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Dillon Reservoir

Colorado · Reservoir impounded 1963 · near Frisco

3,233 acres 231 ft deep 25 ft clarity Water B
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5.7SCORE
Survey summary · Colorado
3,233
Surface acres
231 ft
Max depth
26 mi
Shoreline
25 ft
Typical clarity
9,017 ft
Elevation

Dillon Reservoir covers 3,233 acres in Colorado and drops to 231 feet at its deepest point. It is a reservoir impounded in 1963 and managed by Denver Water. Water level is the thing to understand here: the pool can move roughly 25 feet, typically drawn down in autumn. That changes dock function, boat access, and what the shoreline looks like in listing photos versus in person. Water clarity averages around 25 feet, placing it among the clearer bodies of water in the country. Short-term rental posture: Restricted in Summit County. Confirm at the municipal level before underwriting rental income.

What stands out

  • Exceptional clarity, roughly 25 ft
  • Deep water — 231 ft max
  • Sailing
  • Paddling

Watch outs

  • Seasonal drawdown near 25 ft — verify dock reach at low pool
  • Short-term rental rules are restrictive — do not assume rental income

Score breakdown

WATER RECREATION VALUE ACCESS INVESTMENT
Water 7.7
Recreation 6.4
Value 3.5
Access 5.3
Investment 4.7

Each axis is computed by published formula from this lake's own attributes. How we score.

Water quality grade
Water A
ExcellentClear, low-nutrient water. Typically oligotrophic with high clarity and little seasonal algae.
Water B
GoodHealthy water with moderate clarity. Some seasonal variation, no persistent problems.
Water C
FairProductive water — good fishing, reduced clarity. Algae possible in late summer.
Water D
PoorNutrient-rich or heavily drawn down. Swimmable conditions vary; check before you rely on them.

Computed from measured clarity, trophic state, and drawdown magnitude — not an opinion. See the formula.

Overall score, 1–10
8.0+
ExceptionalStrong on every axis we measure.
7.0–7.9
StrongClearly above average, usually with one standout axis.
6.0–6.9
SolidA good lake with a trade-off worth understanding.
5.0–5.9
MixedReal strengths and real compromises.
Under 5
CompromisedSomething material — volatility, water quality, or access.

Weighted: water 26% · recreation 22% · investment 20% · value 18% · access 14%.

Fishery

Rainbow troutBrown troutKokaneeArctic char

On the water

SailingPaddlingFishingCycling
No USGS gauge on this lake. We only publish a station when its own name matches this water body. Nearby gauges on other lakes would look like data and mislead you, so we show nothing instead. Why we do that.
13.30 deg C
Temperature
2026-08-04
4.55 ft
Gage height
2026-08-04

Gauge history

Daily values from USGS. Loading up to one year.

What the drawdown looks like

Full pool vs autumn low · Dillon Reservoir
25 ft FULL POOL AUTUMN LOW

The dock sits at full-pool elevation. At low pool the waterline retreats and the reach to navigable water changes. Scale is illustrative; the 25 ft figure is from published operations for this lake.

Where it is

True shoreline from USGS NHD 13 km²

The outline is this lake's actual boundary from the USGS National Hydrography Dataset, not an approximation — 347 boundary points. Basemap is USGS topographic with contours and hydrography. Switch layers at the top right.

Depth profile

SURFACE 231 ft max avg 74 ft

Idealized cross-section. Max depth 231 ft, average 74 ft. Depth at a specific dock depends on local bathymetry — verify at the property.

Level behaviour

Level stabilityManaged Typical drawdown25 ft Drawdown seasonAutumn Trophic stateOligotrophic Typical clarity25 ft Water quality gradeB Elevation9,017 ft Managing authorityDenver Water
This lake moves. A drawdown near 25 feet changes dock reach, boat access, and the look of the shoreline. Tour in the low season, or at minimum look at the gauge history above before you offer.

Dock & shoreline

Permitting authorityDenver Water Wake / speed rulesNo swimming; sail/paddle
A dock is never guaranteed. Confirm in writing with Denver Water that the specific parcel is eligible before you remove contingencies.

Short-term rental posture

Restricted in Summit County

Restrictions apply and vary by jurisdiction. Verify at the municipal level before you offer.
Model rental income →
Modeled estimates. Market figures are derived from lake attributes and regional patterns, not from MLS data. Treat them as a starting point, not a comp.
$975,000
Median waterfront
$5,932
Per shoreline foot
-0.5%
Year over year
154
Est. inventory
120
Avg days on market
$870
Est. nightly rate

Rental snapshot

Modeled occupancy52% Booked nights / yr137 Gross revenue$126,791 Net operating income$65,809 Yield on median price6.75%
Open the full model →

What a median-priced home on Dillon Reservoir actually costs to carry, with waterfront-specific line items most calculators omit.

$7,806
All-in per month
$221,650
Cash to close + setup
$17,692
Beyond P&I, tax, insurance
Where the annual cost goes
$93,670 PER YEAR
Principal & interest $61,645 (67%) Maintenance reserve (1.1%) $10,725 (12%) Property taxes $10,238 (11%) Hazard insurance $4,095 (4%) Utilities $2,700 (3%) Shoreline / seawall reserve $960 (1%) Dock maintenance $900 (1%) Flood insurance $878 (1%)

Annual carry

Principal & interest$61,645
Property taxes$10,238
Hazard insurance$4,095
Flood insurance$878
Utilities$2,700
Maintenance reserve (1.1%)$10,725
Septic service$520
Well & water testing$260
Dock maintenance$900
Winterization / seasonal close$750
Shoreline / seawall reserve$960
Total$93,670
Model your own numbers →

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