Site migration work continues and will be completed by year end. -Colorado's Largest Reservoir, Blue Mesa has nearly 100 miles of shoreline and is over 20 miles long! In the winter, ice fishing is a popular pastime on the reservoir. They travel from the Gunnison river into the lake and back throughout the year and provide a variety of opportunities. If you have visited Blue Mesa Reservoir before, please tell us about it with a comment below. Blue Lake Trail. CO Highway 149 can also be reached via the Blue Mesa Road or Lake City Cutoff Road. We were a little surprised to find the road fairly narrow and nearly a one-lane path at times, even though the maps indicated it should be better quality. Blue Mesa Reservoir is Colorado’s largest body of water. On our drive in we spotted a bear briefly and a deer along the road farther up in the aspen forest. The cabin is a very clean, spacious retreat on a huge lakefront lot, complete with 6 bedrooms, 3 full baths and one half bath. Meet the Partners! Much of the shoreline is weedy; a boat is almost a necessity, except for the rocky areas where it's possible to … Aliases: West Elk Wilderness, South Baldy. Rainbow Lake, Miners Creek. In May and early June, large brown trout are a prime target. Make sure to bring your camera! This Single Family Residence is located at 3075 Rainbow Lake Dr, Lakeside, AZ. Habitat: Sagebrush, Grassland/Prairie, Lowland Riparian, Aspen Grove, Mixed Conifer Forest, Spruce-Fir Forest, Krummholz, Alpine Tundra. ... so here are some of the best I’ve found while out exploring. Our fund raising campaign has come to a close. After enjoying the lake for a bit we drove on and came to a camping site that was just beyond beautiful. The latitude and longitude coordinates of Blue Mesa Reservoir are 38.4713913, -107.2113433 and the approximate elevation is 7,523 feet (2,293 meters) above sea level. In the sagebrush look for Sage Thrashers and Brewer’s Sparrows; in the shrublands, for Green-tailed Towhees and MacGillivray’s Warblers. Enchanted Mesa & McClintock. Mesa Lakes Fair New. They can be caught in boats by casting and jiggind and are also caught trolling while fishing for kokanee and lakers, or targeted specifically. Prices and download plans . Rainbow Lake Retreat is a newly remodeled luxurious lakefront cabin in Pinetop-Lakeside, AZ. Perfect campsite. One could easily car-camp here overnight, but there's good camping back at Rainbow Lake and the smaller pond. 15.1 miles and turn north (right) onto FR724 (also known as the Rainbow Lake Road or County Road 3037). Legault Mountain. I was fortunate in 1998 to have stumbled on an acre on 200 feet of lakefront property on Rainbow Lake. Again, the road is poorly marked. Our valley offers both great river and stream fishing and lake fishing. This is trophy trout fishing with a quality over quantity mindset in an effort to catch the lake trout of a lifetime! WINTER Ice-fishing from Mid-December to Late-March. Thanks to Bill Schmoker and Glenn Giroir for use of their images. Both are dirt roads suitable for cars in good weather. The Gunnison Valley is home to Colorado’s state-record brown, rainbow, kokanee salmon and lake trout and offers the best fishing in the state. We offer fully guided fishing trips on Blue Mesa Reservoir and Morrow Point Reservoir, May - September for trophy Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Kokanee Salmon, and Lake Trout. Most lakes will not allow large motorboats. The largest lake in Colorado, the Blue Mesa is home to brown and rainbow trout, salmon and more. This property was originally built in 1981. 38 talking about this. I am a private owner. Surrounded by the Rocky Mountains, Arkansas River and bathed in Colorado sunshine, Rainbow Lake is a perfect outdoor playground. The actual trailhead is about a quarter mile past the turnoff for Rainbow Lake. The Colorado Birding Trail was made possible by a joint effort of many federal, state and non-profit agencies and most especially, the people of Colorado. All rights reserved. The fall spawning season is the best time to … 1.9 Miles / 419 ft. Elevation Gain. The 11 mile drive required about a half hour. All Rights Reserved. From the turnoff for FR724, it's appx. The clear, blue, mountain water of the fjord-like lake draws anglers, nature lovers, and vacationers from all over. 6 Miles / 994 ft. Elevation Gain. Several at-large, primitive sites can be found on the drive in to Rainbow Lake, mostly along the last few miles, once you get up into higher altitude forest. If coming from Montrose, after US50 crosses Blue Mesa Reservoir on the bridge, continue driving east another 7.1 miles and turn north (left) onto FR724 as above. 