Carter Lake Reservoir is the kind of place that stops you mid-sentence when you first see it. This 1,100-acre reservoir sits at 5,760 feet in the foothills southwest of Loveland in Larimer County, ringed by red sandstone bluffs and rolling grassland that look nothing like the typical Colorado mountain lake. The drive from Denver takes about an hour, and visitors who make the trip find a full-service recreation area with camping, swimming, boating, fishing, and a marina that keeps the lake accessible to everyone from first-time paddlers to seasoned anglers.
Fishing at Carter Lake produces year-round catches of rainbow trout, cutthroat trout, splake, occasional brown trout, walleye, yellow perch, and largemouth bass. The bass fishing heats up when water temperatures climb above 60 degrees in late spring, while trout anglers do well throughout the cooler months from shore or boat. Three boat ramps provide launch access at the marina, South Shore Campground, and North Pines Campground, and all watercraft must pass an aquatic nuisance species inspection before entering the water. Motorized boats and water skiing are permitted, making Carter one of the few Front Range lakes where you can pull a tube or hit full throttle.
The swim beach on the south shore features soft sand, minimal rocks, and a seasonal snack bar that saves you from packing a cooler. Five campgrounds spread across the property offer more than 150 sites, ranging from primitive tent pads at Carter Knolls and North Pines to electric-hookup sites at Big Thompson and Eagle Campground. The Eagle Campground also houses the only shower facility in the Carter Lake area. Reservations are recommended, especially for summer weekends, and a two-night minimum applies on weekends at most campgrounds.
Larimer County requires an entrance permit for all vehicles entering the park, and camping fees are charged on top of that. The reservation fee is $8.75 per site and is non-refundable, with nightly rates varying by season and site type. Amenities across the park include flush toilets, vault toilets, picnic pavilions, a playground, a fish cleaning station, and a dump station for RVs. The Carter Lake Marina rents boats, sells supplies, and operates a waterside restaurant where you can pull up by boat or car.
The scenery alone sets Carter Lake apart from other reservoirs along the Front Range. The red sandstone formations along the west shore catch the light at sunrise and sunset in ways that make even a routine camping trip feel cinematic. Rock climbing routes on the surrounding bluffs attract climbers, and the paved roads around the lake draw motorcyclists and cyclists for scenic loops. Whether you come for a day trip from Fort Collins or a full week of camping, Carter Lake delivers a range of recreation that few Colorado reservoirs can match.