Horsetooth Reservoir

The construction of the reservoir inundated some of the community of Stout. Prior to construction, the majority of the town moved to a location that today surrounds Horsetooth's South Bay, but a few building foundations, including that of the old school house, are now under water. The reservoir has a capacity of , a total shoreline of 25 miles (40 km). The reservoir is located roughly at . In recent history the reservoir has experienced relatively low water levels; however, in June 2014, it reached 98.6% of its capacity, the highest it had been in four years. ==Dams==

Horsetooth Reservoir was created by the construction of four separate large earthen dams, all completed in 1949 and all modernized with a seismic retrofit in 2000-2004. The four dams, listed from north to south, are: • Horsetooth Dam, which closes the northern end of the reservoir, with a height of , • Soldier Canyon Dam, high, • Dixon Canyon Dam, high, • Spring Canyon Dam, high. Together the dams contain more than of earthfill. ==Recreation and conservation==

The reservoir is a popular recreation destination for the region. According to a recent study conducted by the Bureau of Reclamation and the recreation manager at Horsetooth, Larimer County Parks and Open Lands, approximately 570,000 visitors come to Horsetooth every year. Larimer County has provided recreation management at Horsetooth, which is surrounded by 1,900 acres of public lands, and three other C-BT reservoirs since they opened in the early 1950s. Recreational boating is popular during summer months and swimming is allowed at the designated Swim Beach maintained by LCPOL as well as in some of the coves. Kayaking and canoeing is also popular. Fishing is also highly popular from boats or from shore, but is no longer allowed from the dams due to security concerns. Since the late 1960s, the sport of bouldering has become an established climbing pastime at the reservoir as the hard Dakota sandstone provides many challenging problems for both American and foreign athletes. However cliff diving is prohibited in all areas of the reservoir due to safety concerns. Park rangers patrol the reservoir for violators to keep everyone enjoying the reservoirs safely. Road cycling around Horsetooth has also become popular as has hiking and mountain biking, particularly along the Foothills Trail that traverses the reservoir's eastern edge. The City of Fort Collins maintains several open spaces directly below the reservoir and the state-owned Lory State Park is along the reservoir's northwestern shore. Other ridge lines surrounding the reservoir have become the site of residential development in recent decades, with structures ranging from get-away-cabins to luxury homes. ==Gallery==

Image:Horsetooth Reservoir.jpg|Horsetooth Reservoir at 98.8% full in June 2021. Image:Inlet Bay at Horsetooth Reservoir.jpg|Inlet Bay at Horsetooth Reservoir Image:Smoke over Horsetooth Reservoir.jpg|The reservoir shrouded in smoke from the approaching Cameron Peak wildfire in October 2020. ==See also==