2690 Rainbow Lake Dr is within the school district Blue Ridge Unified District with nearby schools including Blue Ridge Elementary School, Blue Ridge Jr High School, and Blue Ridge High School. Blue Mesa Reservoir is open year-round. Rainbow Lakes Campground. Bring warm clothes (an array of layers for freezing temps in the morning hours), food/ beverage, and a fishing license. Blue Lake Trail. Blue Mesa Reservoir is the largest Kokanee Salmon fishery in the United States. It was not rocky however or too rough, just terribly wash-boarded. Learn More. I am not a Realtor or Management Company. We left Hooper CO behind and headed to Blue Mesa RV Campground just past the town of Gunnison CO. ... We thought that the road ended at Rainbow Lake, but it went on a little further. From the center of Gunnison, drive west on US50 for appx. One block south of Arizona 260, using either Rainbow Lake Road or Lake View Road. Good size lakers can also be taken at this time but the main fish all year round is rainbow trout. 5.2 Miles / 1,233 ft ... Rainbow Lake, Miners Creek. The wildflowers are stunning in this area, especially in July. From Highway 50, find the Lake City Cutoff Road shortly after Middle Bridge, or Blue Mesa Road further west … 11 miles of graded, dirt road driving to the trailhead. There is no official Forest Service CG, hence no facilities. The trailhead parking area is sizable and can accommodate probably a couple dozen vehicles. Each of these driving routes have a unique trail name and are composed of several watchable wildlife sites. No matter what season it is, the Pinetop-Lakeside area is the ideal base for everything from hunting, fishing and hiking in the spring and summer to tubing, skiing, and snowboarding is the winter. Directions: Go west of Gunnison on US 50 to milepost 143 (14.3 miles). Businesses Related to Blue Mesa Lake: Do not confuse it with the larger Rainbow Lake. That makes Rainbow Lake Retreat the perfect getaway spot for you and your family to escape the heat of Southern Arizona in the summer or go sledding in the winter. This is a list of lakes and reservoirs located in the U.S. state of Arizona.Many of the lakes listed here contain game fish and are managed by the Arizona Game and Fish Department.Some may dry out or freeze out fish, and require seasonal restocking. Colorado Birding Trail. All kokanee salmon stomachs (n = 25) analyzed were empty, but it was assumed that the species primarily consumes Daphnia spp. Salmon and Trout Sport and Fly Fishing Tours Ryan VanLanen fishing Guide; Lake Trout, Kokanee Salmon, Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout on Blue Mesa reservoir and Morrow Point reservoir in the Curecanti National Recreation Area. Campsite fees are $12/night, $18/night for sites with hookups. Again, the road is poorly marked. 12/13/2020 Lakes at lodge are all ... 12/13/2020 Lake has 2-3 inches of ice by island , and the West side of lake has 4-5 inches of ice . Rainbow Lake Road (CR 724) Aliases: West Elk Wilderness, South Baldy A summertime destination, this road climbs from the shores of Blue Mesa Reservoir into the high montane forests, passing through sagebrush and montane shrub habitats along the way. © 2020 The Climbing Cooneys. From the turnoff for FR724, it's appx. Area Status: Closed This campground is open mid-June through mid-September and located at 10000 feet at the end of the Rainbow Lakes Road and adjacent to the Indian Peaks Wilderness. Gary, Jim and I try our hand at jigging for Lake Trout on Blue Mesa, Colorado using pearl tube jigs tipped with cut sucker from Grand Mesa. There’s also a great Guest Casita that’s private and spacious with amazing lake … Blue Mesa Dam was completed in 1965, becoming the first large dam built along the Gunnison River. I teach guitar, banjo and mandolin at Milano's Music in downtown Mesa, Arizona. Also, there is a much smaller pond on the right shortly before reaching Rainbow Lake. jackscabin was on the property in less than 8 months and it hasn't been empty since 1998. Beautiful mesas, deep canyons, and steep rocky cliffs surround Blue Mesa Reservoir, the second largest lake entirely in Colorado. The road begins by passing through the open sagebrush foothills north of the reservoir and climbs steadily, but not too steeply. Current conditions, fishing reports, maps, water levels, boating, camping, articles, blogs, and photos. In Curecanti National Recreation Area, Kokanee Salmon, as well as Brown, Rainbow, Brook, and Cutthroat Trout can be caught using flies. A summertime destination, this road climbs from the shores of Blue Mesa Reservoir into the high montane forests, passing through sagebrush and montane shrub habitats along the way. Goal #2: Maintain Blue Mesa as source of kokanee eggs to provide kokanee fishing opportunities at 28 lakes in Colorado. There is no entrance fee for Blue Mesa Reservoir. 