Highest elevation lakes & reservoirs in Colorado by altitude
While lake levels can flucuate frequently based on several circumstances, the altitude/elevation of a lake is based on its normal water level, measured by the lake’s surface distance above sea level. For a reservoir, this water level is also known as “full pond” or “full pool”.Low lake levels can occur due to deliberate seasonal draw downs for irrigation or impending snow melt, reduced water inflows, drought and evaporation, residential or commercial water demands, and hydropower generation. Some lakes’ minimum and maximum elevations are virtually the same. Lakes that generate hydropower may vary by several feet – according to power demand. Lakes whose primary purpose is to prevent flooding can seasonally vary by 100 feet or more. When some lakes reach their minimum elevation, their boat ramps may not be long enough to permit boat access – and boats docked on shallow parts of the lake may end up on dry ground. In those cases, kayakers and shore-based anglers may be among the few happy recreational users of the lake.
A lake’s highest water level, measured by the lake’s surface distance above sea level, that can occur during flooding. A lake’s highest possible maximum elevation is usually the top of the lake’s dam or spillway. At lakes that include residential development, government regulations usually forbid the construction of homes below a lake’s maximum elevation.
You can find many of the world’s highest-elevated lakes on LakeLubbers. Lakes with the lowest elevations (known by LakeLubbers) are shown on the final page of that list. Note: For some lakes, "Altitude/Elevation" data is unknown, so this table may display fewer lakes than the total 49 articles we have published for Colorado lakes.
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Below are lakes within USA > US West Region > Colorado > Compared by highest altitude/elevation in feet. This list does not represent all lakes in Colorado, only the 49 Colorado lake articles we have published on the LakeLubbers website.
Lake name  |
Elevation in feet |
Lake description |
|---|---|---|
| Twin Lakes, CO (Colorado, South Central Colorado, US West Region, USA) |
9,200 ft | Also known as Twin Lakes Reservoir In the mid 1800’s gold was discovered in Lake County Colorado, and everything changed. Settlers moved west seeking their fortunes and discovered not o… |
| Lake Dillon, CO (Colorado, Northwest Colorado, US West Region, USA) |
9,017 ft | Also known as Dillon Reservoir Nestled in the middle of some of Summit County’s best skiing, Lake Dillon is the perfect year round getaway. With its rich history, fantastic sport fi… |
| Lake Granby, CO (Colorado, Front Range Region, CO, US West Region, USA) |
8,280 ft | Also known as Granby Lake Nestled in the shadows of the majestic Rocky Mountains near the headwaters of the Colorado River, Lake Granby is a great place for a mountain getaway.… |
| Green Mountain Reservoir (Colorado, Northwest Colorado, US West Region, USA) |
7,954 ft | Thousands of tourists and recreational guests come to the Colorado Rockies each year, never knowing that Green Mountain Reservoir is only a short dist… |
| Vallecito Lake, CO (Colorado, Southeast Colorado, US West Region, USA) |
7,669 ft | Also known as Vallecito Reservoir The quest for a reliable source of irrigation water in Colorado’s dry Southwest Region brought Vallecito Lake into being. Twenty-two miles north of Du… |
| Blue Mesa Reservoir, CO (Colorado, Southwest Colorado, US West Region, USA) |
7,519 ft | Also known as Blue Mesa Lake Beautiful mesas, deep canyons, and steep rocky cliffs surround Blue Mesa Reservoir, the second largest lake entirely in Colorado. The clear, blue, mou… |
| McPhee Reservoir, CO (Colorado, Southwest Colorado, US West Region, USA) |
6,924 ft | In 1776 Spanish priests traveling through the Dolores Valley imagined a project that would bring water to the thirsty crops of the Montezuma Valley. B… |
| Trinidad Lake, CO (Colorado, Southeast Colorado, US West Region, USA) |
6,230 ft | Also known as Trinidad Reservoir Seated at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains in southeastern Colorado, Trinidad Lake is a great place to fish, boat, sail, and enjoy the outdoors. W… |
| Navajo Lake NM (Colorado, New Mexico, Northwest New Mexico, NM, Southeast Colorado, US Southwest Region, US West Region, USA) |
6,106 ft | Also known as Navajo Reservoir Navajo Lake offers a surprising and welcome expanse of water in northwestern New Mexico. The 15,600-acre reservoir stretches north into southwest Colo… |
| Cherry Creek Reservoir, CO (Colorado, Denver Area, CO, US West Region, USA) |
5,598 ft | Also known as Cherry Creek Lake Affectionately called “Denver’s Backyard,” Cherry Creek Lake and State Park provide recreation opportunities for families from all over. Located in Au… |
| Chatfield Reservoir, CO (Colorado, Denver Area, CO, US West Region, USA) |
5,500 ft | Also known as Chatfield Lake Standing in fields of prairie clover looking at blue herons on beautiful Chatfield Reservoir, it’s hard to imagine that this spot is just outside the… |
| Horsetooth Reservoir, CO (Colorado, Front Range Region, CO, US West Region, USA) |
5,429 ft | Also known as Horsetooth Lake On the high, arid ridges and plains of Colorado’s Front Range, Horsetooth Reservoir delights the visitor and refreshes the senses. Developed as a stor… |