Lake Conditions
Illustrated map of Grand Lake

Lake levels

Lake Nighthorse, CO

water level
6880.13 ft
Condition
Low for this time of year
7-day change
-0.12 ft
30-day change
+0.14 ft
1-year change
-0.40 ft

Reading as of 2026-10-12 | the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation

Since yesterday
-0.04 ft
7-day change
-0.12 ft
30-day change
+0.14 ft
1-year change
-0.40 ft
Record high
6881.99 ft

In brief

Lake Nighthorse stood at 6,880.13 feet on Oct 12, 2026. That is lower than 92% of October readings since 2021.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Reclamation

Lake level timeline

6879.56879.86880.16880.46880.8SEP 12SEP 17SEP 22SEP 27OCT 02OCT 07OCT 12HIGH 6880.25LOW 6879.986880.13 ft

Records and averages

Current level6880.13 ft
Record high6881.99 ft (2021-06-15)
Record low6876.28 ft (2021-04-28)
Average of all readings6880.68 ft
Data span5 years (1,998 readings)

Level schematic

6,876.056,877.596,879.146,880.686,882.22PUBLISHED HIGH 6,881.99 ft6,880.13 ftPUBLISHED LOW 6,876.28 ft

Frequently asked questions

Is Lake Nighthorse full right now?

As of 2026-10-12, Lake Nighthorse sits at 6880.13 ft, which is low for this time of year. Over the past 30 days the level has risen 0.14 ft.

What is the water level at Lake Nighthorse today?

The most recent reading at Lake Nighthorse is 6880.13 ft (2026-10-12), sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. Readings on this page refresh automatically as the agency publishes new data.

What is the highest Lake Nighthorse has ever been?

The highest level for Lake Nighthorse in our records is 6881.99 ft on 2021-06-15. The lowest is 6876.28 ft on 2021-04-28. Our record covers about 5 years of readings.

Is Lake Nighthorse low for this time of year?

Compared with every October in our records, the current level is higher than 8% of them, which we classify as low for this time of year. Seasonal comparison matters more than the raw number, because most reservoirs draw down predictably through late summer and refill over winter and spring.

Why is Lake Nighthorse changing right now?

Reservoir levels move for four main reasons: rainfall and runoff into the basin, releases through the dam for downstream water supply, power generation or flood control, evaporation during hot months, and seasonal drawdown schedules set by the operating agency. Lake Nighthorse has risen 0.14 ft over the past 30 days. For the operational reason on any given week, check the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation directly.

How much has Lake Nighthorse changed over the past year?

Lake Nighthorse is -0.40 ft compared with this date last year (6880.13 ft today). The full-history chart above covers 5 years, with a record high of 6881.99 ft and a record low of 6876.28 ft.

Download and cite

Quote this reading

Lake Nighthorse stood at 6,880.13 feet on Oct 12, 2026. That is lower than 92% of October readings since 2021.

From the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, updated daily. The sentence changes with every new reading, so quote it with its date.

Download the full record

lake-nighthorse-co-water-level-history.csv

1,998 readings, Apr 22, 2021 to Oct 12, 2026. Daily readings. Columns: date, water_level_ft. 39 KB.

How to cite

MyWaterLevel, “Lake Nighthorse water level, 2021 to 2026,” data from U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, https://mywaterlevel.com/lake/co/lake-nighthorse/, accessed Oct 13, 2026.

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Source: the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. All Colorado lake levels. Readings are provisional and may be revised. About our data and methods.