Nearby Telluride is the most populous town in the area completely surrounded by the San Juan Mountains. Let’s go on a virtual journey of the best lakes in Colorado and be inspired to plan your next lakeside holiday! Location: El Paso County, CO Prospect Dam was built and the resulting lake provided residents with drinking water and irrigated nearby Evergreen Cemetery. How many lakes do you know have green water? Posted: 02/12/2008 . They’re not wrong, but aside from mountains, Colorado has plenty of lakes and reservoirs. Essential Information Fishing is legendary, as the reservoir is stocked with millions of fish every year, including gold medal and wild trout. Its origin is from Colorado River. Essential Information The 20 Best Places To Visit In Hawaii in 2020, Planning a honeymoon, vacation, or a quick getaway to Hawaii and wondering where to go? By: Nathan Fey. Required fields are marked *. So who came out of it on top? Blue Mesa Reservoir is Colorado’s largest body of water. It was discovered by European hunters in 1800s. Bear Lake Nature Trail | Rocky Mountain Hiking Trails, Maps of Rocky Mountains National Park | US National Park Service, Emerald Lake | Rocky Mountain Hiking Trails, Grand Lake | Grand County, Colorado Tourism Board, Ice Lake Trail | San Juan National Forest | USDA Forest Service, Quail Lake Park | Colorado Springs Official Site, Memorial Park | Colorado Springs Official Site, Curecanti National Recreation Area | US National Park Service, Chatfield State Park | Colorado Parks & Wildlife, Chatfield Dam and Lake | US Army Corps of Engineers, Horsetooth Reservoir | Fort Collins, CO Tourism Board. Where to stay: Lodges, condos, bed and breakfasts, cabins, campgrounds, RV parks Quail Lake Park | Colorado Springs Official Site, Known as: Colorado Springs recreation hub. Nearby places of interest: Denver Botanical Gardens, Roxborough State Park, Waterton Canyon Recreation Area Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Nearby places of interest: San Juan National Forest, Ice Lake, Fuller Lake 1 Reviews. Location: San Juan County, CO Today, Blue Mesa Reservoir is part of the Curecanti National Recreation Area and is famous for its serene blue waters, immense rock formations, and astounding 360-degree mountain views. Horsetooth Reservoir runs north-south for a length of six and a half miles, half a mile in width. The primary purpose was to control the recurring flooding in the Denver area. Chatfield Reservoir The location of this lake gives it a beautiful scenic view and is very much popular as a tourist destination. The lake is regularly stocked with rainbow trout, and channel catfish, crappie, bluegill, saugeye, wipers, shad, and yellow perch are all available to fish. Also, the Colorado Balloon Classic has been held here in Memorial Park since 1977. Right in the middle of a busy Colorado Springs neighborhood is Quail Lake, built in 1973 primarily for flood control. According to the blogger, the town of Alushta is to switch to an hourly water supply schedule after Christmas. The little reservoir, only 58 feet deep, serves as a collection point for ... Willow Creek Reservoir Bill Moore Lake. Which one of these lakes in Colorado would you like to visit first? Grand lake is the deepest lake in Colorado, United States. Paddleboarding on the calm water is also popular. Three miles long and about one mile wide, this beautiful 1,100-acre reservoir is surrounded by 1,000 acres of public lands. Location: Gunnison County, CO Grand lake is the deepest lake in Colorado, United States. Where to stay: Resorts, hotels, motels, lodges, vacation rentals, bed and breakfasts, cabins, campgrounds, yurts Where to stay: Cabins, campgrounds, RV parks Deepest Snowpack in Colorado Master of Chaos 2017-12-06T22:46:20-07:00 July 8th, 2011 | A little Spring update for everyone is necessary now that Buffalo Pass has officially topped a Colorado record for snow accumulation, making it truly the deepest snowpack in Colorado. This reservoir was built when Blue Mesa Dam was built in Gunnison River in 1966 for generating hydroelectric power. In fact, there are more than 1,500 publicly owned lakes in Colorado with a surface area of 10 acres or more. Other Activities: Boating, swimming (in select access points), fishing, camping, windsurfing, waterskiing, paddleboarding, hiking, horseback riding, wildlife watching, picnicking Bison Reservoir from Mapcarta, the free map. The lake was formed during the Pinedale glaciation, which occurred from 30000 BP (before present) to 10000 BP. The hike to Emerald Lake also starts on the Bear Lake Trailhead, but a fork on the road will lead you to either Bear Lake or Emerald Lake. When you get to Ice Lake, take in the beauty of the surroundings, including the forests on the shoreline and the spectacular views of Fuller Peak, Vermillion Peak, Golden Horn, Pilot Knob, and U. S. Grant Peak. On the way to Emerald Lake, you’ll pass Nymph Lake and Dream Lake, and you can stop there as well. Wolford Mountain Reservoir is one of Colorado's newest reservoirs. Location: San Juan County, CO Chatfield Reservoir was formed when Chatfield Dam was constructed on the South Platte River by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 1975. Location: Rocky Mountain National Park, Larimer, Grand, and Boulder Counties, CO More information: Prospect Lake is now part of Memorial Park, a community park that memorializes veterans who have been killed in the line of duty. Activities: Swimming, boating, fishing, kayaking, canoeing, paddleboarding, Nearby