Wellington Lake
A serene 167-acre lake near the small town of Bailey along US-285, popular for canoeing, swimming, and quiet mountain scenery.
Colorado
Brainard Lake Recreation Area
One of the most accessible alpine lakes on the Front Range — literally steps from the parking lot — though
Glenwood Hot Springs
The crown jewel of Colorado’s developed swimming destinations — the world’s largest hot springs pool, thermally fed year-round, with waterslides
Island Acres (Colorado River)
A developed swimming and fishing area along the Colorado River near Palisade, with calmer pond sections distinct from the swifter
Blue Mesa Reservoir
Colorado’s largest reservoir, stretching 20 miles through mesa and canyon scenery, popular for swimming, boating, fishing, and even scuba diving.
Grand Lake
Colorado’s largest natural lake, offering crystal-clear water, mountain scenery, and a charming lakefront downtown just outside Rocky Mountain National Park.
Great Sand Dunes National Park — Medano Creek
One of Colorado’s most unusual water features — a shallow, sandy-bottomed creek at the base of towering dunes that produces
Guffey Gorge (Paradise Cove)
A picturesque natural swimming hole near Cripple Creek with a small waterfall and sandstone backdrop, popular for cliff jumping —