Shadow Mountain Reservoir
Shadow Mountain Reservoir is a large lake located in Colorado, just outside of the southwestern boundary of Rocky Mountain National Park. Most of the shoreline of the lake is accessible by vehicle or hiking for fishing. However, because of its size, fishing is best from a boat. There are many places to launch boats and camp around the lake, however camping is allowed only in developed areas.
Shadow Mountain Reservoir is located in the Arapahoe National Recreation Area, an area that encompasses 36,000 acres including scenic water wonderlands of the upper reaches of the Colorado River. Established by Congress in 1978, the area contains five major lakes: Lake Granby, Shadow Mountain Lake, Monarch Lake, Willow Creek Reservoir and Meadow Creek Reservoir.
Adjacent to the Arapahoe National Recreation Area is Grand Lake, the largest natural lake in Colorado. Together, the pristine waters of the Arapahoe National Recreation Area and Grand Lake make up the desirable recreation waters and healthy fisheries known as the "Great Lake of Colorado".
Strategically located between Lake Granby and Grand Lake, Shadow Mountain Reservoir receives water from the North Fork of the Colorado River and water pumped from Lake Granby. The reservoir was built between 1944 and 1946, and serves as a regulating reservoir to help maintain a constant surface elevation in Grand Lake. Shadow Mountain Lake is relatively shallow with depths up to 24 feet, and is connected by a canal to Grand Lake allowing boat passage between the two water systems.
Shadow Mountain Reservoir has an approximate 1,346 surface acres for water recreation. Primary recreational activities are camping, fishing, and power boating. Sport fishing has become quite popular on the lake for its diverse trout species and kokanee salmon. The reservoir provides a healthy fishery for cutthroat, rainbow, brook and brown trout, along with arctic grayling and splake – a brook and lake trout hybrid.
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