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Palmer Reservoir

Colorado Springs, Colorado — El Paso County.

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8.9Surface acres

Surface area: The USGS National Hydrography Dataset outline (NHD Permanent ID 128018858).

Getting there

Flying here

The closest airport with scheduled passenger flights to Palmer Reservoir, plus larger airports within about 150 miles:

Driving here

Pick up a rental car at the airport you fly into and drive to Palmer Reservoir.

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Staying here

Look for hotels in and around Colorado Springs, CO.

Search hotels near Colorado Springs, CO on Klook

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Airports with scheduled airline service from OurAirports (large and medium airports); larger airports are FAA large, medium and small hubs by FAA CY2025 enplanements ("major airport" = FAA large hub). Distances are straight-line from the lake's center, not driving distance; road routes are longer.

Things to do near Palmer Reservoir

Look up tours, activities and attraction tickets around Colorado Springs, CO on Klook.

Browse things to do near Colorado Springs, CO on Klook

Activity links go to our partner Klook; LakeRipple may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Affiliate disclosure.

Boat rentals near Palmer Reservoir

Browse boat, pontoon and kayak rentals and charters listed on GetMyBoat.

Boat rentals in Colorado Springs, CO on GetMyBoat

Listings, prices and availability are set by GetMyBoat and its hosts. Check the lake's own boating rules before you go.

Location & fast facts

Where Palmer Reservoir is in Colorado

The red circle marks Palmer Reservoir.

Fast facts

About Palmer Reservoir

  • County: El Paso
  • Nearest city: Colorado Springs (about 2.7 mi from the lake)
  • Mapped as: Lake or pond (USGS National Hydrography Dataset)
  • Distance: about 10 mi from Colorado Springs and 56 mi from Denver, straight-line (not driving distance)

Towns and counties: U.S. Census Bureau boundaries overlaid on the USGS lake outline (Colorado: incorporated places touching the lake, otherwise the nearest one).

Fishing in Colorado

Official CPW pages. Rules and fees change; check before you go.

Good for & watch for

Good for

  • Camping. 32 campgrounds within 15 mi (list)

Watch for

    Built only from the data on this page: official access lists, OpenStreetMap beaches and trails, campground listings, state and USGS invasive-species records. We don't rate crowds or water quality.

    Lake map

    Palmer Reservoir shoreline

    0.1 mileN

    No public access sites are listed for this water in the OpenStreetMap boat ramps (no statewide agency ramp layer used) data.

    Shoreline: USGS National Hydrography Dataset (NHD Waterbody, Permanent ID 128018858), public domain. State outline: U.S. Census Bureau TIGERweb. Points: OpenStreetMap boat ramps (no statewide agency ramp layer used). Interactive map: Leaflet with © OpenStreetMap contributors. Not for navigation.

    Campgrounds near Palmer Reservoir

    We found 32 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles of Palmer Reservoir, 3 of them within 5 miles. Distances are straight-line from the nearest point on the shoreline, so driving distance is longer.

    14 more within 15 miles

    All campgrounds & RV parks in Colorado

    Green tent icons on the lake map mark campgrounds near the shore, and the interactive map shows the closest 12. Amenities are listed only where a source records them; call or check the campground's website before you go, since seasons and rates change every year.

    Campground data: Recreation.gov (RIDB) · OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Pulled Oct 12, 2026.

    Conditions right now

    Air temperature & conditions (nearest NWS station)Loading…
    Fetching the latest National Weather Service observation…

    Live from the National Weather Service API for the lake's coordinates (38.9363, -104.9499). The nearest station may be several miles away. NWS forecast for Palmer Reservoir. No live water-temperature sensor is shown because we haven't found a public one for this lake.

    Sun, moon & best fishing times

    Sun & moon at Palmer Reservoir

    Best fishing times

    Major periodMinor periodDaylight

      Based on solunar theory, an estimate. Major periods (about 2 hours) center on when the moon is directly overhead or underfoot; minor periods (about 1 hour) center on moonrise and moonset. The 0–100 activity score rises during those periods and gets a boost near sunrise and sunset and around the new and full moon. Weather, water temperature and pressure often matter more. Sun and moon times are calculated in your browser from the lake's coordinates with standard astronomy formulas, shown in MT (America/Denver), and accurate to within a few minutes.

      Fishing gear for Palmer Reservoir

      Basic freshwater tackle for a day on Palmer Reservoir. These open Amazon search results; check your state's fishing rules for the water before you buy bait or tackle.

      As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Affiliate disclosure.

      Contact & official info

      Questions about Palmer Reservoir

      How big is Palmer Reservoir?

      Palmer Reservoir covers about 9 acres in Colorado Springs, Colorado (El Paso County).

      Are there campgrounds near Palmer Reservoir?

      Yes. We list 32 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles, 3 of them within 5 miles.

      What towns are on Palmer Reservoir?

      Palmer Reservoir touches Colorado Springs in El Paso County, Colorado.

      Share a tip or fishing report

      Know Palmer Reservoir? Tell us about the launch, parking, where they're biting or anything a first-time visitor should know. Tips go privately to the LakeRipple editor; nothing is posted automatically. Helpful tips may be featured on this page (we'll use your first name only if you give one).

      Lakes & ponds nearby

      Straight-line distance between lake centers. All Colorado lakes & ponds · All waters in Colorado Springs