Last stocked
May 22, 2026
Plants on record
3
Species recorded
0
Elevation
5,044 ft
Access and facts
- Water type
- reservoir
- Nearest town
- Fort Collins
- Shore access
- Yes
- Boat ramp
- No
- Float tube friendly
- No
- ADA accessible
- Yes
- Fee required
- No
- Facilities
- restrooms
Small stocked urban reservoir in Fort Collins' City Park with a wheelchair-accessible paved path around the entire lake. No boats or watercraft of any kind allowed. Free, with restrooms and drinking water fountains throughout City Park.
Sources: water_type , access.shore , access.boat_ramp , access.float_tube , access.ada , access.fee , shore_notes , nearest_town , facilities , fishing_notes , watch_outs , angler_notes
How Sheldon Lake is stocked
Horsetooth Reservoir (3.4 mi), Boyd Lake (10.9 mi), Pinewood Reservoir (17.9 mi), and Estes Lake (25.1 mi) were stocked more recently.
Fishing Sheldon Lake
Sheldon Lake, an accessible urban reservoir, is stocked annually with rainbow trout by Colorado Parks and Wildlife. The resident warm-water population includes largemouth bass, channel catfish, crappie, and pumpkinseed sunfish. Trout fishing peaks in spring and fall, while bass and catfish action heats up through summer. Night fishing is popular among catfish anglers. A boardwalk on the north shore and a paved path around the lake offer good shore-based access for anglers.
Sources: coloradolakes.org
What to watch for
Sheldon Lake sits in an urban park with traffic noise, crowds on nice days, and geese that can be loud and persistent. The lake is not a secluded or wilderness fishing experience. Additionally, the lake can get warm in summer, which may reduce trout activity.
What anglers say
According to the source, the combination of lake access and park amenities makes Sheldon Lake one of the most family-friendly fishing spots in Larimer County. It also states that families, beginning anglers, and anyone short on time will find real value here. Catfish anglers report pulling sizable channel cats from the deeper sections near the south shore.
Species stocked here
No species recorded here yet.