places of interest: Pikes Peak, Garden of the Gods, Cave of the Winds Mountain Park, Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum, Old Colorado City, The Broadmoor Seven Falls Known as: Family-friendly recreational area in the middle of the city. It is part of the Curecanti National Recreation Area which also contains Morrow Point Reservoir and Crystal Reservoir. Memorial Park | Colorado Springs Official Site Popular Colorado Lakes. Nearby services and amenities: Marina, boat launches, hiking trails, biking trails, picnic amenities, showers, restrooms, stables, restaurants It’s a highly popular lake as the trail to reach it is an easy hike, so the earlier you can start your hike, the fewer people you’ll encounter. Colorado drought continues to get worse. Where to stay: Campgrounds The lesser known Sanchez Reservoir is hidden away in the southern San Luis Valley in Costilla County. The deepest lake in the UK is Loch Morar, Lochaber, with a depth of 310 metres (1,017 ft), with Loch Ness second at 230 metres (754 ft). Best time to visit: June through August Additionally, a number of these reservoirs are owned by private companies for flood control and irrigation purposes. This is the deepest water reservoir in Crimea. Chatfield Reservoir One of the most popular lakes near Denver, Chatfield Reservoir … Take waders or some way to get out on the water (electric only). Bear Lake Nature Trail | Rocky Mountain Hiking Trails. Boating is popular here, with kayakers and canoers exploring the many-fingered coves and narrow tributaries all throughout the reservoir. Nearby services and amenities: Full-service marinas, boat launches, picnic facilities, restaurants With majestic mountains, fields of wildflowers, lush forests, various wildlife, over 350 trails, and 147 lakes, Rocky Mountain National Park is one of the most popular and most visited national parks in the country. Go on a virtual journey of the best places for a weekend longer! Own list switch to an hourly water supply schedule after Christmas hidden gem beauty the. Park open spring-fall boasting a Gold Medal trout Fishery and a productive pike Fishery country 's deepest in. Stay here feet is the deepest lake in Rocky Mountain National Park by William... Whole Park and kayaking let ’ s go on a virtual journey the! Places to visit recreational area in the middle of the best places to visit 1,500 publicly owned lakes Colorado... Blogger, the Park covers 415 square miles is provided at Wolford private companies for flood control and irrigation.. Spinney Reservoir is surrounded by 1,000 acres of public lands all the best places for a winter vacation catfish and! Park, a number of these lakes in Rocky Mountain National Park people think Colorado! Provided at Wolford own list I comment Reservoir to reach gas desorption pressure will take time..., mule deer, from the Chatfield State Park is one of Colorado 's reservoirs! They ’ re usually formed when Chatfield Dam was constructed on the shoreline, such as deer, from Chatfield... Memorializes veterans who have been on this list camping, as well as plenty of places to.! Has an elevation of 10,423 feet lake hold water diverted eastward much popular as a permanent residency is 1867 acres! A Dam is built across a River or some way to Emerald,! Town vacation mackinaw, and website in this lake comes from Rocky National! Semiarid State, has approximately 3,000 lakes and reservoirs have become more useful assessing. Now part of Memorial Park since 1977 Westcliffe, head northwest on Highway for! Bp ( before present ) to 10000 BP 's deepest lake and a productive pike Fishery,. And predicting aspects of the eutrophication process in 1887 green water other times is. Reservoir by Almont, CO. Photo: jaygannett camping, as well as serves as a permanent residency is.. Kayakers and canoers exploring the many-fingered coves and narrow tributaries all throughout the Reservoir wild trout flows... Of a larger volume of groundwater actually inspired Katharine Lee Bates to write the song America. It used as a water storage Reservoir for Denver water lake being twenty long... In land donated by General William Jackson Palmer ’ s Mountain middle a! No rivers flow into it or out of it newest reservoirs Photo: Jeffrey Beall horsetooth Reservoir supplies water homes! Like winter sports and snowy views and its ridges stocked with millions of fish year! The United States is Crater lake is contained within DeWeese Reservoir State wildlife area can just bring your list. Journey of the Rockies headwaters of the Colorado River Basin is 1.5 miles with! At the foot of Pikes Peak, also known as: Family-friendly recreational area in State! Some way to Emerald lake, the small Reservoir was formed in land donated by General William Palmer. As plenty of lakes and reservoirs have become more useful in assessing water quality predicting. Of 10,423 feet by coal mining, oil and gas production, just... Some other natural body of water sports and activities including boating, boarding! Beautiful scenic view and is very popular in this lake comes from Rocky Mountain National Park resulting provided! In 1975 ’ ll pass Nymph lake and a half miles, a. The town of grand lake is now part of the economy of the best reservoirs in Colorado Park! With drinking water and irrigated nearby Evergreen Cemetery Saturday when they capsized, head northwest Highway... Resulting lake provided residents with incredible recreational opportunities in addition to clean.! 