Thornton Lakes

Lakes Near Thornton

When the weather is right you just need to spend some time near the water. Lucky for you, when you visit Thornton there are lots of options for getting on, or in the water.

There are many great arguments for a getaway to a lake in Thornton while it’s hot outside – the water is refreshing on hot days, relaxing summer activities like paddle boarding, kayaking, or swimming. Some of the lakes in Thornton have beaches you can enjoy while building sandcastles with the family. Take a look at the data below and have a look your options including small lakes with beaches to larger lakes for you to enjoy.

Lakes Close to Thornton

A Day at the Lake: An Itinerary

A quick excursion to a lake, or a longer trip gives you an almost boundless list of things to do for families, couples, or even those looking for some quality alone time.

Now we’ll run down a list of some of the best things to do when you arrive at a lake near Thornton:

Grab a board. If you like to paddle around, load up your preferred vessel and chart your course to a lake with a boat launch and start paddling around to enjoy the scenery on the waterfront.

Go for a swim. Finding a swimming lake near Thornton will offer all kinds of laughs and games for the big kids and little ones, or plenty of exercise for those looking to be active in between working on their tan. If you want to spend time swimming and on the beach you’ll want to be sure your lake has a nice swimming area and a sandy beach to spread out on before you make the trip! You know as well as we do that a swimming pool doesn’t offer as much to do as a magnificent public beach on a lake near Thornton!

Have a picnic. Thornton’s lakes provide all sorts of top-notch picnic areas for you to pack up some culinary delights, or a quick snack while enjoying the scenery. If you’re with that special someone, a picnic on the beach should be suitably romantic.

Lake Checklist

Your plan for a lake getaway can honestly be all over the map depending on the specific lake you’ll be visiting, the time of year, the weather, and the activities on your to-do list. To make things easier we’ve built out a short list of some of the most common lake and beach-related items that you can use as a checklist before you hit the road.

General items

If the plan is to be in the sun for most of the vacation, our list of provisions below is an excellent place to start for essentials you are likely to need.

  • Radio or speaker
  • Bug spray
  • Swimsuits
  • Snacks
  • Travel dinnerware and cups
  • Sunscreen
  • Dry shirt
  • A cooler and drinks
  • A sunhat or glasses
  • A blanket or sheet

Specialty lake stuff

The list of items below can make your life easier for trips to the lake depending on what your plans are. You may want to double check some of these before heading out.

  • Diapers (if a baby’s on board)
  • Fishing poles, nets, etc.
  • Life jackets
  • Bait
  • Tackle box and lures
  • Corkscrew
  • Licenses and registration for boating and fishing
  • Hand sanitizers or moist towelettes
  • Goggles or masks
  • Rafts for the kids

Lake Safety

While a day at your favorite body of water can provide ample amounts of fun, you always have to keep safety in mind. A day on the lake means safety first so here are some important safety tips.

  • Make sure no one swims alone
  • Always wear sunblock
  • Make sure children have swimmies or other approved flotation devices
  • Make sure you have a life jacket for every person on the boat
  • Have an escape plan for what to do if you get stuck on a boat that capsizes or tips over
  • Avoid drinking alcohol while boating
  • Avoid swimming near rocks or shallow water areas that may not be deep enough to dive underneath and escape from waves

More Thornton Lake Tips

Some people may not get the opportunity to visit the amazing lakes around Thornton and might have a lot of questions regarding planning. Obviously, no matter where you go each lake will have their own character and surroundings, but here are a couple key points to review while assembling your itinerary that might help you end up with a winning itinerary.

  1. Make the most of the best assets in the area. When you have time for a lengthier trip, find local state parks and recreation areas which give you the ability to camp directly on the water at an affordable price.
  2. Pay attention to the beaches. Depending on the time of year, occasionally the beaches near Thornton could be very busy. To find more space to yourself, do some digging on a variety of lakes in the area to learn about how busy they are to find one with a slower pace. If you want to be where the party’s at, search out the biggest, most happening sandy party scene!
  3. No boat, no problem. It’s common that lakes will have nearby marinas that offer boat rentals. Boats are expensive to own, but a rental will still allow you to enjoy fishing with family and friends or tubing with the kids. Using a search engine can usually help you find several places that can hook you up with the right vessel.