C-BT Recreation - West Slope
The Colorado-Big Thompson Project's four West Slope reservoirs, Grand Lake and the public lands around them offer many recreational opportunities, including boating, fishing, camping, hiking and winter activities. Northern Water and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation operate the C-BT Project's collection, distribution and power facilities, while several other public agencies manage recreation on and around the reservoirs.
Find photos of C-BT Project reservoirs and other features in the Photo Gallery. Find current C-BT Project reservoir water levels in the Water Data section of the website.
Grand LakeGrand Lake, the largest natural lake in Colorado, is part of the C-BT Project's West Slope collection system. The East Inlet boat ramp is open to the public and shares a parking lot with the East Inlet trailhead. For Grand Lake boating and recreation information, including the East Inlet boat ramp, contact:
Town of Grand Lake
Phone: (970) 627-3435
E-mail: town@townofgrandlake.com
Grand Lake Chamber of Commerce
Phone: (800) 531-1019
E-mail: glinfo@grandlakechamber.com
Rocky Mountain National Park
Phone: (970) 586-1206
Rocky Mountain National Park’s west entrance is seven miles north of Grand Lake. The park has 359 miles of trails, five campgrounds and 200 backcountry campsites. This website includes a park map.
Headwaters Trail Alliance
Phone: 970-726-1013
E-mail: HTA@headwaterstrails.org
The Headwaters Trail Alliance has information about trails throughout Grand County, CO, including trail maps.
Lake Granby, Shadow Mountain & Willow Creek Reservoirs
There are five boat ramps on
Lake Granby,
Shadow Mountain and
Willow Creek reservoirs. For information on boat ramp locations and boat access at all three reservoirs, contact:
Arapaho National Recreation Area
Phone: (970) 887-4100
The Arapaho National Recreation Area covers 36,000 acres and includes several C-BT Project reservoirs in the upper Colorado River basin, as well as picnic areas and
campgrounds.
Arapaho National Forest - Sulphur Ranger District
Phone: (970) 887-4100
The Arapaho National Forest surrounds the C-BT Project's West Slope reservoirs. Seasonal activities include boating, fishing, hiking, camping, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing and snowmobiling. Contact the Sulphur Ranger District for information about the ANRA and Arapaho National Forest lands in Grand County.
Arapaho National Forest Camping
Phone: (970) 887-4100
Arapaho National Recreation Area campgrounds are listed on this website. All seven campgrounds are near/adjacent to C-BT Project reservoirs:
- Lake Granby: Arapaho Bay, Stillwater, Sunset Point, Cutthroat Bay campgrounds
- Shadow Mountain Reservoir: Hilltop, Green Ridge campgrounds
- Willow Creek Reservoir: Willow Creek campground
Continental Divide Trail
The Continental Divide Trail, which runs 3,100 miles between Canada and Mexico, includes more than 13 miles along the eastern shores of Shadow Mountain Reservoir and Lake Granby. The trail can be accessed at the Roaring Fork trailhead near the Arapaho Bay campground at the southeast end of Lake Granby.
Indian Peaks Wilderness Area
Phone: (303) 541-2519
The 76,586-acre Indian Peaks Wilderness Area is located southeast of Lake Granby in the Arapaho and Roosevelt national forests. It is one of the most-visited wilderness areas in the United States due to its proximity to the Denver metro area and Rocky Mountain National Park.
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Green Mountain ReservoirGreen Mountain Reservoir is located on the Blue River 12 miles southeast of Kremmling, CO. For marina information at Green Mountain Reservoir contact:
Heeney Marina
Phone: 970-724-9441
For information about Green Mountain Reservoir's campgrounds, boat ramps, swim beach or the nearby Eagles Nest Wilderness Area, contact the White River National Forest’s Dillon Ranger District:
Dillon Ranger District Website – Camping, Recreation and Regulations
Phone: (970) 468-5400
White River National Forest – Dillon Ranger District Camping
Windy Gap Watchable Wildlife AreaThe Windy Gap Watchable Wildlife Area is located at
Windy Gap Reservoir two miles northwest of Granby, CO on U.S. 40. The viewing area is open May 1 to September 30 and has an information kiosk, interpretive panels and viewing scopes along a handicapped-accessible nature trail.
More than 100 types of birds have been spotted at the viewing area, including herons, pelicans, bald eagles, hawks and falcons. Download the
Windy Gap Watchable Wildlife Area brochure.
Zebra and Quagga Mussels
The Colorado Department of Natural Resources coordinates boat inspections for zebra and quagga mussels. These highly invasive freshwater mollusks have been detected in several C-BT Project lakes and reservoirs.
Zebra and quagga mussels can damage water distribution and recreation facilities by attaching themselves to hard surfaces, such as pipelines and boats. See the Colorado Division of Wildlife's
Mandatory Boat Inspections page for the current status of inspection sites and boating restrictions.