Horsetooth Reservoir, located west of Fort Collins, CO, is the largest reservoir in the Colorado-Big Thompson Project East Slope distribution system.
Horsetooth Reservoir Recreation
The reservoir provides water to the cities of Fort Collins and Greeley, many smaller domestic suppliers, industries and farms and ranches in the Poudre River basin. The reservoir is named for a distinctive local geological outcropping.
Horsetooth’s water supply is primarily from the Colorado River headwaters on the West Slope. It is delivered through the Hansen Feeder Canal beginning 13 miles south of Horsetooth at Flatiron Reservoir.
More than 500,000 people visit Horsetooth each year to fish, boat, camp, picnic and hike. Horsetooth has multiple campgrounds, and picnic areas. The 6.5-mile long reservoir is open year-round. See the C-BT Recreation - East Slope
page for more information.
First Water Released in 1951
Construction on Horsetooth Reservoir began in 1946 and was complete in 1949. The reservoir began storing water in January 1951. The first water releases were made to the Poudre River in July 1951. The reservoir has a capacity of 156,735 acre-feet of water, 1,900 surface acres, 25 miles of shoreline and a maximum depth of 180 feet.