Wolford Mountain Reservoir

About

Wolford Mountain Reservoir is located about five miles north of Kremmling in Grand County, Colorado. It stores 66,000 acre-feet of water when filled, and provides 1,550 surface acres that are frequently used for summer and winter recreation.

The reservoir was completed in 1995 and first filled in 1996. It was the result of an agreement between the Colorado River District and Denver Water. Water in the reservoir is used to offset the impacts of diversions to the Front Range in the headwaters of the Colorado River. Late in the season, when stream flows are falling, reservoir releases from Wolford keep water flowing in Muddy Creek and the Colorado River. These releases maintain river levels for fish and wildlife, provide water supplies for West Slope communities and sustain agriculture and industry in Western Colorado.

Area U.S. Geological Survey Gauges:
Muddy Creek below Wolford Reservoir
Colorado River near Kremmling

Recreation

Wolford Mountain Reservoir and the surrounding area offer many opportunities to enjoy the outdoors in both summer and winter. The reservoir and adjacent recreation area offers a boat ramp, picnic areas, camping, public restrooms, a swim beach and marina. A day-use area is available for a fee from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Pets are welcome, but please keep them leashed and pick up after your pet.

Fees

Recreation area fees:

• $10 day pass fee per vehicle
• $100 annual day-use vehicle pass valid from May 1 to April 30 of the following calendar year. This pass does not include camping fees. After October 1, the annual day-use pass is $30 per vehicle and expires on April 30. Discounts are available for locals, seniors and veterans.
• $30 dump fee for visitors who wish to use the dump station and are not camping at the Wolford Campground

For more information about camping fees, visit wolfordcampground.com/camping.

Boating

The boat ramp at Wolford Mountain Reservoir is open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. May 15 through Oct. 15.

Floating vessels need to pass an Aquatic Nuisance Species inspection before launch. Failure to comply will result in prosecution. To expedite this process, be sure your vessel is clean, drained and dry when you arrive. If your vessel has any standing water in the bilge, live well or motor, it will have to be decontaminated, which can take up to an hour and results in a $25 decontamination fee. Hand-powered vessels are exempt from inspection.

Pontoon boats, runabout boats and fishing boats are available for rent. Click here to learn more about boat rentals at Wolford Mountain Reservoir.

Fishing

Wolford Mountain Reservoir provides good fishing for rainbow and brown trout, kokanee salmon and a few other assorted species. A fish cleaning station is available near the day-use area from May 20 through September 30.

Boats need to pass an Aquatic Nuisance Species inspection before launch.

Wolford Mountain Reservoir is home to the only known reservoir dwelling population of roundtail chub in Colorado. This is a native species of the minnow family, with a range extending far down the Colorado River beyond the Grand Canyon. Anglers are encouraged to release roundtails caught in Wolford, so the species can continue to persist there.

Cash incentive for northern pike
Colorado Parks and Wildlife and the Colorado River District are providing cash incentives for anglers who target northern pike in Wolford Mountain Reservoir. The $20 cash incentive is paid to anglers for each pike they catch and bring to Wolford Campground and Marina. The incentive program has been in place for several years and biologists are hopeful that it is having the desired impact of reducing the numbers of illegally introduced northern pike.

To participate in the incentive program, anglers must bring their freshly caught northern pike from Wolford to the camp host or the Aquatic Nuisance Species inspection station. A valid fishing license and photo identification will be required to claim the incentive payment. From November 1 to April 30, email this completed form, your contact info including a phone number,  and a photo of yourself and the pike in the recreation area to kdavidson@crwcd.org to receive the incentive. Click here to access the form. 

Fishing regulations:

• Standard harvest regulations for trout (4 fish daily bag/8 fish in possession) and kokanee salmon (10 fish).
• Snagging for kokanee salmon is not permitted.
• Public access, including fishing, is prohibited within 150 feet of any kokanee spawning trap or wing net from October 1- December 1. The purpose of this regulation is to maximize Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s kokanee egg collection efforts.
• There is no bag limit on northern pike in the reservoir, and there is a $20 cash incentive for any pike caught in the lake. Please do not release any northern pike you catch in Wolford Mountain Reservoir.

Ice fishing at Wolford
Ice measurements are published weekly in the Grand Gazette.  Vehicles are not allowed to access the ice until there are 12 inches of hard ice, then only ATVs and snowmobiles are allowed through the gate access at the boat ramp.  All access points are locked, however, foot traffic is allowed.  You must possess or purchase a day pass or season pass to access the ice.  Please use caution near the dam as there are deicing pumps to prevent ice from forming around the outlet works, tower and bridge.

Camping

There are 75 campsitse available at Wolford Campground. The campground has electric and non-electric sites, as well as dump facilities, water, a hiking trail, dog walk, restrooms and easy access to the swim beach.

For reservations and fees, visit wolfordcampground.com/camping. Walk-ins are welcome as long as sites are available.

The campground is open year-round, though some facilities are not available in the winter.

• December 1 through April 30 the campsites are available on a first-come, first-served basis, and only cash and check are accepted. Please make checks out to the Colorado River District. Electric RV hookups are available, but no water or waste dumping.  There is minimum winter road maintenance in the campground.
• Drinking water, dump stations and the fish cleaning station are only available from May 20 to 7 p.m. September 30.

Campground quiet hours are 10 p.m. to 7 a.m.

To learn more about camping at Wolford Mountain Reservoir, visit wolfordcampground.com.

Rules and regulations

• The speed limit in the campground is 10 miles per hour
• Park in designated areas only
• The day-use area is closed from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. the following morning.
• Campground quiet hours are 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. nightly
• Do not disturb, soil, plants or wildlife.
• OHV use is prohibited within the recreation area.
• No household dumping. Campground trash only.
• Stay on designated trails.
• Pets must be on a leash.
• Use of firearms, weapons and fireworks are strictly prohibited.
• No swimming, diving or fishing from the docks.
• No fueling from the docks or shoreline.  Boats must be removed from the water or you may buy fuel from the marina.
• No overnight parking of vehicles or trailers is allowed Day Use parking lot.
• All floating vessels powered by any type of motor must be inspected at the ANS station within the campground.  Failure to comply will result in prosecution.  Any hand-powered floating vessels are exempt from inspection.
• No processing or hanging of wild game within the campground.

Contact

Wolford Campground & Marina
Call: 970-724-1266
Email: info@wolfordcampground.com

Physical Address
27219 U.S. Highway 40
Kremmling, CO 80459

Mailing Address
P.O. Box 584
Kremmling, CO 80459

Colorado River District
Call: 970-724-9525
Email: edinfo@crwcd.org

Ritschard Dam Created Wolford Mountain Reservoir

Wolford Mountain Spillway

1995, Making room for the reservoir by moving an historic cabin: