Horsetooth Reservoir water level
Reservoir, Colorado, United States
Right now
Very high for mid-October
Surface elevation
- Water stored
- 122,207 acre‑ft
History
202120222023202420252026
What this means
There is plenty of water in Horsetooth Reservoir: 5,411.91 ft, well above normal for mid-October.
That puts it 18.23 ft above the median of 5,393.68 ft for mid-October, based on 36 years of readings. A year ago it stood at 5,401.25 ft (+10.66 ft).
The level has held steady over the past week. Over the past 30 days it has moved between 5,409.58 ft and 5,413.03 ft.
Many reservoirs are drawn down through summer and fall; most of the refill comes later, with winter rain or spring snowmelt.
Compared with 36 years of daily readings for this time of year. How to read levels
Key numbers
- Median for this date
- 5,393.68 ft18.23 ft above the median for this date
- Normal for this date
- 5,362.94 ft – 5,411.41 ft8 years in 10 fall in this range (36 years of records)
- Same day last year
- 5,401.25 ft+10.66 ft
- Lowest and highest in 30 days
- 5,409.58 ft – 5,413.03 ft
- Lowest and highest in 12 months
- 5,396.82 ft – 5,426.23 ft
Swimming and boating at Horsetooth Reservoir
High water can flood ramps, parking areas and shoreline campsites, and it carries floating debris. Expect some no-wake zones to be extended.
If you swim, pick a spot with an easy way out, and remember that drop-offs move as the level changes.
Weather at the gauge
Rain in the last 3 days: 0.48 in.
Forecast: Open-Meteo
Map
Nearby gauges
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cache La Poudre River at Fort CollinsRiver gauge, Cache La Poudre River | 0.87 ft | Below flood stage | −0.05 ft | 5.4 mi |
| Cache La Poudre River above Boxelder Creek near TimnathRiver gauge, Cache La Poudre River | 17.5 cfs | Normal | −3.2 cfs | 9 mi |
| North Fork Cache La Poudre River at LivermoreRiver gauge, North Fork Cache La Poudre River | 20.5 cfs | High | +1.1 cfs | 14 mi |
| Big Thompson River at LovelandRiver gauge, Big Thompson River | 0.88 ft | Below flood stage | +0.01 ft | 16 mi |
| Flatiron ReservoirReservoir | 5,470.64 ft | Very high | 17 mi | |
| Pinewood Reservoir and RattlesnakeReservoir | 6,563.11 ft | Low | 17 mi | |
| Carter Lake ReservoirReservoir | 5,709.77 ft | Normal | 19 mi | |
| North Fork Cache La Poudre River below Halligan Reservoir near Va DaleRiver gauge, North Fork Cache La Poudre River | 2.00 ft | Below flood stage | ±0 | 21 mi |
Questions and answers
How does Horsetooth Reservoir compare with last year?
It is 10.66 ft higher than on the same day last year, when the reading was 5,401.25 ft.
What is a normal level for Horsetooth Reservoir in mid-October?
The median for mid-October is 5,393.68 ft. In 8 years out of 10 the reading falls between 5,362.94 ft and 5,411.41 ft, based on 36 years of records.
Is Horsetooth Reservoir really 5,411.91 ft deep?
No. 5,411.91 ft is the height of the water surface above sea level (or the agency's vertical datum), not the depth of the water.
What is the water level of Horsetooth Reservoir today?
On Oct 16, 2026, the surface elevation was 5,411.91 ft. Steady over the last 7 days.
Is Horsetooth Reservoir rising or falling?
Steady over the last 7 days.
Is the level of Horsetooth Reservoir normal?
Very high for mid-October. Compared with 36 years of daily readings for this time of year.
How often is this data updated?
The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation publishes a new reading once a day. This page refreshes within minutes of each update.
For specialists
Station codes, datum, parameters, data quality and downloads
- Operator
- U.S. Bureau of Reclamation
- Station code
usbr:369(Agency page)- Coordinates
40.59940, -105.17110(WGS84)- Update interval
- once a day
- Licence
- Public domain. Data: U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (RISE), provisional data subject to revision
Published series
| Parameter | Last value | Time (UTC) | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|
| Surface elevation | 5,411.91 ft | 2026-10-16 06:00 | Provisional |
| Water stored | 122,207 acre‑ft | 2026-10-16 06:00 | Provisional |
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How to cite
U.S. Bureau of Reclamation: Horsetooth Reservoir (usbr:369). Accessed October 18, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/colorado/horsetooth-reservoir
How we check values
Each reading is stored as published. We hold back values that jump faster than physically plausible and show the measurement time with every value.
Readings are provisional, can be delayed or wrong and are not a flood warning. Read the disclaimer