Horsetooth

Hats off to Larimer County Parks

Horsetooth Reservoir sits just 10 minutes west of downtown Fort Collins, Colorado, in the foothills, and it’s an easy, scenic escape for being so close to town. The reservoir stretches about 6.5 miles when full, surrounded by nearly 1,900 acres of public land, with pull-offs and overlooks along the road that make for some genuinely great mountain and water views.

Both the reservoir and the park take their name from Horsetooth Rock, a distinctive rock formation in the foothills above the water. According to legend, it’s the remains of a giant slain by a chief’s tomahawk thrown down from the heavens. If you want to cool off rather than just look at the view, South Bay and Inlet Bay both have real sandy swim beaches along the shoreline, with restrooms nearby.