Near: Grand Lake, Colorado. There is a 'Can Do' hiking trail around the edge of the reservoir, the instructions suggested it was 'challenging' so we did not do, but looked like a great hike. Below Stateline, the canyon narrows and becomes much more scenic. Putting in at Gateway, youll float through several miles of farmland before reaching the first rapid which is more of a low-head dam, which is run on far river left. Particularly dry stretches from 2002 to 2005 and again from 2012 to 2020 have taken a dire toll on the watershed. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. For larger nymphs and streamers a 9-foot 6-wt with a sink tip fly line makes life easier. Equipment with wheels (RVs, campers, cars) must fit in the parking spur. The mountain lion safely made it to shore and continued on his way. A mountain lion was seen on video swimming across McPhee Reservoir last weekend in Southwest Colorado, according to Colorado Parks and Wildlife. Most of this 32 mile stretch is flat, with 3 exceptions. Hovenweep National Monument is an hour and 45 minutes west. Privacy Policy, Weather data from The Durango Herald and WeatherKit.org. We also like to take the San Juan Skyway through Durango, where we stop at Honeyville for whipped honey, and then thru Silverton down to Ouray and then Ridgway and back to Dolores. For kayaking a better choice is Mancos State Park. Doc's Marina was excellent and the boat he rented us was perfect! After this the gradient picks up to some well-spaced Class II boogie water before coming to the biggest rapid on the entire river: Stateline. Give us back a local concessionier! Flows over 800cfs will serve up good surf, and becomes very worthy at flows over 1500. Southwestern Colorado, part of the Four Corners region, contains more than 4,000 archaeological sites and more than 600 cliff dwellings. However, the water may get as warm as 64 degrees in the summer, which is refreshing on hot days. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". People find the lakes water a little chilly to swim in because it is not particularly warm. The is no shade and the area is hot during summer. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. Camping is allowed but is very primitive. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. For kayaking a better choice is Mancos State Park. A really beautiful area. Start by inspecting the water level. About half-way through the run is the only break from the characteristic fast boogie water, when the river flows over a series of sandstone ledges, known as the Stoner-Stampede Section, which forms great surf for kayakers. Please cooperate with the owners. . Do not leave pets unattended. All Rights Reserved. Only 1/3 of the water is still around. Photo: Doc Searls This is not like Horsetooth res. 15 Burnett Court This nasty pin spot has caused many an unplanned layover to get raft(s) unstuck off the fang rock. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. The former business was McPhee Boat Rentals,but they have been out of business for some time. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. Make Short Casts. Colorado River Fishing Tips A 9-foot 5-wt fly rod with floating line is perfect for fishing dry flies and small nymphs on the Colorado River. The plant produces 7,170,000 kilowatt-hours annually.[4]. We were just touring the Durango area so were not camping or had a boat, but it was a great place to stop and enjoy a picnic. The lake fills the lower end of the Dolores Valley, with the dam[3] completed in 1985 across Dolores Canyon. There are volleyball posts, a ball field, and horseshoe pits (you supply the equipment). Tent Sites Pitch your tent and relax next to the fire. Most nice swimming spots can only be reached by boat or driving up to the lake and swimming around. You can book on Recreation.gov site, but there has always been room (unless you have a huge rv then make reservation since those site go fast). ( Refunds will not be issued after the 7 days has ended. The temperature of the water is the second factor. The adjacent McPhee Group Areahas 4 group campsites available for reservation (with limited electrical hookups). Rented a couple boats at marina and went out for a day. Aerial of McPhee Reservoir. It was the third bear sighting report she had in the past month, she said, although it was the first time anyone had caught one of the animals on video. Also, most good swimming areas are either accessed by boat or by car and walking down to the lake. The water is about 60 in the summer and clear 6 to 7 ft down. Facilities include a launch ramp, parking, picnic tables, grills, and shelters. The municipal . Total trip length from Bradfield Bridge to Slick Rock is 47 river miles. A dozen campsites are walk-ins with tent pads near scenic overlooks. , Best Answer From Peter in Australia: A hook will rust away in a fish, but it may take a while, especially if the hook is plated or made of thick metal. Sep 2021. Why is this. Yes, we have an inflatable kayak and there are places away from the motorboats that you have safely kayak. does have another two campgrounds one on the cliffs which I described, and one on the lake, very sparse vegetation and less amenities so you are able to see campers on this part of the reservoir. A Bit chilly but very refreshing. (970) 247-4874, https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/sanjuan/recarea/?recid=43054, McPhee boat ramp opening likely delayed due to ice conditions, May - September (limited services Sept - Nov). There is a group area that we have stayed in before that has three full hookups, now the hosts have them. Who knows what goes through the mind of a wild critter but certainly there was something to drive it to swim across a big lake.. Also, most good swimming areas are either accessed by boat or by car and walking down to the lake. Chris Caciagli, of Cortez, encountered the bear Saturday as he was boating in the reservoir. They sure are pretty to look at. If you store your boat outside and haven't checked up on her lately, Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS) has five tips for a midwinter Read More Several sites have shelters for shade. 