Information about fishing in Denver’s lakes is from "Fishing Close to Home," a Colorado Outdoors Special Edition by Phil Goebel (DOW 7-99). For further information, reference www.drn.state.co.us/wildlife or Colorado Division of Wildlife, 6060 Broadway, Denver, CO 80216, (303) 291-7227.

Barnum Lake in Barnum Park

Location: West of Federal Blvd. between 6th Ave. and 3rd Ave., with parking access from Hooker St.
Size: 9 acres; 5 feet maximum depth. Perimeter: 0.7 miles.
Fish: Bluegill, carp, channel catfish, and sucker.
Agency: Denver Parks and Recreation
Comments: Open 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. No boats. Recreation center, picnic sites, playground, and restrooms.

Berkeley Lake in Berkeley Park
Location: South of I-70 between Sheridan Blvd. and Tennyson St. Main entrance is on 46th Ave. with parking. Also access from Tennyson St.
Size: 40 acres; 12 feet maximum depth. Perimeter: 0.9 miles.
Fish: Largemouth bass, orangespotted sunfish, sucker, green sunfish, bluegill, bullhead, carp, channel catfish, crappie, and rainbow trout (catchable-size stocked in spring).
Agency: Denver Parks and Recreation
Comments: Open 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. No boats. Recreation center, picnic sites, playground, and restrooms on the south side of the lake. Hard-surface foot trail.

Bluff Lake in Bluff Lake Park
Location: Havana at 32nd Ave.
Size: 9 acres.
Agency: Aviation

Echo Lake in Denver Mountain Parks
Location: Clear Creek County. Arapaho National Forest. From Idaho Springs, drive south 12 miles on Highway 103. Lake is south of the highway just west of Mount Evans Road.
Size: 22.8 acres; 7 feet maximum depth.
Fish: Rainbow trout (catchable-size stocked).
Agency: Denver Parks and Recreation
Comments: USGS Idaho Springs quad; altitude 10,720 feet. West Chicago Creek Campground is 8 miles west. Echo Lake Lodge food and beverage services with restrooms at entrance to Mount Evans Road (open Memorial Day through September). No boats. No humans or pets are allowed in or on the water. The only lake activity allowed is fishing from the shoreline. The ecosystem of high-altitude lakes is fragile.

Evergreen Lake in Dedisse Park in Denver Mountain Parks
Location: Jefferson County. From Denver, go west on I-70 to Evergreen Parkway (old El Ranch Exit). Go south on Highway 74 to Evergreen. The lake is south of Highway 74 and Upper Bear Creek Road.
Size: 42 acres; 23 feet maximum depth.
Fish: Brown and rainbow trout (catchable-size stocked), sucker, tiger muskie, and splake.
Agency: Evergreen Parks and Recreation Department through a cooperative agreement with Denver Parks and Recreation.
Comments: USGS Evergreen quad; altitude 7,072 feet. Boating by Evergreen permit only (open late May). No power boats. Open 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. Handicapped-accessible fishing pier and marsh viewing boardwalk. Parking available above and below dam.

Ferril Lake in City Park
Location: North of 17th Ave. and west of Colorado Blvd. Parking area on the northwest side of the lake between the park and the Denver Zoo.
Size: 25 acres; 8 feet maximum depth. Perimeter: 0.8 miles.
Fish: Bluegill, bullhead, carp, channel catfish, crappie, gizzard shad, green sunfish, largemouth bass, yellow perch, and rainbow trout (catchable-size stocked in spring).
Other lakes in City Park: Duck Lake, 6.3 acres, 0.4 miles; Sediment Pond, 2 acres, 0.17 miles; Children’s Zoo Lake, 1 acre, 0.17 miles.
Agency: Denver Parks and Recreation
Comments: Open 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. No boats. No fishing from rental paddleboats. Picnic sites and restrooms. Hard-surface foot trail around lake.

