What is the biggest lake in Colorado?

Navajo Reservoir, at 15,600 acres.

What is the second biggest lake in Colorado?

John Martin Reservoir, at 11,700 acres.

Biggest lakes in Colorado: the top 10 by size

The ten largest lakes in Colorado, biggest first.

The list

Sizes are the published surface area where one exists; the others are our own measure of the water's outline and read "about". Reservoirs shrink and grow with their level, so a dry year shows less water.

#	Lake	Size	Shoreline
1	Navajo Reservoir	15,600 acres	about 112 mi
2	John Martin Reservoir	11,700 acres	about 37 mi
3	Blue Mesa Reservoir	9,180 acres	about 96 mi
4	Lake Granby	7,260 acres	about 30 mi
5	Lake Pueblo	5,670 acres	about 37 mi
6	Lake Meredith	5,510 acres	about 16.5 mi
7	Blue Lake	about 4,660 acres	about 14.1 mi
8	McPhee Reservoir	4,470 acres	about 34 mi
9	Nee Noshe Reservoir	3,770 acres	about 10.4 mi
10	Riverside Reservoir	3,700 acres	about 17.5 mi

1. Navajo Reservoir

At some 15,600 acres, Navajo Reservoir is a big lake. It lies about 16 miles north of Bayfield. It is the San Juan behind Navajo Dam. The fish here are northern pike, bluegill, catfish and crappie. On the 3-D map the bed has three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves: good places to start. Navajo Reservoir straddles the Colorado-New Mexico border and was formed by a dam on the San Juan River.

Navajo Reservoir today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

2. John Martin Reservoir

John Martin Reservoir covers some 11,700 acres. The lake is near Las Animas. Expect walleye, catfish, crappie and white bass. At about 60 ft deep, it stays cooler below the surface well into summer. On the 3-D map the bed has three point drop-offs and a sheltered cove: good places to start. John Martin Reservoir is a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reservoir on the Arkansas River in southeastern Colorado.

John Martin Reservoir today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

3. Blue Mesa Reservoir

At some 9,180 acres, Blue Mesa Reservoir is a good-sized lake. It holds kokanee salmon, lake trout, trout and yellow perch.

Blue Mesa Reservoir today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

4. Lake Granby

Lake Granby spreads over some 7,260 acres. It lies about 4.7 miles southwest of Granby. Expect lake trout, trout and kokanee salmon. The deepest water is around 221 ft. On the 3-D map the bed has three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves: good places to start. Lake Granby is Colorado's third-largest body of water, created by Granby Dam as part of the Colorado-Big Thompson Project.

Lake Granby today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

5. Lake Pueblo

At 5,670 acres, Lake Pueblo is a good-sized lake. It lies about 4.8 miles north of Pueblo West. Expect smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, spotted bass and walleye. At about 135 ft deep, it stays cooler below the surface well into summer. Its bed shows three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves worth a first look. Pueblo Reservoir was built by the Bureau of Reclamation as part of the Fryingpan-Arkansas Project.

Lake Pueblo today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

6. Lake Meredith

Lake Meredith is a reservoir of some 5,510 acres. You will find it about 48 miles west of Pueblo. The fish here are largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, catfish and bluegill. Its bed shows three point drop-offs and an upper arm worth a first look.

Lake Meredith today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

7. Blue Lake

Blue Lake is a reservoir of about 4,660 acres. You will find it about 72 miles west of Pueblo. Expect catfish and crappie. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and a steep ledge to work.

Blue Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

8. McPhee Reservoir

McPhee Reservoir is a reservoir of 4,470 acres of water. The lake is near Cortez. Expect walleye, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass and trout. The deepest water is around 270 ft. On the 3-D map the bed has three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves: good places to start. McPhee Reservoir is the largest reservoir in the San Juan National Forest, formed by a dam on the Dolores River.

McPhee Reservoir today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

9. Nee Noshe Reservoir

Nee Noshe Reservoir spreads over some 3,770 acres. The lake is about 9.3 miles northwest of Eads. Expect crappie, catfish, largemouth bass and walleye. On the 3-D map the bed has three point drop-offs and an upper arm: good places to start. Neenoshe is one of four Great Plains Reservoirs on the high plains of southeastern Colorado.

Nee Noshe Reservoir today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

10. Riverside Reservoir

At 3,700 acres of water, Riverside Reservoir is a good-sized lake. It lies within an easy drive of Greeley (about 22 miles). Expect striped bass and walleye. On the 3-D map the bed has three point drop-offs and a sheltered cove: good places to start. Also known as the Sanborn Draw dam, this reservoir was formed in 1903 by a dam diverting water from the South Platte River.

Riverside Reservoir today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

Big water, big days

Large lakes make their own weather: a breeze that is nothing on a pond builds real waves over miles of open water. Check the wind on the lake page before you launch and keep to the lee shore when it picks up.