New Trails Coming to Chimney Hollow

Chimney Hollow Open Space (CHOS) is a Larimer County-managed Open Space spanning 1,847 acres, located five miles southwest of Loveland. Nestled alongside the soon-to-be-completed 760-acre Chimney Hollow Reservoir—smaller in comparison to the nearby 1,100-acre Carter Lake—CHOS offers a diverse landscape of rolling hills, lush vegetation, and scenic water views. The open space is set to feature a 10-12 mile trail system connecting to Carter Lake Open Space (1000 acres) and will open to the public in 2027. More information on the recently released management plan is below.

More information:

• LCDNR
• Chimney Hollow Dam project by Northern Water

For Comparison:

Open Space

• Carter Lake Open Space-1000 acres
• Horsetooth Mountain Open Space- 2,711 acres
• Chimney Hollow Open Space-1,847 acres

Miles of Trails

• Carter Lake Open Space- 3 miles
• Horsetooth Mountain Open Space- 29 miles
• Chimney Hollow Open Space- 10-12 miles natural surface trails miles proposed

Reservoir Information

• Carter Lake- capacity of 112,230 acre-feet, 1,110 surface acres, 12 miles of shoreline and a maximum depth of 180 feet. Miles long- 3. Miles Wide- 1.
• Horsetooth Reservoir- a capacity of 156,735 acre-feet, 1,900 surface acres, 25 miles of shoreline and a maximum depth of 188 feet. Miles long- 7. Miles Wide- 1/2
• Chimney Hollow Reservoir- a capacity of 90,000 acre-feet, 760 surface acres, and a maximum depth of 325 feet. Miles of shoreline, width and length TBA

The Larimer County Department of Natural Resources (LCDNR) has completed its adaptive management plan for Chimney Hollow Open Space (CHOS). This plan will shape the development of the open space and reservoir in preparation for a public opening in 2027, ensuring long-term ecological preservation while providing nature-based recreational access.

Key Features of the Plan

The CHOS management plan, developed with extensive public feedback and guidance from a technical advisory committee, aims to balance high-quality outdoor experiences with conservation efforts in a financially sustainable manner. The plan includes:

• Trail System: Development of 10-12 miles of trails, including a shoreline trail, a connector to Carter Lake, loop options, and potentially directional or limited-use trails.
• Reservoir Access: A concrete boat ramp, floating dock, designated swimming areas, and allowances for wakeless boating.
• Day-Use Facilities: Parking areas with picnic shelters, restrooms, and informational kiosks for visitors accessing both trails and the reservoir.
• New Trailhead: Located at the south end of Carter Lake, offering a connection into CHOS.

Conservation and Restrictions

LCDNR is committed to monitoring and protecting CHOS’s ecological integrity, including rare native species and sensitive habitats such as golden eagle nesting sites. The plan establishes several key restrictions:

• No overnight camping.
• Wakeless boating only.
• Limited access to designated areas, including the east side of the reservoir and the quarry region.

Public Engagement and Development Process

The CHOS management plan was initiated in early 2024, with LCDNR actively gathering public input through a combination of surveys, online engagement, open houses, and feedback from advisory boards. Nearly 1,400 individuals engaged with the planning process, contributing 600 community comments and 471 survey responses.

For the full adaptive management plan, visit www.larimer.gov/chimney-hollow-open-space-adaptive-management-plan.

About Chimney Hollow Open Space

Acquired by Larimer County in 2004 for conservation and future public access, CHOS spans 1,847 acres and is located five miles southwest of Loveland. It sits adjacent to Chimney Hollow Reservoir, a 760-acre water body (by comparison, Carter Lake covers 1,100 surface acres).

For further details on CHOS, visit the Natural Resources Department’s website: www.larimer.gov/naturalresources/parks/chimney-hollow.