Are you ready for a tranquil and serene day at Rueter-Hess Reservoir? Plan your day of paddle boarding, fishing, and hiking – all summer activities open Friday, April 26. New this year is windsurfing.
The reservoir will be open for non-motorized water activities and fishing from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and Mondays starting Friday, April 26, into late October, depending on the weather. The entrance to the Reservoir is off Hess Road in Parker, about 4.75 miles east of Interstate 25.
Due to parking and fishing capacity limitations, reservations are required.
Parking Details
To park at the reservoir, you will need a parking pass. The cost of a day-long parking pass is $10. Reserve your day now.
Reservations must be made online. Please save your confirmation email to show at the gate. (A screenshot or printed copy are recommended, as cell service is spotty at the reservoir.) Online reservations are now open through June – and additional dates will be added throughout the summer.
Fishing Details
To maintain the vitality of the fish, a limited number of anglers are allowed to fish each day. There is no cost to fish at the reservoir, but because space is limited, reservations are required for all. Anglers older than 16 must have a state fishing license.
Anglers will also need a parking pass, which is $10 for the day, in addition to the free fishing registration. Make your fishing reservation and get your parking pass online.
If you plan to walk or bike into the park for fishing, a parking pass is not required, but a fishing registration is still required.
All fishing is catch-and-release. For details on additional rules and regulations, visit our fishing webpage.
Additional Details:
Kayaks, canoes, paddle boards, windsurfing boards, and inflatable standup paddle boards are the only watercrafts allowed. All watercrafts will be inspected onsite for invasive species before entering the water.
- Life jackets are required for all and must be worn at all times.
- Windsurfing is being offered this year as a pilot program.
- Plans are in the works to modernize the shoreline. As that plan comes to fruition, please expect the shoreline to be muddy in places.
- Parking is a 5- to 10-minute walk from the shoreline. Following an inspection of watercraft, you will be able to drop off gear near the shoreline and return to the parking lot to park your car. Please be prepared to inflate your watercraft, at least partially, before getting to the water.
- Dogs are allowed in some areas, but not the water nor shoreline.
- No glass bottles or alcohol are allowed.
Learn more to plan your day at Rueter-Hess.
About Rueter-Hess Reservoir
Rueter-Hess is foremost a drinking water storage facility, but Douglas County and its Rueter-Hess Recreation Authority partners know the community values the water for its recreation opportunities, too.
Partner agencies include the City of Castle Pines, the Town of Castle Rock, Douglas County, the City of Lone Tree, the Town of Parker, and Parker Water and Sanitation District. Each agency has a representative on the Rueter-Hess Recreation Advisory Board, which will continue to implement the Recreation Master Plan.
The reservoir began storing water in 2012. In 2015, partner entities began planning for recreation at the reservoir. In 2016, your input drove the creation of the Recreation Master Plan, and in 2017, public access began with limited paddle days and guided hikes. By 2020, the 132-step Incline Challenge with Rosie Rueter Trail loop opened, and by 2022, a total of 6.5 miles of soft surface trails were completed. In 2023, the reservoir opened for regular weekend recreation.
Learn more about recreation at Rueter-Hess on our website. Learn more about the reservoir’s role in providing drinking water on Parker Water and Sanitation’s website.