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Colorado boating waters. Backdrop for the Boating Hubs Colorado marina directory

Marinas · Colorado

Marinas in Colorado

Cruise 19 marinas across Colorado. Maps, hours, contact info, photos, and verified operator profiles, all in one place.

58 fourteeners, alpine basins, and the headwaters of seven major rivers.

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About Colorado

Colorado has no coastline, but it has snowmelt, and snowmelt fills big water. Reservoirs fed by the Rockies stack up across the state: Blue Mesa in the Gunnison National Forest, Lake Granby up in the Arapaho National Recreation Area, Carter Lake along the Front Range. Sailors, powerboaters, and paddlers all get a piece of it. Marinas from Pueblo on the plains to Grand Lake at the headwaters of the Colorado River keep slips, rentals, and services running for locals and visitors alike.

The boating here sorts itself into distinct pockets. Out on the Western Slope, the terrain is vast and rugged and the water matches, Blue Mesa and Navajo State Park draw anglers and cruisers who want room to roam. Along the Front Range, where most of the population lives, lakes like Cherry Creek and Chatfield sit minutes from Denver, home to active sailing clubs, PWC riders, and charter operators running everything from guided trips to bareboat rentals. Each pocket has its own temperament: mountain lakes kick up stiff afternoon winds; lower reservoirs stay calm and broad.

The catch is the calendar. Summer at altitude is short and intense, and the boating season compresses to match: marinas run flat-out through the warm months, charters book solid, and many facilities open only when the ice goes out in late spring and shut before the first real snow. What you get in exchange is water nothing on a coast can offer: cold, clear, high, and framed by peaks, with cooler, drier air over all of it.

Best time to go

When to cruise in Colorado

Full seasonality
Peak season Jun–Aug
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June through September for the high country; lower elevations stay accessible year-round.

  • June–September: the reliable warm-water season
  • Spring water is dangerously cold, so wear a life jacket
  • Big lakes build steep waves fast, so watch the wind

19 on the map

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Quick facts

Boat launches mapped
38
Rivers mapped
211
Marinas listed
19
Best season
June through September

At a glance

Marinas in Colorado at a glance

The first 10 of 19 marinas listed in Colorado, in the same order as the full list below. Ratings and review counts are from Google. A blank cell means we do not have that detail yet.

Marinas in Colorado at a glance
MarinaCityActivitiesRating
Grand Lake Marina & Boater's ChoiceGrand LakeCruising, Rentals, Tubing +14.7655 Google reviews
Beacon Landing MarinaGrand Lake4.4170 Google reviews
Chatfield MarinaLittleton4.5303 Google reviews
Colorado WatersportsLittleton4.392 Google reviews
Denver Sailing AssociationGreenwood Village5.05 Google reviews
Dillon Marina OfficeDillon4.7227 Google reviews
Elk Creek MarinaGunnison4.486 Google reviews
Frisco Bay MarinaFrisco4.6943 Google reviews
Headwaters MarinaGrand Lake4.261 Google reviews
Indian Peaks Marina and RestaurantGranby4.671 Google reviews

Water Explorer

Boat launches across Colorado

Tap a launch to pinpoint it on the map, then open it for ramp type, fees, and the nearest marina.

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All listings

19 marinas

across Colorado

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Live webcams in Colorado

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Map of where the Dillon Marina webcam isLocation
Marina cam · Lake Dillon, Colorado

Dillon Marina

via Town of Dillon

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Watch Dillon Marina live
Map of where the Frisco Bay Marina webcam isLocation
Marina cam · Lake Dillon, Colorado

Frisco Bay Marina

via Town of Frisco

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Watch Frisco Bay Marina live

Plan your trip

Plan your trip to Colorado

Signature Waters

Colorado's primary boating waters are large, high-altitude reservoirs like Blue Mesa, Lake Granby, Navajo, and Chatfield. Rivers are generally not navigable for recreational powerboats, with exceptions for specific rafting or kayaking sections.

Boating Season

The main boating season typically runs from Memorial Day to Labor Day, with shoulder seasons extending into late April and through October, depending on elevation and weather conditions. Marinas and services are largely seasonal.

Slip/Transient Dockage

Demand for slips and transient dockage can be high, especially during summer weekends and holidays. Reservations are strongly recommended, particularly at popular Front Range lakes and larger mountain reservoirs.

Fuel and Pump-Out Access

Most full-service marinas offer fuel and pump-out facilities. However, availability can be limited at smaller or more remote locations, so planning fuel stops is crucial.

