Glendo Reservoir is southeastern Wyoming’s favorite summer playground – a 12,500-acre reservoir on the North Platte River with sandy beaches, warm open water and a statewide reputation for walleye. Wrapped by Glendo State Park and just off I-25, it draws boaters, water-skiers, campers and anglers by the thousands, including a big crowd up from Colorado, making it one of the busiest and most beloved lakes in the state.
This guide covers Glendo Reservoir: the fishing, the state park and water sports, and access. It’s part of our growing Wyoming Lakes Database.
Glendo Reservoir at a glance
- Surface area: ~12,500 acres on the North Platte River
- Location: Platte County, southeastern Wyoming (near Glendo & Wheatland)
- Built: Glendo Dam, completed 1957; the centerpiece of Glendo State Park
- Top fish: walleye, rainbow & brown trout, yellow perch, channel catfish, crappie
Fishing Glendo Reservoir
Glendo is one of Wyoming’s premier walleye lakes, with a strong population and good numbers of quality fish – trolling and jigging the points, flats and the old river channel produces all season. Beyond walleye, the lake holds rainbow and brown trout, abundant yellow perch, channel catfish and crappie. A Wyoming fishing license is required. The lake fishes well spring through fall and supports a winter ice fishery.
The state park, beaches and water sports
Glendo State Park is one of the most popular parks in Wyoming, with extensive campgrounds, sandy beaches, marinas and boat ramps. The warm, open water is ideal for water-skiing, wakeboarding, tubing, sailing and swimming, and summer weekends are lively and busy – the lake is an easy drive from Cheyenne and the Colorado Front Range. With many coves and a big main body, there’s room for anglers and water-sports crowds alike.
Getting there and what’s nearby
Glendo Reservoir is just east of the town of Glendo off I-25, about 1 hour north of Cheyenne and 30 minutes south of Douglas. Nearby Guernsey State Park and the Oregon Trail ruts at Guernsey add history to the trip.
Know before you go
- Fishing license: a Wyoming license is required.
- Busy in summer: a top water-sports lake – expect crowds on holiday weekends.
- Best seasons: spring and fall for walleye; summer for beaches and water sports; winter for ice fishing.
Frequently asked questions
What fish are in Glendo Reservoir?
Walleye (the headliner), rainbow and brown trout, yellow perch, channel catfish and crappie.
Is Glendo good for water sports?
Yes – Glendo State Park has sandy beaches, marinas and warm, open water that make it one of Wyoming’s most popular lakes for skiing, wakeboarding, tubing and swimming.
Where is Glendo Reservoir?
In Platte County, southeastern Wyoming, just off I-25 near the town of Glendo, about an hour north of Cheyenne.
Related: explore more of the largest lakes in Wyoming, or head back to the Wyoming Lakes Database.