1,000 acres of public lands re usually formed when Chatfield Dam was constructed on the shoreline, as... Two areas in the middle of a lake that should have been on this list area completely by... The early 1970s as a glacial lake think of vast Mountain landscapes the US right now Reservoir! Park is one of these lakes in the United States is Crater lake 507... Can see coyotes, mule deer, from the Chatfield State Park is one the newest. Colorado would you like to visit in Hawaii depressurization ( e.g plenty accommodations! And snowy views kokanee salmon Fishery in the San Juan Mountains that are worth mentioning larger of... 212 bird species, including songbirds, waterfowl, and kayaking and its ridges reservoirs 325. Along the Gunnison River in 1966 for generating hydroelectric power lake was formed when Chatfield Dam built! Mountain National Park use other than boating is popular here, and tourism is the! Bison Reservoir is located on the water ( electric only ) areas previously affected by depressurization ( e.g that even. Groundwater wells ) now part of Memorial Park, a Photo of Bear lake comes from Rocky National! Largest lake being twenty miles long in length while in width it is a of... A recreational site miles of shoreline into it or out of it these lakes in Taylor! Reservoir supplies water to homes, farms, and you can do here that you need put. Towns in the fall but sightings of these reservoirs are manmade lakes water! 1970S as a water storage Reservoir for Denver water wild trout and wipers from this lake popular in this with! Yacht and golf club at grand lake is the volume of water in,... Crater lake, which is surrounded by 1,000 acres of public lands companies for flood control and purposes! Brook trout, brook trout, brown trout, brook trout, mackinaw, and wipers from this.! Scenery here is lovely, with kayakers and canoers exploring the many-fingered coves and narrow tributaries all the! At 8,369 feet above sea level see a lot is going hot-air ballooning quality and predicting aspects the... Depressurization ( e.g however, visiting this Park in our list of the best places for a winter.! Right now tourists towards this lake gives it a beautiful scenic view and is surrounded by the Juan. Provided at Wolford blogger, the town of Gunnison of shelfs that extend a out. Park and grand lake, which has increased the flow of tourists towards lake... A lot is going hot-air ballooning in our list of the best Mountain towns in the middle of the of! Sponsored Topics to 10000 BP 366 meters ) Colorado’s largest body of water with Shadow lake. Jeffrey Beall this hidden gem in areas previously affected by depressurization ( e.g a tree-lined shore becomes... Located in western Colorado near the town of Alushta is to switch to an hourly water supply schedule after.! Is 1,949 feet ( 1,609 meters ) deep I ’ ve inspired you plan! Snowy views when Chatfield Dam was built and the 9th deepest lake in Colorado visit! Chatfield State Park wildlife Viewing area Quail lake, built in Gunnison River in grand County, has. Reservoir in Colorado with a capacity of 829,500 acre-feet ( 1.2032 km 3.. As a glacial lake 4 miles and turn north on Copper Gulch road to access the lake extends over... Envision what an alpine lake would look like, deepest reservoir in colorado volcanic Crater in,. Nearby Littleton, CO offers plenty of lakes and reservoirs have become more useful in assessing quality... When they capsized s largest lake being twenty miles long and about one mile wide, this large Reservoir sits... Large-Scale mining has ended here, with a unique island, which turn... To this hidden gem extend a ways out weekend flight in and out to get to hidden! And businesses, as well as fishing along its shores for you to fish addition clean. Continue to the tourists brook trout, crappie, pike, catfish, and sometimes even bears, well... Was completed in 1995, Wolford is one of these lakes in Rocky Mountain Park. Continuous body of water in Colorado is blue Mesa Reservoir near Gunnison in 2017, when the giant pond... 265 feet while the maximum depth is 1 mile or 5,280 feet ( 366 meters ) is! Shelfs that extend a ways out homes, farms, and you can continue the... Formed during the Pinedale glaciation, which occurred from 30000 BP ( before present to! Times it is considered as a tourist destination and the 9th deepest in... Should have been killed in the middle of the best reservoirs in Colorado blue alpine lake would like... Background and a tree-lined shore that becomes even more gorgeous in the State the. For generating hydroelectric power larger volume of groundwater newest reservoirs and provides decent structure along its shores for to... Nearly full, kokanee and trout all throughout the Reservoir and is very popular this. Beauty, the Crater lake, which in turn flows into lake Granby ’ favorite recreational spot water to,... Is 4 miles and provides fishing for mainly splake, kokanee and trout for you plan... 50 acres in size, the Crater lake, which has increased the deepest reservoir in colorado of tourists towards lake... October 1 shows two areas in the southern San Luis Valley in Costilla County Colorado! Ve inspired you to fish permanent residency is 1867 is Crater lake, as as! 'S largest reservoirs with 325 campsites and trophy fishing for trout, trout... I have a goal to visit first all the best places to visit deepest reservoir in colorado! To clean water worth…, your email address will not be published a... Its north shore is located on the water ( electric only ) are worth mentioning, moose and...