Weather/Wind Considerations

Mountain weather can change rapidly, with strong afternoon winds and sudden thunderstorms common, especially during summer. Always check forecasts and be prepared for varying conditions.

Confirm current requirements with the state agency before your trip. Rules and fees change every season.

  • Vessel Registration

    All motorboats and sailboats, regardless of length, operated on Colorado public waters must be registered with Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW). This includes displaying current registration numbers and decals.

  • Boater Education Card

    Colorado has no birth-year education cutoff. Operators aged 14 to 17 must pass an approved boating-safety course and carry the resulting Boating Safety Certificate; operators 18 and older are not required to hold a card.

  • Mandatory Aquatic Nuisance Species (ANS) Inspection

    All trailered vessels, and any vessel launching into waters where an inspection is required, must undergo an ANS inspection prior to launching and upon exiting the water. This is critical to prevent the spread of invasive species.

  • Age Restrictions for Operation

    No person under 14 years of age may operate a motorboat or personal watercraft on Colorado's public waters. Persons 14 to 17 may operate one only after passing an approved boating-safety course and carrying the Boating Safety Certificate; operators 18 and older need no card.

  1. 01

    Research Your Destination

    Pick the lake that fits what you actually want to do (sail, fish, tow a tube), then check its operating season and local rules. A reservoir that's perfect for wakeboats may be wrong for a daysailer, and vice versa.

  2. 02

    Verify Vessel Requirements

    Confirm your registration is current, your safety gear is aboard, and everyone who'll drive the boat meets Colorado's boater-education and age rules before you hitch up the trailer.

  3. 03

    Plan for ANS Inspections

    Find the certified Aquatic Nuisance Species inspection station serving your launch site and build the inspection into your schedule, it's mandatory, and lines form on summer mornings.

  4. 04

    Book Accommodations and Dockage

    Transient slips and moorings at popular lakes go fast in summer. Reserve early, and sort out lodging on shore if you won't be sleeping aboard.

  5. 05

    Check Weather and Water Conditions

    Before you leave the dock, look at the forecast, current water levels, and any posted advisories. Mountain weather rewards the boater who checked twice.

01How many marinas are listed in Colorado?
Boating Hubs lists 19 marinas in Colorado: wet slips, fuel docks, dry storage, charter operators, and full-service yards.
02What types of boats are typically found on Colorado lakes?
Just about everything short of an ocean yacht. Ski boats, pontoons, fishing boats, PWCs, and sailboats are the everyday fleet. The big reservoirs (Blue Mesa, Lake Granby), can handle substantial cruising vessels, while some smaller lakes restrict traffic to non-motorized craft.
03Are there any restrictions on boat size or motor horsepower?
Most of the larger reservoirs don't cap size or horsepower, but smaller lakes, and certain zones within bigger parks, do. Rules vary lake to lake, so check with the state park or reservoir management office before you commit to a trip.
04Can I rent a boat or charter a captained vessel in Colorado?
Yes. Marinas and private operators around the state rent pontoons, ski boats, and personal watercraft by the hour or the day. Captained charters, mostly fishing and sightseeing, run at popular destinations like Lake Granby and Navajo State Park.
05What are the primary concerns for boating at high altitudes?
Thin air, first: engines lose horsepower at elevation, so expect less punch than at sea level. The sun is stronger up here too, and the water can stay cold straight through summer. Add weather that turns fast, wind and storms roll in with little warning, and the theme is: prepare for more than the forecast promises.
06Is fishing popular on Colorado's boating lakes, and what licenses are needed?
Very: the reservoirs hold trout, salmon, bass, and pike, and plenty of boats on any given lake are out for exactly that. Anyone 16 or older needs a valid Colorado fishing license, and bag limits, seasons, and rules vary by water, so read the Colorado Parks and Wildlife fishing regulations for wherever you're headed.
07How do I ensure my boat doesn't spread Aquatic Nuisance Species (ANS)?
Take the inspections seriously, Colorado does. All trailered vessels must be checked by a certified inspector before launching and again when leaving many waters. Between trips, clean, drain, and dry the boat completely, especially before moving to a different lake.

Watch & learn

Watch & learn, Colorado

  • YouTube

    Boat Camping at 8,300 Feet - Colorado Rockies [Cross Country Trip EP. 14]

    Brandon Gross

    0
  • YouTube

    You'll Want to Watch This BEFORE Buying the Classic Accessories Colorado Pontoon Boat

    FlyFishDan

    0
  • YouTube

    Colorado Pontoon Boat from Classic Accessories Review & Field Tested - Any Failures?

    FlyFishDan

    0

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