae growing everywhere yet so that's a plus. The landscape is barren on the West side of the lake from a fire that wiped out a good portion of the trees, and the West side is the only side of the lake you can fish from. So as you can imagine shady fishing spots are slim to none! Don't let my pictures fool you, the lush landscape you see is on the East side of the lake which is private and you will not have access to. Note: you cannot swim nor have any watercraft in this reservoir so fishing is pretty much all you got. My wife went to use the bathroom facilities and she said that they are very dirty with no toilet paper and not maintained which turned her off to coming back here. The best part of our visit was that I caught a small mouth bass about 8" using a spinner! I give this lake a 3 star rating...

Beverly Gollehon

Lonely place. Bathroom was abominable!!

Scott Gohr

Great place, for a afternoon escape, close to home. Slightly cooler than the metro area. Clean well maintained. Friendly people gatherd here this day.