Garfield Lake in Garfield Park
Location: South of W. Mississippi Ave. between S. Federal Blvd. and S. Sheridan Blvd. Access from either S. Lowell Blvd. and Mississippi, or S. Newton St. and W. Arizona Ave. (east from S. Osceola St.).
Size: 10 acres; 4 feet maximum depth. Perimeter: 0.5 miles.
Fish: Largemouth bass, bluegill, bullhead, carp, channel catfish, crappie, and green sunfish.
Agency: Denver Parks and Recreation
Comments: Open 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. No boats. Recreation center, picnic sites, playground, and restrooms.

Harvey Lake in Harvey Park
Location: Between S. Sheridan Blvd. and S. Federal Blvd., just south of W. Evans Ave. and east of S. Tennyson St.
Size: 8.5 acres; 14 feet maximum depth.
Perimeter: 0.4 miles.
Fish: Bluegill, bullhead, carp, channel catfish, crappie, green sunfish, largemouth bass, pumpkinseed sunfish, and yellow perch.
Agency: Denver Parks and Recreation
Comments: Open 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. No boats. Recreation center, picnic sites, playground, and restrooms. Hard-surface foot trail access from Evans Ave.

Huston Lake in Huston Lake Park
Location: East of S. Federal Blvd. about 4 blocks, between W. Ohio Ave. and W. Kentucky Ave. Southeast of the intersection of Ohio and S. Clay St.
Size: 13 acres; 6 feet maximum depth.
Perimeter: 0.6 miles.
Fish: Largemouth bass, sucker, yellow perch, green sunfish, bluegill, bullhead, carp, channel catfish, and crappie.
Agency: Denver Parks and Recreation
Comments: Open 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. No boats. Recreation Center, picnic sites, playground, and restrooms. Hard-surface foot trail around the lake.

Lake in Kelly Open Space
Location: 11th Ave. and Uinta Way.
Size: 23.26 acres.
Agency: Lowry Redevelopment Authority

Kennedy Lake in J.F. Kennedy Golf Course
Location: 10500 E. Hampden Ave.
Size: 5 acres. Perimeter: 0.4 miles.
Agency: Denver Parks and Recreation

Little Lake Henry in Lake of Lakes Park
Location: Carr St. and Quincy Ave.
Size: 3.5 acres. Perimeter: 0.4 miles.
Agency: Denver Parks and Recreation

Lollipop Lake in Garland Park
Location: Between S. Holly St. and S. Kearney St. north of Cherry Creek Dr. N.
Size: 4 acres; 8 feet maximum depth.
Perimeter: 0.4 miles.
Fish: Largemouth bass, orangespotted sunfish, sucker, yellow perch, bluegill, bullhead, channel catfish, crappie, and green sunfish.
Agency: Denver Parks and Recreation
Comments: Open 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. No boats. Picnic sites, playground, and restrooms. Hard-surface foot trail.

Lake in Northside Park
Location: 51st Ave. and Downing St.
Size: 3 acres.
Agency: Denver Parks and Recreation

Overland Pond in Overland Pond Park
Location: North of W. Florida Ave. between S. Santa Fe Dr. and the South Platte River trail. Parking area is north of Florida.
Size: 1.5 acre; 7 feet maximum depth. Perimeter: 0.2 miles.
Fish: Bluegill, carp, crappie, bullhead, and largemouth bass.
Other lake in Overland Pond Open Space:
Overland Lake, 11 acres, 0.7 miles. No fishing. Golf concession.
Agency: Denver Parks and Recreation
Comments: Open 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. No boats. Fly casting practice pad on the south shore and handicapped-accessible fishing pier.

Overland Lake in Overland Lake Open Space
Location: North of W. Florida Ave. between S. Santa Fe Dr. and the South Platte River trail. Parking area is north of Florida.
Size: 11 acres. 0.7 miles.
Agency: Denver Parks and Recreation
Comments: No fishing. Golf concession.

