Rueter-Hess Reservoir Opens for Water Recreation Starting March 28

The spots go fast. Rueter-Hess Reservoir kicked off its 2026 water recreation season Saturday, and Douglas County made one thing plain from the start: showing up without a parking reservation means turning around at the gate.

The reservoir, located east of I-25 near the Castle Pines Parkway exit in the Hess Road area northeast of Parker, opened to seasonal recreation on March 28. Operating days run Fridays through Mondays, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., through October. That four-day weekly window funnels a significant share of demand into a finite number of parking spots, and the county requires all visitors to reserve an all-day parking pass online before arriving. Walk-ups are not accommodated.

For the families, anglers, and paddleboarders who live within minutes of the reservoir, that reservation window is the real competition. Weekend slots, particularly Saturdays and Sundays, are the most contested. Anyone planning a day on the water should secure a spot through the county's recreation reservation portal well ahead of their intended visit, especially as summer approaches and demand builds.

Once on site, approved watercraft include paddleboards, canoes, kayaks, river pontoons, johnboats, and fishing watercraft equipped with electric trolling motors. Internal combustion engines are prohibited. The restriction reflects the reservoir's primary function: Rueter-Hess is a drinking-water storage asset managed in coordination with Parker Water & Sanitation District and neighboring municipalities, and water-quality protection governs nearly every recreation rule on the site.

Paddleboard and kayak rentals are expected to become available starting in late May, giving visitors without their own equipment an on-site option as the season heats up. Until then, bring your own.

Anglers need a valid Colorado fishing license in addition to a parking reservation. Life jackets are required on the water, and posted rules prohibit glass containers and restrict alcohol in designated areas.

Rueter-Hess has gradually expanded its recreation program over several years, with Douglas County, Parker Water & Sanitation District, and surrounding municipalities coordinating each phase to ensure public access doesn't compromise the reservoir's water-quality standards. The 2026 season opening continues that phased approach.

To plan a visit: parking passes and special fishing permits are both handled through the county's online recreation reservation portal. The lot does not offer first-come, first-served access, so reservations should be secured before making the drive out to Hess Road.