Lake Nighthorse Recreation Area

Park Entrance Pass Options

• Day Pass Vehicle Entrance  $8
• Day Pass Walk/Bike Entrance  $3
• Season Pass Vehicle:
  • 1st for Household  $70
  • Multiple Vehicle (Same Household)  $35
• Season Pass Vehicle Senior *:
  • 1st for Household  $60
  • Multiple Vehicle Senior (Same Household)  $30
• Season Pass Walk/Bike  $20
• 5-Punch Pass Vehicle  $30
• 5-Punch Pass Vehicle Senior *  $25
• 5-Punch Pass Walk/Bike  $10

 * Senior is 62 years and over

Purchasing Day Use Passes

All day use passes are non-refundable and may be purchased during hours of operation at the Entrance Station at Lake Nighthorse.

Purchasing 5-Punch Passes

Gift Cards are NOW Available at the Durango Community Recreation Center, which can be use towards the 2019 Punch Passes on January 2, 2019 or after. All punch passes are are good for 5 daily entrances. Passes are non-refundable and and valid through November 14, 2019. The 5 Punch Pass are transferable and may be purchased during hours of operation at the Entrance Station at Lake Nighthorse or at the Durango Community Recreation Center.

Purchasing Season Passes

2019 Season Passes are NOW Available at the Durango Community Recreation Center. All passes are valid during the 2019 season, April 5 through November 14 and are non-refundable. Passes may be purchased during hours of operation at the Durango Community Recreation Center, or the Entrance Station at Lake Nighthorse. For your convenience, you may fill out the season pass purchase form in advance by selecting the following link, print, fill out and bring with you: Lake Nighthorse Season Pass Purchase Form (PDF).

Please note the following:

• Vehicle Passes require proof of vehicle registration at the time a vehicle pass is purchased. This includes Vehicle, Multiple Vehicle, and Senior Passes.
  • Annual vehicle passes are windshield decals that must be affixed to the windshield of your vehicle to be valid.
  • Removing the decal or passing the decal between vehicles invalidates the pass.
• Bike or Walk-In Passes may be purchased during hours of operation at either the Durango Community Recreation Center or at the Entrance Station at Lake Nighthorse.
  • If purchasing this pass at the Recreation Center, you will be issued an identification card to show upon entry at Lake Nighthorse.
  • If purchasing this pass at the Entrance Station at Lake Nighthorse, you will be entered into the City database and given a paper receipt for purchase. Your identification card can then be picked up at the Recreation Center at your earliest convenience.

Activities and Programs offered at Lake Nighthorse

Stay tuned for updates and additions to to Lake Nighthorse activities and programs.

For current details, please view the Enrichment Guide: 

Drop-In Kayak Football

Kayak football is a great way to enjoy open water at Lake Nighthorse and test your kayak skills! Each team will have 5-10 players. Games have 5-10 minute halves. The ball can be thrown or dribbled by paddle. You may use your paddle to block a pass that’s in the air. Teams score a point when a player catches the ball in the end zone. All players will wear PFDs and helmets. BYOB (bring your own boat) or rent from 4Corners Riversports onsite.  This is NEW and games may be cancelled for lack of participation, or schedule may be extended throughout the season for exceptional participation.

Mondays 5 - 7 pm: 6/3, 6/10, 6/17, & 6/24.   Lake Nighthorse entrance fee required.

Drop-In Stand-Up Paddle Board Hockey

SUP Hockey is a 3 vs 3 match inside the Lake Nighthorse floating court with two 15-minute halves. Using a floating ball and your paddle, the goal is to score on your opponents net as many times as possible. BYOB (bring your own board) or rent from 4Corners Riversports onsite. PFD required (also available to rent from 4CRS onsite). Inflatable boards only, no hard boards. NOTE: The floating court can be reserved for pick-up games. Contact Lake Nighthorse at 970-375-7335 for reservations based on court availability.  This is NEW and games may be cancelled for lack of participation, or schedule may be extended throughout the season for exceptional participation.

Wednesdays 5 - 7 pm: 6/5, 6/12, 6/19, & 6/26.   Lake Nighthorse entrance fee required.

Kids Fish First Event

Saturday, March 30, 10 am - 2 pm, FREE!  2nd Annual Kids Fish First Event for youth anglers, 15 years old or younger.  Additional Information:

• Parking is limited
• Youth anglers are allowed to keep 4 trout
• Fishing from shoreline and hand-launched, non-motorized watercraft allowed
• Prize for biggest fish 
• 2019 season and 5-punch passes available for purchase

Spring Fishing Derbies

Spring fishing contests at Lake Nighthorse to determine who can bring in the biggest fish!  Prizes for the biggest fish for Junior and Senior Divisions.  Weigh-in times are from 12 - 3 pm at the Lake Nighthorse boat ramp.  Lake Nighthorse entrance fee required.

