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Gross Reservoir 19 mi
Photo: SOTMUS, CC BY-SA 4.0 
Carter Reservoir 11 mi
Photo: KimonBerlin, CC BY-SA 2.0 
Big Thompson River 15 mi
Photo: G. Lamar, CC BY 2.0 
Monarch Lake 21 mi
Photo: Jeffrey Beall, CC BY 4.0
Colorado lakes and reservoirs
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Button Rock Reservoir Fishing
A 222-acre Colorado reservoir in Boulder County at 6,403 feet.
Pick for salmonPiscifun Viper X spinning reel50% OFFSale $39.99 Photo of Lake Estes: Sarbjit Bahga, CC BY-SA 4.0
Boulder County
Getting to know Button Rock Reservoir
Its mapped shoreline gives Button Rock Reservoir close to 222 acres, all charted in Boulder County. At around 6,403 feet, it sits below the high peaks. CPW files it under Button Rock Preserve. The closest town on the Census list is Lyons, some 6 miles away. It belongs to the CPW Northeast Region.
CPW sets the boating rule as None. The Fishing Atlas rates access as medium and fishing pressure as low. Through the ice season: ice fishing listed as no.
222acres
6,403feet elevation
0boat ramps
1atlas access points
CPW Fishing Atlas 2025 layers (waterbody outline, Boatable Waters, fishing locations), Census places, retrieved October 25, 2026.
Access
Ramps CPW maps at Button Rock Reservoir
There is no mapped ramp on Button Rock Reservoir; see the list of close ones.
Fishing access points at Button Rock Reservoir
- Ralph Price Reservoirmedium access, stocked: sub-catchables, 6,403 ft
Backup boat ramps near Button Rock Reservoir
- Marina on Carter ReservoirCarter Reservoir, 13 miles northeast
- Boulder City Reservoir boat rampBoulder City Reservoir, 13 miles southeast
- Lonetree Reservoir boat ramp near LovelandLonetree Reservoir, 15 miles northeast
- Lon Hagler boat ramp near LovelandLon Hagler Reservoir, 16 miles northeast
- Boedecker Reservoir boat rampBoedecker Reservoir, 17 miles northeast
CPW boat ramp and Fishing Atlas fishing location layers, retrieved October 25, 2026.
Limits
Fish legal to carry home from Button Rock Reservoir
| Species | Bag and possession | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Trout, arctic char, grayling, salmon and whitefish (not kokanee) | Daily bag 4, possession 8, in aggregate | Open all year, day and night, unless a special regulation says otherwise |
| Brook trout 8 inches or less (bonus) | Daily bag 10, possession 10 | Open all year, day and night, unless a special regulation says otherwise |
| Kokanee salmon | Daily bag 10, possession 10 | Open all year, day and night, unless a special regulation says otherwise |
| Walleye, saugeye and sauger | Daily bag 5, possession 5, in aggregate | Open all year, day and night, unless a special regulation says otherwise |
| Largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass | Daily bag 5, possession 5, in aggregate | Open all year, day and night, unless a special regulation says otherwise |
| White bass, striped bass and wiper | Daily bag 10, possession 10, in aggregate | Open all year, day and night, unless a special regulation says otherwise |
| Channel, flathead and blue catfish | Daily bag 10, possession 10, in aggregate | Open all year, day and night, unless a special regulation says otherwise |
| White and black crappie | Daily bag 20, possession 20, in aggregate | Open all year, day and night, unless a special regulation says otherwise |
| Bluegill and other sunfish | Daily bag 20, possession 20, in aggregate | Open all year, day and night, unless a special regulation says otherwise |
| Yellow perch | Daily bag 20, possession 20 | Open all year, day and night, unless a special regulation says otherwise |
| Tiger muskie | Daily bag 1, possession 1; at least 36 inches long | Open all year, day and night, unless a special regulation says otherwise |
| Northern pike and bullhead | No bag or possession limit | Open all year, day and night, unless a special regulation says otherwise |
The drainage column of the limits chart puts Button Rock Reservoir east of the Continental Divide. Waters stay open day and night all year in Colorado; the chart rows set the bag at Button Rock Reservoir.
