Sheldon Lake

Sheldon Lake is a small, accessible urban reservoir in the heart of Fort Collins, sitting on the south end of City Park at roughly 5,000 feet elevation. If you live in northern Colorado and want to fish without driving into the mountains, this lake delivers a surprisingly solid experience just minutes from downtown.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife stocks Sheldon Lake annually with rainbow trout, and the resident warm-water population includes largemouth bass, channel catfish, crappie, and pumpkinseed sunfish. Trout fishing peaks in spring and fall when water temperatures favor stocked rainbows, while bass and catfish action heats up through summer. Night fishing is popular among catfish anglers, who report pulling sizable channel cats from the deeper sections near the south shore. A valid Colorado fishing license is required.

A paved path circles the entire lake, making it a favorite loop for walkers, joggers, and families with strollers. The north shore features a boardwalk that extends over the water, offering good fishing access and close-up views of the resident Canada geese, ducks, and occasional bald eagle sightings that visitors have reported. The full loop around Sheldon Lake covers about 0.7 miles, while the broader City Park Loop trail extends to 1.4 miles.

City Park itself is one of Fort Collins' flagship green spaces, surrounding Sheldon Lake with playgrounds, picnic pavilions, tennis and basketball courts, a public swimming pool, and open fields. Restrooms and drinking water fountains are available throughout the park. The combination of lake access and park amenities makes Sheldon Lake one of the most family-friendly fishing spots in Larimer County.

Public boats of any kind are not permitted on Sheldon Lake. Fishing is shore-based only, which keeps the water calm and the experience simple. The paved shoreline path provides plenty of casting spots, and the lake is small enough that most areas are reachable on foot within minutes.

Sheldon Lake is not a wilderness escape. It sits in an urban park with traffic noise, crowds on nice days, and geese that can be loud and persistent. But for what it offers — easy parking, a short walk to the water, stocked trout, warm-water species, and a scenic loop trail — it is one of the most convenient fishing and walking destinations in the Fort Collins area. Families, beginning anglers, and anyone short on time will find real value here.