11 miles of graded, dirt road driving to the trailhead. Legault Mountain. Dates of Access: Most of road closed in winterHours: AnyOwnership: BLM/US Forest ServiceAdmission: Free, Parking: Roadside; gravel parking at trailheadsLodging: Primitive camping, or hotels in Gunnison, Handicapped: NoHandicapped Access: Viewing from car. brown trout, rainbow trout, and lake trout under 600 mm TL and were most numerous (10,435) in lake trout from 426-600 mm TL. Colorado fishing licenses are required to fish in Blue Mesa Reservoir. Fishing for Brook and Rainbow Trout in Big Blue Creek and Slide Lake is excellent. Whether it's fishing, boating, or water skiing, the Blue Mesa has a lot to offer. as well due to previous research completed on Blue Mesa Reservoir (Johnson and Martinez 2000). Mule deer are numerous here, and you might see elk or even bear. Blue Mesa sits just a few miles west of Gunnison, Colorado, and is famous for the largest kokanee salmon population in the nation! Some trails include include hiking or walking paths or platforms where you can observe different wildlife and scenery. The Birding Trail links outdoor recreation sites, both public and private, into a network through a designated driving route. We also offer ice fishing trips on Blue Mesa Mid December-Mid March. The best camping will be at the small pond located on the east side of the road, shortly before reaching the turnoff for Rainbow Lake, and at Rainbow Lake itself. There is a camping area at Rainbow Lake. This property was originally built in 1987. It also has amazing brown and rainbow trout fishing and is home to the last three Colorado state record Lake Trout. Rainbow Lakes Maintenance Corporation (RLMC) is the governing body that oversees the lake and its community of … Thanks to all who have contributed for their support! Enjoy! This trail leads northward into the West Elk Wilderness and connects with Coal Mesa and Sun Park Trails. Trophy Brown and rainbow trout live throughout Blue Mesa in very large numbers. Colorado’s largest body of water—Blue Mesa Reservoir—is just ten minutes west of Gunnison. Goal #1: Provide Blue Mesa anglers with best fishing opportunities for kokanee, rainbow trout, trophy lake trout and brown trout. Rainbow Lake Resort is an ideal home base for all your summer adventures or have fun in and around the resort hiking, biking, or fishing. It travels through Spruce-Fir forests, open parks, alpine tundra and offers spectacular views of the mountain peaks over 13,000. Blue Mesa is home to the 50+ pound state record lake trout. The estimated value of this home is currently priced at 421,850, approximately $219.71 per square foot. Sign in Sign up for FREE Prices and download plans Morrow Point Reservoir is an 817-acre artificial reservoir on the Gunnison River in western Colorado.Located in the upper Black Canyon of the Gunnison, the lake was created in 1968 by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation as part of a larger plan to impound the upper section of the Gunnison and create opportunities for hydroelectric power generation, water conservation, and recreation. Blue Mesa Fishing - Guided Lake and Ice-Fishing A PREMIER FISHING EXPERIENCE in GUNNISON: Guided lake and trolling for Rainbow Trout and Kokanee Salmon on Blue Mesa Reservoir. Copyright © 2017. Rainbow Lake - fishing in Gunnison, Colorado. Created by Blue Mesa Dam, Blue Mesa Reservoir is 20 miles (32 km) long, has 96 miles (154 km) of shoreline, and is the largest Lake Trout and Kokanee salmon fishery in the United States. Slide Lake is approximately 4.5 miles from the trailhead and receives heavy use. Much of the area surrounding Rainbow Lake is private property, so respect other's boundaries. The lake is very popular for boaters and other water sports in the summer. This road is closed for winter and typically reopens in June. All reviews lake trout salmon his son blue mesa great guide filet great trip great boat great weather next year beautiful scenery cody robbie limit kokanee rainbow techniques Review tags are currently only available for English language reviews. Rainbow Lake Road (FS724) is on the north side of the reservoir and offers easy and productive access to higher elevations. 3075 Rainbow Lake Dr is within the school district Blue Ridge Unified District with nearby schools including Blue Ridge Elementary School, Blue Ridge Jr High School, and Blue … If coming from Montrose, after US50 crosses Blue Mesa Reservoir on the bridge, continue driving east another 7.1 miles and turn north (left) onto FR724 as above. Alpine areas are accessible by hiking and only those in good physical condition should attempt to climb South Baldy. The dirt road is not well marked. There is no water available and little signage along most of the route so use care following this trail. The high country can produce Clark’s Nutcracker, Gray Jay, Red Crossbills, and Pine Grosbeak. Blue Mesa Fishery Goals. There's just a small sign so it's easy to go breezing by. Blue Mesa Reservoir is Colorado's largest reservoir when filled to capacity. 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