Special regulations written for Button Rock Reservoir
| Water as printed | Rule | Brochure |
|---|---|---|
| Button Rock (Ralph Price) Reservoir | Artificial flies and lures only. Bag and possession limit for trout is 2. Fishing prohibited Nov. 1–April 30. | p. 14 |
Special regulations as printed in the 2026 Colorado Fishing brochure (CPW, season March 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027), pp. 11 to 39, checked against CPW Chapter W-1 (as approved 13 November 2025); retrieved October 2026.
Statewide bag and possession chart, 2026 Colorado Fishing brochure (CPW, season March 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027), p. 10, retrieved October 25, 2026.
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Button Rock Reservoir beside its neighbors
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Elevation ft | Boat ramps | On the trout report |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Button Rock Reservoir | 222 | 6,403 | 0 | ||
| McCall Lake | 9 miles east | 48 | 5,189 | 0 | yes |
| Poplar Pond – Belly Boat #2 | 10 miles east | 7 | 5,098 | 0 | yes |
| Dragonfly Pond – Belly Boat #1 | 10 miles east | 12 | 5,091 | 0 | |
| Clearwater Pond – Belly Boat #3 | 10 miles east | 16 | 5,087 | 0 | yes |
| Sunset Lake – Pella Crossing | 11 miles east | 17 | 5,069 | 0 |
CPW Fishing Atlas, ramp layer and stocking report, retrieved October 25, 2026.
Nearby
Around Button Rock Reservoir on the map
Reservoirs and ponds near Button Rock Reservoir
- McCall Lake9 miles east
- Poplar Pond – Belly Boat #210 miles east
- Dragonfly Pond – Belly Boat #110 miles east
- Clearwater Pond – Belly Boat #310 miles east
- Sunset Lake – Pella Crossing11 miles east
Stores that stock up Button Rock Reservoir trips
- Lyons Anglerfly shop, Lyons, 5 miles
- Carter Lake Marina Incmarina, Loveland, 13 miles
- Woods and Water Outfittersbait and tackle shop, Longmont, 14 miles
- Rise Form Fliesbait and tackle shop, Boulder, 14 miles
- Laughing Grizzly Fly Shopfly shop, Longmont, 14 miles
- Angles Sportssporting goods store, Longmont, 15 miles
Hiring a guide for Button Rock Reservoir
- Arbor Anglersfishing guide, Lafayette, (303) 562-7202
- Front Range Anglersfishing guide, Boulder, (303) 494-1375
- Flatirons Fly Shop, Inc.fly fishing guide, Boulder
- Laughing Grizzly Fly Shop, Inc.fly fishing guide, Longmont
Nearest towns to Button Rock Reservoir
- Lyons6 miles
- Estes Park13 miles
- Niwot14 miles
Button Rock Reservoir on the county pages
- Boulder Countyseat: Boulder
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Piscifun gear to pack for Button Rock Reservoir
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In photos
Photo views of fishing water near Button Rock Reservoir
Photo: SOTMUS, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: KimonBerlin, CC BY-SA 2.0
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Photo: G. Lamar, CC BY 2.0
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Photo: Jeffrey Beall, CC BY 4.0
Answers
Colorado anglers ask this about Button Rock Reservoir
In what part of the state is Button Rock Reservoir?
Boulder County, CPW Northeast Region, about 6 miles from Lyons.
Is Button Rock Reservoir a big reservoir?
About 222 acres, at about 6,403 feet.
Can a trailered boat get onto Button Rock Reservoir from a mapped ramp?
Not mapped; carry in or use a nearby ramp.
Are trout part of the fishery at Button Rock Reservoir?
No roster exists for it.
What bag limit does the CPW chart set at Button Rock Reservoir?
Trout, arctic char, grayling, salmon and whitefish (not kokanee): Daily bag 4, possession 8, in aggregate. Check the special regulation rows above as well.
Is a CPW license required to fish Button Rock Reservoir?
Everyone 16 and older needs a CPW fishing license: $44.87 a year for adult residents, $124.01 for nonresidents, or $18.07 for a resident one-day license.
Has CPW listed Button Rock Reservoir for stocking recently?
No listing on the CPW trout report since 2024.
Which store on the list is nearest Button Rock Reservoir?
Lyons Angler, about 5 miles away.
Is Button Rock Reservoir an ice fishing spot?
Its winter entry reads ice fishing listed as no; drill test holes first.
Put Button Rock Reservoir on this season's list
License prices and the full limits chart are on one page.