Lake in Parkfield Open Space
Location: D.I.A. Gateway Chambers N of I-70.
Size: 14 acres.
Agency: Denver Parks and Recreation

Rocky Mountain Lake in Rocky Mountain Lake Park
Location: W. 46th Ave. between Federal Blvd. and Lowell Blvd. Parking areas north of 46th Ave.
Size: 29 acres; 40 feet maximum depth. Perimeter: 0.9 miles.
Fish: Bluegill, bullhead, carp, channel catfish, crappie, green sunfish, largemouth bass, pumpkinseed sunfish, sucker, rainbow trout (catchable-size stocked in spring).
Agency: Denver Parks and Recreation
Comments: Open 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. No boats. Picnic sites, playground, and restrooms. Hard-surface foot trail.

Skeel Reservoir in Wellshire Golf Course
Location: 3333 S. Colorado Blvd.
Size: 13.4 acres. Perimeter: 0.6 miles.
Agency: Denver Parks and Recreation

Sloan's Lake (including Cooper Lake) in Sloan's Lake Park
Location: East of Sheridan Blvd. between W. 25th Ave. and W. 17th Ave. Parking areas all around the lake.
Size: 174 acres; 5 feet deep in the main body of the lake west of the island but upwards of 8 feet deep east of the island. Perimeter: 2.6 miles.
Fish: Bluegill, bullhead, carp, channel catfish, crappie, green sunfish, orangespotted sunfish, rainbow trout (catchable-size stocked in spring), sucker, and yellow perch.
Agency: Denver Parks and Recreation
Comments: Boating with permit. No fishing from boats. On-site Boat Ranger’s Office. Premier carp fishery. Boat house and boat ramp. Picnic sites, playgrounds, and restrooms. Hard-surface foot trail around the lake.

South Platte River
Location:South Denver city limits to north Denver city limits.
Size: 10.5 miles.

Summit Lake in Denver Mountain Parks
Location: Clear Creek County. Arapaho National Forest. From Idaho Springs, drive 12 miles south on Highway 103 to Echo Lake. East of lake turn south on Mount Evans Road, Highway 5. Drive 9 miles, the lake is just west of the road.
Size: 35 acres; 70 feet maximum depth.
Fish: Rainbow and cutthroat trout.
Agency: Denver Parks and Recreation Department

Comments: USGS Mount Evans quad; altitude 12, 900 feet. Roadside fishery. Open 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. Rough handicapped-accessible trail. Echo Lake Lodge food and beverage services with restrooms at entrance to Mount Evans Road (open Memorial Day through September). No boats. No humans or pets are allowed in or on the water. The only lake activity allowed is fishing from the shoreline. The ecosystem of high-altitude lakes is fragile.

Vanderbilt Pond in Vanderbilt Park
Location: North of W. Tennessee Av. Between S. Santa Fe Dr. and S. Huron St. Access from W. Mississippi Ave.
Size: 6 acres; 15 feet maximum depth.
Fish: Green sunfish.
Agency: Denver Parks and Recreation
Comments: Open 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. No boats. Hard-surface foot trail.

Washington Park Lakes
Location: Northeast of the intersection of S. Downing St. and E. Louisiana Ave. The north lake (Smith Lake) has parking areas all around it, while the south lake (Grasmere Lake) has street parking only.
Size: Smith Lake – 19 acres; 12 feet maximum depth. Perimeter: 0.6 miles. Size: Grasmere Lake – 19 acres; 10 feet maximum depth. Perimeter: 0.8 miles.Size: Lily Pond – 1 acre; 8 feet maximum depth. Perimeter: 0.18 miles.Fish: Smith Lake -- Bluegill, bullhead, carp, channel catfish, crappie, gizzard shad, largemouth bass, pumpkinseed sunfish, rainbow trout (catchable-size stocked in spring), and yellow perch.Fish: Grasmere Lake – Bluegill, bullhead, carp, channel catfish, green sunfish, largemouth bass, and yellow perch.
Agency: Denver Parks and Recreation
Special Regulations: Lily Pond is open to anglers 16 years of age or younger for fishing clinics.
Comments: Open 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. Boats are allowed on Smith Lake from dawn until dusk. (i.e. canoes, kayaks, rowboats and small sailboats up to 20ft maximum) Fishing piers at both lakes. Handicapped access to fishing pier on the south shore of Smith Lake. Recreation center, picnic sites, playgrounds, and restrooms. Hard-surface foot trail.