Bank and shore fishing in Colorado
No boat? You still have 37 Colorado waters with listed public access, 106 access sites in all. Open any water below to see its depth map, the rated spots within reach of each access point, and what to throw this season.
Access sites come from official agency access inventories where the state publishes one, with OpenStreetMap filling gaps. A carry-in site means you park and walk your gear in. We list where public access exists; always respect posted signs on the ground.
What the Colorado access records show
The current roster links 106 documented public-access sites to 37 waters. 27 waters have more than one listed access option, while 0 have at least one site explicitly described as carry-in, walk-in or shore-oriented. The largest attached site counts are Blue Mesa Reservoir (14), Arkansas River (Colorado) (12) and Horsetooth Reservoir (6). A larger count can offer more launch choices, but it does not make unlisted shoreline public.
Map quality is independent of access quality: 5 charts use measured bathymetry and 32 use labeled approximations. Use the table to shortlist a legal entry point, then open the water page to compare that point with contour breaks and rated fishing spots. Confirm parking, fees, opening hours, seasonal closures and bank-fishing rules with the managing agency before leaving; an access inventory is planning evidence, not a guarantee that every technique is allowed at every site.
| Water | Access sites | Carry-in | Chart |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Mesa Reservoir | 14 | — | survey |
| Navajo Reservoir | 2 | — | survey |
| Clear Creek Reservoir | 1 | — | survey |
| Estes Lake | 1 | — | survey |
| Pueblo Reservoir | 1 | — | survey |
| Arkansas River (Colorado) | 12 | — | modeled |
| Horsetooth Reservoir | 6 | — | modeled |
| Colorado River (Upper) | 5 | — | modeled |
| Boulder City Reservoir | 4 | — | modeled |
| Carter Lake | 4 | — | modeled |
| Lon Hagler Reservoir | 4 | — | modeled |
| Standley Lake | 4 | — | modeled |
| Chatfield Reservoir | 3 | — | modeled |
| Eleven Mile Res | 3 | — | modeled |
| Grand Lake | 3 | — | modeled |
| Steamboat Lake | 3 | — | modeled |
| Union Reservoir | 3 | — | modeled |
| Boyd Lake | 2 | — | modeled |
| Brush Hollow Reservoir | 2 | — | modeled |
| Granby Reservoir | 2 | — | modeled |
| Gunnison River (Gorge) | 2 | — | modeled |
| John Martin Reservoir | 2 | — | modeled |
| Mack Mesa Lake | 2 | — | modeled |
| McPhee Reservoir | 2 | — | modeled |
| Ruedi Reservoir | 2 | — | modeled |
| Shadow Mountain Reservoir | 2 | — | modeled |
| Spinney Mtn Res | 2 | — | modeled |
| Trinidad Reservoir | 2 | — | modeled |
| Turquoise Lake | 2 | — | modeled |
| Twin Lakes Lower | 2 | — | modeled |
| Arvada Reservoir | 1 | — | modeled |
| Eggleston Lake Big | 1 | — | modeled |
| Gross Reservoir | 1 | — | modeled |
| Henry Lake | 1 | — | modeled |
| Island Lake | 1 | — | modeled |
| Lemon Reservoir | 1 | — | modeled |
| Windsor Reservoir | 1 | — | modeled |
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