Hike-in Required
No
ADA accessible
No
Guided tours
No
Please respect the outdoors by practicing Leave No Trace. Learn more about how to apply the principles of Leave No Trace on your next outdoor adventure here.

Dillon Reservoir is located in the heart of Summit County at 9,017-feet. Fed by Blue River and surrounded by the towns of Frisco, Silverthorne, and Dillon, Dillon Reservoir provides an abundance of recreational opportunities on its 3,233-acre surface area.

During the summer months there are marinas open in Frisco and Dillon, with the latter hosting racing regattas all season long for all types of sailboats. Both marinas rent various types of watercraft. Fishing is very popular, and the Colorado Division of Wildlife stocks the lake with 50,000 rainbow trout annually. Stand-up paddlers and kayakers can explore the many inlets along the body of water, and for those wishing to stay on dry land, there is an 18-mile paved bike path that circumnavigates the lake. For a bird’s eye view of the lake, the trail up Buffalo Mountain on the northern side of the lake is a popular hike during summer months as well.

There are also several campgrounds surrounding the lake to establish the perfect base camp for a variety of adventures in the area.

In the winter months, tourists flock to the nearby ski resorts of Arapahoe Basin, Keystone, Breckenridge, and Copper Mountain. But Dillon Reservoir also provides many winter recreational activities. Kiteboarding, ice fishing, ice skating, and hockey are popular, and there are miles of cross-country skiing trails surrounding the lake.

Dillon dam, constructed in 1963 by the Denver Water Board, is over a mile long and diverts water through a tunnel east under the continental divide to provide water for Denver’s residents as part of the Colorado-Big Thompson Project.

With Interstate 70 just to the north of the lake, it is easy to access and offers something for everyone.

Logistics + Planning

Preferable season(s)

Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall

Congestion

High

Parking Pass

Not Required

Pros

Many recreational opportunities. Camping nearby. Centrally located.

Cons

None.

Pets allowed

Allowed

Features

Wildflowers
Big vistas

Location

Nearby Lodging + Camping

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