Wyoming’s capital sits on the high plains of the southeast corner, where lakes are spread out – but a short drive in any direction reaches good fishing and boating reservoirs, from a big lake near Laramie to the sandy beaches of the North Platte. This guide rounds up the best lakes near Cheyenne, WY. Each links to our full lake guide. This page is part of our Wyoming Lakes Database.
Best lakes near Cheyenne, by drive time
- Lake Hattie (~1 hr W). A large reservoir west of Laramie, popular for trout, walleye and kokanee and for sailing and boating on the windy Laramie plains.
- Grayrocks Reservoir (~1 hr N). A warm-water reservoir near Wheatland known as one of southeast Wyoming’s best largemouth bass and walleye lakes, with a quiet recreation area.
- Guernsey Reservoir (~1.5 hr N). Guernsey State Park has sandy beaches and warm water, a family favorite for swimming, boating and camping.
- Glendo Reservoir (~2 hr N). Wyoming’s top sandy-beach lake, with great walleye fishing, boating and camping at Glendo State Park.
What to do on the lakes near Cheyenne
The closest large lakes to Cheyenne take a bit of a drive: Lake Hattie to the west for trout and walleye, and Grayrocks to the north for some of the region’s best bass fishing. For a beach-and-camping weekend, Guernsey and Glendo reservoirs on the North Platte are well worth the trip. Closer to town, Curt Gowdy State Park (between Cheyenne and Laramie) offers smaller reservoirs for fishing and paddling. A Wyoming fishing license is required.
Frequently asked questions
What is the closest lake to Cheyenne, Wyoming?
Lake Hattie (about an hour west near Laramie) and Grayrocks Reservoir (about an hour north near Wheatland) are the closest big lakes, with the smaller reservoirs of Curt Gowdy State Park between Cheyenne and Laramie even closer.
Where can you fish for bass near Cheyenne?
Grayrocks Reservoir near Wheatland, about an hour north, is one of the best largemouth bass and walleye lakes in southeast Wyoming.
Where can you swim on a lake near Cheyenne?
Guernsey and Glendo reservoirs to the north have sandy swimming beaches and state parks, about 1.5 to 2 hours from Cheyenne.
Related: see the Wyoming walleye reservoirs, the best lakes in Wyoming, or head back to the Wyoming Lakes Database.