700 Year Tour - Half Day Mesa Verde Cultural Tour, 12-Zipline Adventure in the San Juan Mountains near Durango, Million Dollar Highway Self-Driving Audio Tour, Half-Day Family Rafting in Durango, Colorado, All-Day Guided Zipline Tour with Train Ride and Lunch in Durango, Durango Rafting - Family Friendly Raft Trip, Self-Guided Audio Driving Tour in Mesa Verde National Park, Durango Family-Friendly 2-Hour Rafting Trip, Telluride Morning Half-Day Rafting Tour on the San Miguel River, 2.5 Hour Family Rafting in Durango with Guide, Canyons Of The Ancients Visitor Center & Museum. Cortez is 12 miles to the south and Telluride is 65 miles to the north along Highway 145. Uncover Colorado | Sitemap | Advertise, 7 Captivating Hiking Trails around Cortez, Camping near Cortez, Dolores and Mancos, around Mesa Verde. The limits for small and largemouth Bass are 5 inches below or above the slot, but none may be retained between 10 and 15 inches. There is a county road that the local use to drive down to launch their Kayaks. Be sure to scout thoroughly regardless of which line you choose. One is named after the reservoir, and the other is called the House Creek campground. Flush toilets, scrub juniper trees and quiet with fishing and boating closed by.It doesn't get any better than this! The fish in Colorado are routinely tested for mercury levels. Individual Campsites: Cancellations up to 2 days before a reservation start date incur a $10.00 cancellation fee.. McPhee Reservoir is a great place to drive with friends, especially when dusk falls. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. Do NOT follow this link or you will be banned from the site! Just a drive through. You will be out of the citys bustle, taking in the sun and the scenery while riding or racing with your friends. Privacy Policy, Weather data from The Durango Herald and WeatherKit.org, Colorado Parks and Wildlife says rare sight was caught on camera last weekend. Heeney Marina: Spend the day relaxing at Green Mountain Reservoir with a pontoon or fishing boat rental from Heeney Marina. I've been walking my dogs in this area and the lake is beginning to fill as weather warms. What restaurants are near McPhee Reservoir? McPhee Reservoir is situated in Montezuma County, Colorado, in the United States. Crater Lake in Pitkin County, Colorado. We saw some wildlife but just the landscape alone was fantastic to see. The McPhee Campground is on a mesa 500 feet above the reservoir, with road access to the McPhee Boat Launch area. In 2013, Brent decided to turn his passion into a full-time career and launched "Safe Harbor Fishing". McPhee Marina: There is a afull service marina and boat launch open May through October. 96% of travelers recommend this experience. There are water faucets throughout the campground, but you cannot thread on a hose or use them to fill tanks in an RV. Boating on the reservoir usually opens May 1st and the boat ramp is open 7 days a week 6:00 am - 8:00 pm. Map Information, Know Before You Go: Regulations, Outdoor Safety and More, San Juan National ForestHeadquarters Definitely not on the reservoir, one arm of the reservoir where the Delores river empties there are a few homes up high on the cliffs. McPhee Reservoir Recreation Area - Dolores Twitter McPhee Reservoir is the fifth largest lake in Colorado and provides one of the best spots in the southwest area for warm weather, big lake fun. and cultural destinations in your zip code and across the country. There are no restrictions on swimming other than you cant swim near the boat ramps for safety reasons. The water is about 60 in the summer and clear 6 to 7 ft down. There are no strict regulations, many facilities, and great weather. The largest flat-top mountain in the world, the Grand Mesa region of the state is home to over 300 lakes, many of which are natural bodies of water. Site 019, Loop Loop Bald Eagle, Type Standard Electric, Site 003, Loop Golden Eagle, Type Standard Electric, Site 001, Loop Golden Eagle, Type Standard Electric, Site 018, Loop Bald Eagle, Type Standard Electric, Site 020, Loop Bald Eagle, Type Standard Electric, Site 007, Loop Loop Osprey, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site 008, Loop Loop Osprey, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site 002, Loop Golden Eagle, Type Standard Electric, Site 013, Loop Loop Red Tail Hawk, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site 009, Loop Loop Osprey, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site Great Horned Owl, Loop Group, Type Group Standard Nonelectric, Site 006, Loop Loop Osprey, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site 021, Loop Loop Bald eagle, Type Standard Electric, This campground has first-come, first-served sites available. Youll need to wait for a big snow year to find sufficient flows to boat the Dolores, enough to fill and spill the dam. Large catfish like a good-sized meal and the movement of these creatures will get their attention. There are 50 reservable campsites, 24 sites with electric hookups, and 2sites offer tables and toilets accommodating wheelchairs. Refunds for debit or credit card payments will be issued as a credit to the original bank or credit card used to pay. Closed Monday and Tuesdays. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. The Dolores, or "River of Sorrows" lives up to its name. The McPhee Campground has 71 campsites on 2 loops withpaved access. Lake Havasu City . The McPhee Campground has 71 campsites on 2 loops with paved access. Restaurants near McPhee Reservoir: (15.60 km) Thai Cortez & Sushi (15.50 km) La . Official websites use .gov A .gov Soak up those beautiful views and then pick your ideal mode of transportation to explore the area. An early freeze that damaged wild acorn and berry production has left bears desperate to put on the weight necessary for hibernation. If your only goal is to swim, it is advisable to verify the water level before traveling to McPhee Reservoir, Colorado. As Colorado's deepest and largest natural lake, it's no surprise Grand Lake is on our list. Several species of game fish thrive in the lake. Mesa Verde National Park also stepped up its bear safety education program for visitors in August. By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. The McPhee Campground is on a mesa 500 feet above the reservoir, with road access to the McPhee Boat Launch area. 91% of travelers recommend this experience. Dry Boat storage available. reputation as a fine Smallmouth Bass fishery with a number of local and regional fishing tournaments held at the reservoir each year. Trip length is 50 river miles or 36 river miles from Gypsum Valley to Bedrock. A Bit chilly but very refreshing. 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