Visitors will once again be able to access the North Slope Recreation Area (NSRA) beginning May 1, as Colorado Springs Utilities and Pikes Peak – America’s Mountain restore full access to North and South Catamount Reservoirs. Following a two-year closure that began in 2023 to accommodate a dam rehabilitation project at South Catamount, vehicle access will re-open to both reservoirs to enjoy shoreline fishing, non-motorized watercraft, hiking and biking trails and picnicking in this popular destination.
While access to North and South Catamount Reservoirs will be available, Crystal Creek Reservoir will undergo separate warranty maintenance work beginning May 1 and will be unavailable for in-water recreation. Access will remain open to the Crystal Reservoir parking lot, visitor center and local trails.
The water level in the reservoir is currently being lowered to safely complete this work. The maintenance is expected to take approximately 14 days. Reopening the reservoir for in-water recreation will depend on how quickly it refills to a safe level.
Visitors will benefit from expanded trail connectivity in the Crystal Creek Reservoir area, including a new trail from Crystal Overlook to the southeast end of the Crystal Reservoir dam, allowing access between the overlook, dam and Crystal Reservoir Visitor Center. Additional improvements are planned throughout May, including shoreline stabilization work near the Crystal Reservoir Visitor Center and accessibility enhancements to improve connections between the visitor center and fishing dock. Future enhancements will support a new watercraft launch dock when reservoir levels allow.
Recreation in the NSRA is managed by the City of Colorado Springs, Pikes Peak – America’s Mountain. Summit reservations are not required for those planning to visit the NSRA unless they are also planning to drive to the summit of Pikes Peak. Daily entry tickets to the NSRA are $5 per guest, and children under 16 are free with no reservation required. Due to parking limitations at the NSRA, a daily entry parking permit of $1 in addition to a NSRA ONLY ticket is required. Tickets and permits can be reserved via the online store, and the remaining will be distributed daily on a space-available basis at the Pikes Peak Highway Gateway.
Hours of operation at the NSRA are daily from 9 a.m.-3 p.m., weather permitting, until May 23 when summer hours begin. Summer hours start on the Friday before Memorial Day through Labor Day from 7:30am–7:00pm. Guests must follow all posted rules and regulations. A Colorado Fishing license purchased through Colorado Parks and Wildlife is required for those 16 and older planning to fish in any NSRA reservoir.
Colorado Springs Utilities and Pikes Peak – America’s Mountain continue to work closely to balance recreational access with responsible management of critical water infrastructure and natural resources. Visitors are encouraged to plan ahead, check current conditions, follow posted signage and call 719-385-7325 for the most up-to-date information before recreating.
More information about recreation access and reservations is available at ColoradoSprings.gov/DrivePikesPeak.
More information regarding Colorado Springs Reservoirs, including Crystal Creek, is available at csu.org/water-service/reservoirs.