Twin Lakes has a boat ramp and a separate paddling launch

Twin Lakes sits at the foot of Independence Pass, where State Highway 82 begins its long climb over the mountains. If you want to get on the water, it helps to know there are two different launch points, set up for different kinds of boats.

The main boat ramp is the Dexter Point Boating Site on the north shore, just off Highway 82. That is the place for a trailered boat. A separate spot on the northwest shore, the Red Rooster Boating Site, is set up for quieter craft like kayaks and stand-up paddleboards, and it is also where the Interlaken boat tour leaves from. So the right place to start depends on what you are floating.

Two practical notes for a high mountain reservoir. First, the ramp is not open year-round; open dates and hours are set by the Leadville Ranger District and change with the season, so it is worth a call before you haul a boat up. Second, like other Colorado reservoirs, trailered and motorized boats need an aquatic nuisance species inspection, so plan for that step.

To check ramp status, launch sites, and current conditions at Twin Lakes, start with the Forest Service’s Twin Lakes Recreation Area page.