Aurora Reservoir in Aurora, Colorado
Aurora Reservoir is an 820-acre reservoir that is ran by the City of Aurora. Popular with visitors because of water sports, such as canoeing, kayaking, swimming, and windsurfing. There is even a beach area to have a picnic or relaxing day with your toes in the sand on. This park truly has something for everyone – even a playground!
Table of Contents
Aurora Reservoir Address
Aurora Reservoir is at 5800 South Powhaton Road, Aurora, Colorado 80016.
Aurora Reservoir is towards the southeastern part of Aurora. The reservoir is 40 minutes Denver, 1 hour from Colorado Springs, and 1 hour 22 minutes from Fort Collins.
Nearby attractions include Cherry Creek State Park, Plains Conservation Center, and Quincy Reservoir.
Aurora Reservoir Hours
Hours of operation for Aurora Reservoir vary by the month.
- January – 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
- February – 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
- March – 6:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
- April – 6:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
- May – 5:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
- June – 5:00 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.
- July – 5:00 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.
- August – 5:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
- September – 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
- October – 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
- November – 6:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
- December – 7:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Open year round except for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s days.
Aurora Reservoir Park Fees [Fees Updated for 2023]
Annual passes are valid for both Aurora Reservoir and Quincy Reservoir.
Passes are based on a calendar year from January to December. The passes do not go 12 months from the date of purchase.
The Aurora Reservoir is open year-round from dawn to dusk.
$65 – Aurora Resident Annual Pass
$75 – Non-Resident Annual Pass
$15 – Watercraft Pass
$55 – Senior Aurora Resident Pass (Ages 62 and older)
$30 – Additional Vehicle Pass
Proof of Aurora residency (license/mail/water bill) must be provided for resident fee.
Disabled Veterans are eligible for a free Annual Pass and/or Watercraft Access Pass. If you have a Disabled Veterans license plate on your vehicle, you do not need a pass sticker on your windshield.
Learn more about Annual Aurora Reservoir passes by visiting the Official City of Aurora 2023 Annual Reservoir Pass page.
$15 Day Pass Saturday/Sunday/Holidays during the Summer
$10 Day Pass Monday – Friday during Summer
$10 Day Pass Non-Summer
$15 Watercraft Access Pass
(Summer is from Memorial Day Weekend to Labor Day)
Learn more about the Day Aurora Reservoir passes by visiting the Official City of Aurora 2023 Day and Annual Pass page.
What You Can Do At Aurora Reservoir
Some of these activities may be seasonal, require an additional fee or have limitations and/or restrictions. We recommend checking with the park for additional information, such as safety equipment, hours, locations within the park, and any potential hazards that may exist.
View the Aurora Reservoir map to learn where the trails, playground, and fishing docks are.
Facilities
- Boat Ramp
- Boat Dry Storage
- Kayak Rental
- Senac Creek Nature Center
- Shelter Rental
- Stand-Up Paddle Board Rental (SUP)
Recreation
- Archery
- Biking
- Boating
- Dog-friendly
- Education Programs
- Equipment Rental
- Fishing
- Playground
- Picnicking
- SCUBA
- Swimming
- Windsurfing
Senac Creek Nature Center at Aurora Reservoir
The Aurora Reservoir website states that “Entrance to the nature center and reservoir property is FREE if visiting the nature center ONLY.”
However, if you have the time, we would recommend purchasing a day pass or annual pass to visit the reservoir and have a fun afternoon! The nature center is located near the beach area. There is a restroom close to it.
The nature center hours vary. We would recommend calling ahead of time to make sure they are open. The nature center staff are very knowledgeable about the reservoir and creatures that life in and around it.
There are activities and games within the center that help you learn about the animals and habitat. When we went, there was an activity that you could catch “fish” with a fishing rod. There were also bins of water that allowed us to observe the insects within the water. We learned about the water quality of the reservoir.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Aurora Reservoir a state park? It is not a state park. It is ran by the City of Aurora.
