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Lakes in Colorado

21 lakes in Colorado with photography planning data — sunrise and sunset azimuths, golden hour by month, Milky Way windows and estimated sky darkness. Larimer County has the most (5). The darkest skies are at Emerald Lake (Bortle 1).

Top lakes

Lake AgnesLake
Lake AgnesJackson County · 3,251 m
Poudre LakeLake
Poudre LakeLarimer County · 3,278 m
Echo Lake ParkLake
Echo Lake ParkClear Creek County · 3,231 m
Sprague LakeLake
Sprague LakeLarimer County · 2,648 m
Dream LakeLake
Dream LakeLarimer County · 3,020 m
Fern LakeLake
Fern LakeLarimer County · 2,910 m
Grand LakeLake
Grand LakeGrand County
Trappers LakeLake
Trappers LakeGarfield County · 3,027 m
Summit Lake ParkLake
Summit Lake ParkClear Creek County · 3,912 m
Lake MeredithLake
Lake MeredithCrowley County · 1,297 m
Stapp LakesLake
Stapp LakesBoulder County · 2,884 m
Emerald LakeLake
Emerald LakeHinsdale County · 3,060 m

Lakes by county

All lakes (21)

NameCountyElevationNearest townSky
Lake AgnesRocky MountainJackson County3,251 mEstes Park3
Poudre LakeRocky MountainLarimer County3,278 mEstes Park3
Echo Lake ParkClear Creek County3,231 mGeorgetown4
Sprague LakeRocky MountainLarimer County2,648 mEstes Park4
Dream LakeRocky MountainLarimer County3,020 mEstes Park3
Fern LakeRocky MountainLarimer County2,910 mEstes Park3
Grand LakeRocky MountainGrand County—Granby3
Trappers LakeGarfield County3,027 mGypsum2
Summit Lake ParkClear Creek County3,912 mGeorgetown4
Lake MeredithCrowley County1,297 mOrdway2
Stapp LakesBoulder County2,884 mNederland4
Emerald LakeHinsdale County3,060 mBayfield1
Chambers LakeLarimer County2,791 mEstes Park3
Independence LakePitkin County3,809 mAspen2
Navajo LakeArchuleta County—Bayfield1
Linkins LakePitkin County3,662 mAspen2
Lost Man LakePitkin County3,797 mAspen2
Chalk LakeChaffee County2,655 mBuena Vista2
Lake RhodaJefferson County1,629 mWheat Ridge9
Lizard LakeGunnison County2,654 mSnowmass Village2
O'Haver LakeChaffee County2,783 mSalida2

Sky = estimated Bortle class (1 darkest – 9 brightest).

Map

How to photograph lakes

Lakes reflect best in calm air — usually the first hour after sunrise, before breezes ripple the surface.

  • For mirror reflections, get low and close to the water; the reflection grows with a lower camera.
  • A polarizer can remove reflections to show the lakebed — or keep them, depending on rotation.
  • Mist often lifts off lakes on cold mornings after warm days, especially in autumn.
  • Include shoreline rocks, reeds or a log as foreground to give the reflection depth.
  • Expose for the brighter sky; reflections are typically half a stop to a stop darker.

Season: Autumn mornings bring mist and fall color; high-elevation lakes are usually ice-free only from early summer to mid-autumn.