How deep is Horsetooth Reservoir - Sunrise Beach?

Horsetooth Reservoir - Sunrise Beach ranges from 1.5 to 15.2 metres deep (5–50 feet). It is a freshwater site. Depths vary across the site, so plan your profile to your training and verify conditions locally.

Is Horsetooth Reservoir - Sunrise Beach a shore dive or a boat dive?

Horsetooth Reservoir - Sunrise Beach is a shore dive — you can enter from land. The entry is recorded as an easy walk-in. The entry area is recorded as moderately exposed to surge. Basic facilities are recorded at or near the site, and cell service is recorded as good. Entry details and parking notes, where known, are listed in the access section of this page.

When is the best time to dive Horsetooth Reservoir - Sunrise Beach?

Early summer mornings, calm days; fall for fewer boats. Dived mostly April-October; wind, runoff and boating degrade visibility. Conditions vary, so check the latest reports and forecasts on the dive site page before your trip.

What will I see at Horsetooth Reservoir - Sunrise Beach?

Divers at Horsetooth Reservoir - Sunrise Beach in United States commonly report sightings of Walleye, Smallmouth bass, Crayfish, and Rainbow trout. Smallmouth bass and Crayfish are recorded as common sightings, while Walleye and Rainbow trout are reported only occasionally. Marine life varies by season and conditions—check the site page for recent diver observations and photos.

What hazards are recorded at Horsetooth Reservoir - Sunrise Beach?

Cold water and thermoclines; limited visibility after wind or rain; heavy summer boat traffic; altitude (~5,400 ft). Hazards and conditions change, so verify current local information before diving.

Map of Horsetooth Reservoir - Sunrise Beach

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Shore entry

Horsetooth Reservoir - Sunrise Beach

Colorado, United StatesDirections

Open Water suggested2–15 m depthShore entry

Horsetooth Reservoir - Sunrise Beach at a glance

Horsetooth Reservoir - Sunrise Beach is a shore dive site in Colorado, United States with depths of 1.5–15.2 m (5–50 ft). Typically most favorable Jul · from 3 years of archive data. Divers commonly see Walleye, Smallmouth bass, and Crayfish. Check the latest conditions and entry details before you go.

Wind model · graded 1h ago

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Tap a factor for its source and model point

Site hazards: Cold water and thermoclines; limited visibility after wind or rain; heavy summer boat traffic; altitude (~5,400 ft).

Read the full hazards ↓

Dive windows this week

Best: Wed

Fri19:00–20:00

Sat7:00–15:00

Sun7:00–15:00

Mon7:00–17:00

Tue7:00–20:00

Wed7:00–20:00

Thu7:00–20:00

Favorable windowModerate window— no window

First light 6:10 · Sunrise 6:37 · Sunset 19:16

Source: Open-Meteo wind · graded 1h ago

Forecast only — always assess conditions on site.

Recent diver reports

Dated firsthand observations from divers — not current conditions.

No diver reports for this site yet. — one dated observation helps every diver after you.

Dived here today — did the forecast match?

What Divers Say

Known for: Smallmouth bass, Crayfish

Best time: Early summer mornings, calm days; fall for fewer boats.

Based on community reviews and site data. Conditions vary — always verify before diving.

Best months, historically

What conditions have historically been typical at this site, month by month — not a forecast.

Jan94% 8 kn
Feb89% 8 kn
Mar81% 10 kn
Apr80% 11 kn
May82% 10 kn
Jun90% 9 kn
Jul96% 9 kn
Aug94% 9 kn
Sep94% 9 kn
Oct94% 9 kn
Nov92% 8 kn
Dec86% 8 kn

July hastypically had the largest share of favorable days here. Conditions vary year to year — this is historical context, not a forecast.

Based on 3 years of archive data. Bar height shows the share of days each month whose conditions have historically scored favorably.

Marine life seen at this site

Species noted at this site — not a promise of what you’ll encounter.

Species seen here

Fills & rentals nearby

No dive shops mapped within 25 km. Know one? Add it to the map.

Data updated July 2026

Site details

Sunrise Beach is the commonly used shore-entry dive area on Horsetooth Reservoir, the long foothills lake immediately west of Fort Collins. A gradual slope, silty bottom, submerged timber and rock make it a workhorse site for checkouts, refreshers and cold-water practice, with typical maximum dive depths around 50 feet and 5-10 ft visibility. As at Carter Lake, divers must notify Larimer County Natural Resources 24 hours before diving.

muckshore

Cold water and thermoclines; limited visibility after wind or rain; heavy summer boat traffic; altitude (~5,400 ft).

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