Recreational Water Use: Campgrounds and Other Water-Related Recreation

Recreational uses of water are varied, most are not easily quantified, and most are non-consumptive. The perceived aesthetic value of an area is often directly related to the presence of a stream or lake. Camping is prevalent throughout the Basin, with the most extensive camping opportunities located on national forest land in the Snowy Range, the east slope of the Sierra Madre Mountains, and the Laramie Range.

Hawk Springs Reservoir is located approximately 20 miles south of Torrington within the Horse Creek subbasin. The site was named a state recreation area in 1987. The dam was originally constructed in 1925 and modified in 1985. The adjudicated storage capacity of the reservoir is 16,735 acre-feet of water. The Horse Creek Conservation District owns the reservoir and surrounding area. The Wyoming Department of State Parks and Cultural Resources manages and maintains the recreational area around the reservoir while the Wyoming Game and Fish Department regulates recreational use of the water and stocks the reservoir with fish.

To view a map of major recreation sites in the Horse Creek subbasin click here. The following table provides a summary of camping and recreational facilities at larger reservoirs located within the Platte River Basin. The facilities located within the Horse Creek subbasin are highlighted.

Public recreational use facilities at major reservoirs and sites in the Platte River Basin