• Saturday April 20, 12 - 3 pm.  Non-motorized Boating Only
• Saturday June 1, 12 - 3 pm. All types of boating allowed, including motorized

First Annual 4th of July Parade of Boats

Join us to celebrate the 4th of July with a Parade of Boats at Lake Nighthorse! Show your Independence Day pride by decorating your boat and join us at noon for a parade across the lake. More details on parade distance for motorized boats and for non-motorized watercraft will be posted here, closer to July. Lake Nighthorse entrance fee required. Inspection of non-exempt watercrafts required to launch. Courtesy inspections provided prior to the 4th of July to prevent entrance inspection delays on the holiday. 

FISHING REGULATIONS

All fishing at Lake Nighthorse requires a Colorado Parks and Wildlife fishing license for individuals 16 years of age and older. For information on where to purchase a fishing license, click here (Where to Buy Fishing Licenses PDF).

Please review the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Fishing Brochure prior to fishing at Lake Nighthorse: Fishing Brochure (PDF)

Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, and Kokanee Salmon have been stocked since 2011. Other species in the lake include White and Flannelmouth suckers, Fathead Minnows, Johnny Darters, and Crayfish. Fishing Regulations are:

• Bag limit is 4 trout per day and 8 in possession (no size limit restrictions).
• Anglers can use traditional baits (see Colorado Parks and Wildlife Fishing Brochure for definitions; e.g., no live bait allowed).
• Limit on Kokanee Salmon is 10 per day and 10 in possession. No snagging is allowed.
• No fishing where signs are posted.
• Please put fish entrails in the garbage, not the lake.
• Aquatic Nuisance Species Boat Inspections are mandatory at Lake Nighthorse.

Boat Inspections and Decontamination

MANDATORY BOAT INSPECTIONS AT LAKE NIGHTHORSE: Lake Nighthorse will operate recreational use in compliance with the State of Colorado Parks and Wildlife regulations for aquatic nuisance species boat inspections of all nonexempt watercraft. Please familiarize yourself with the Boater's Guide to Aquatic Nuisance Species (ANS) Inspections brochure prior to boating at Lake Nighthorse: Boater's Guide (PDF)

Boats and non-exempt watercraft without an exit inspection documented with a seal and white receipt from another area reservoir or from a known ANS-infected lake such as Navajo Lake will be required to receive a complimentary boat inspection, which may include decontamination prior to entering the water at Lake Nighthorse. Boats with motors that have most recently visited Navajo Lake, which is infected with Eurasian Watermilfoil, a known ANS plant species, will be required to have the motor flushed with hot water to decontaminate the vessel.

All motorized boats and non-exempt watercrafts are encouraged to obtain an exit inspection when leaving area lakes prior to coming to Lake Nighthorse. These inspections are documented by certified officials and verified with a seal and receipt. Out of state motorized watercraft are permitted at Lake Nighthorse, however, boats will be subject to a high-risk inspection and possibly delayed entry dependent upon the findings of the inspection. All decontaminations are dependent upon staff and resource availability.

False bottom boats and rafts that have recently been launched in water bodies that are positive for Aquatic Nuisance Species (ANS) such as Navajo Lake, Lake Powell, and the Colorado River must be inspected. If these water crafts are unable to be decontaminated due to the false bottom, they will be unable to launch at Lake Nighthorse. 

Watercraft classified as exempt by Colorado regulation #800K include:

History

Lake Nighthorse was constructed by the Bureau of Reclamation as part of the Animas La Plata (ALP) Project. The lake is full and the surface area is approximately 1,500 acres at maximum elevation and the reservoir area includes a total of approximately 5,500 acres. The reservoir site is two miles from downtown Durango and provides a significant recreational amenity to the area.

Operations Plan:

• Lake Nighthorse Operations Plan March 2018 (PDF)

Public Meeting Information:

• Lake Nighthorse Timeline (PDF)
  
• Presentation Highlights from 2-27-18 Community Meeting (PDF)

Public Meeting Summary:

• Resource Protection (PDF)
• User Conflict (PDF)
• Financial Viability (PDF)

Historical Documents: 

• Bureau of Reclamation 2016 Environmental Assessment
  
• 2014 Lake Nighthorse Final Conceptual Recreation Master Plan (PDF)
  
• Lake Nighthorse Area Map (PDF)
  
• Lake Nighthorse Economic Impact of Recreation Use (PDF)
  
• Lake Nighthorse Recreation Market Assessment (PDF)
  
• 2011 Lake Nighthorse Draft Master Plan (PDF)
  
• Lake Nighthorse Public Presentation from June 18, 2014 (PDF)
  

For questions to the City of Durango Parks and Recreation Department regarding the current status of recreation at Lake Nighthorse, please email the Parks and Rec Department