Location:	Loveland, CO
Launch Site:	Mussel Beach is the gathering place for windsurfers during the sailing season. When the water level is high, there is a grass rigging area and a short walk to the water (50 ft). Low water levels bring a longer walk with muddier conditions at the shore line.
Lake Size:	Large when full
Best Wind Direction:	SE and NE are the best and can bring fun, onshore, flat water sailing conditions. Any wind direction with West in it brings shifty and sometimes gusty conditions.
General:	A large State Park Lake with a North and South section includes an inlet and marina splitting the two sections. The South section is designated for water skiing and the North section for jet skiing. Sailboats utilize both sections and windsurfing typically happens in the North section (although long cruises from North to South are a treat during the fall when user volume decreases). Higher winds limit jet ski use and windsurfing can be ideal during these times. Boyd Lake is sometimes called "The Bog" by locals because of muddier conditions during low water level times. When the water level is high, the sailing can be quite fun.. http://www.parks.state.co.us
Admission:	$6 per car. Season passes available. Colorado SP passes are good here.
Camping:	Available on the South end of the lake far from the Rigging/Sailing site at Mussel Beach. Day camping sites available near to the sailing site.
Site Pictures	None yet available
Submitted by:	Doug Whitman

 Via email from Doug Whitman, 4/19/10  

Of note, here are the directions from the Denver area:

North on I-25 to exit 257B
West on 34 for 3.5 miles
Right onto Madison Ave.
Head North on Madison for 2.5 miles
Right onto 37th (you'll be seeing Horseshoe Lake straight head at this point - this is not Boyd Lake)
Drive around the SE corner of Horeshoe lake and past the Headquarters of Boyd Lake State Park - you can buy an annual pass here if you wish)
After 1 mile on 37th, turn right into the entrance of Boyd Lake State Park.
Use your Sate Park Pass for entry or pay $6 for day use
Turn left at the first intersection
Drive North past the Boat ramp parking and head around the water inlet bay including the Marina area
Continue past the Group Picnic area
Drive past the first parking area (Heron Beach) and continue to the Mussel Beach Parking Area
Welcome to Mussel Beach and Boyd Lake windsurfing!

We're looking forward to the day.

I understand that the RMWA has to pay a $20 fee for using Boyd Lake for the event. Do you have this taken care of or do you need any assistance?

Of note (and spread the word), the water level is high currently (only 1 ft off the amximum), so the conditions should be pretty good and not near as muddy as it can be. I sailed last week at Boyd and things look promising for a good sailing season.

Via email from Don Pruitt, 3/23/09

BOYD state park INFO970/669-1739 Day or Annual pass required; sail craft only on north end. From Denver north to Loveland exit US 34, west on US 34 into Loveland. North on Madison to Larimer City Road 24 go east, then north on County Rd 11 to the lake entrance.

From Austin Topolnicki:

Most windsurfers from Fort Collins sail at Boyd Lake (A.K.A. Mud Lake). This lake sits in a hole and sometimes when it is blowing everywhere else, Boyd barely gets any wind. I have however been at Boyd when it goes off, these days the reaches can be long and the chop can set up steep to make for some great (for Colorado) sailing. Some people refer to it as Mud Lake since some of the shores are very muddy depending on the water level, and its the kind of mud that just wont rinse off of some things. In fact I had a board that had permanent muddy footprints on it from Boyd, because if the mud gets on the non-skid on the board it can be very difficult to remove - sometimes the only option was to sand down the area and reapply the non-skid.