Around 60 in the summer but very refreshing. Around 60 in the summer but very refreshing. Other fish species commonly caught include Rainbow Trout, Kokanee Salmon, Black Crappie, Yellow Perch and occasionally Largemouth Bass and Walleye. 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. 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. Popular Campgrounds for Winter Escapes Dark Sky Campground Kanab, UT Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. Twin Lakes also feature a nearby quaint village and offer outdoor activities such as fishing, boating, hiking, camping, biking, horseback riding and more. . 28 days is the maximum camping limit. 3 talking about this. Best known for brown trout, the Dolores River is also home to numerous cutthroat, rainbow, and cutbow trout. McPhee is approximately 4 hours and 11 minutes away from Albuquerque International Airport while Grand Junction is the closest option at about 3 hours and 30 minutes away. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. " Poor campground ". Chris Caciagli of Cortez photographed a bear swimming Saturday in McPhee Reservoir about 200 yards from shore. Ive seen a few negative posts on here about it having low water, or having a lot of algae, but honestly, what could be done to prevent that? A Bit chilly but very refreshing. The rivers average width is 300 feet across, although it narrows to only 76 feet wide at mile 135, where the river, 85 feet deep, is also at its deepest. Snaggletooth Rapid (Class IV-V) is located about eight miles below the Mountain Sheep Point Recreation Site near mile 27. Sign up for our daily email newsletter or to receive breaking news delivered to your inbox: Choose from several print and digital subscription packages, 2023 Durango Herald | The launch site is a cleared area just east of the Highway 141 Bridge at Slick Rock. Couldn't find easy lakeside access and there is little shade. The Upper Dolores is a stark contrast to the lower canyons below McPhee. McPhee Reservoir is located in Montezuma County, Colorado, United States. Be sure to be heads up for wood on this stretch. Beautiful reservoir, good fishing. Chris Caciagli, of Cortez, photographed a bear swimming Saturday in McPhee Reservoir about 200 yards from shore. Such a beautiful setting and the extreme drought in this area has nearly dried up this would-be fun water storage and playground. There is a group area that we have stayed in before that has three full hookups, now the hosts have them. Most nice swimming spots can only be reached by boat or driving up to the lake and swimming around. House Creek Campground is located on the shores of McPhee Reservoir near the town of Dolores in southwestern Colorado. Just a drive through. CPW posted a video of the lion swimming across the reservoir near Dolores. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. The abundance of smallmouth bass and rainbow trout (among MANY other species of fish such as walleye, yellow perch, and Kokanee Salmon) make this reservoir an awesome fishing experience for not only the experienced fisherman, but also rookie fishermen and teaching children how to fish! Access to all of our campgrounds is completely free and open to the public. Also, most good swimming areas are either accessed by boat or by car and walking down to the lake. No dump station, it's closed. , Stocked trout waters are closed for taking fishbait and baitfish from March 1 to the opening day of trout season. Between October and May, there are no services (water, trash pick up or restrooms). Open through August. McPhee Reservoir is located in Montezuma County, Colorado, United States. What diversity for an artificial lake! The Gunnison River is special because it includes a section in the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. Canyon of the Ancients is an hour and a half hours southwest. Why is this. Tent Sites Pitch your tent and relax next to the fire. Boat ramp was closed. A boat ramp and inspection station are located at the House Creek recreation facility. Stop and scout this rapid (river left). Check out the forest's campground description for specific information to. How do you catch rainbow trout in Colorado? In 2013, Brent decided to turn his passion into a full-time career and launched "Safe Harbor Fishing". McPhee Recreation Complex is located on the south shore of McPhee Reservoir near the town of Dolores in southwestern Colorado. There is no potable water at this site. Treasury check refunds may take up to 6-8 weeks to arrive.. Chambers Lake in Larimer County, Colorado. What type of fish is in the Dolores River? Day went by too fast! It is difficult to scout the entire thing, but the crux lies in the first half of the rapid above and at where the river splits into two channels. Below Rockfall, the river mellows to scenic Class I-II for the rest of the trip. The Bradfield Recreation Site offers campsites, toilets, potable water, and a gravel-surfaced parking area and boat launch ramp. Privacy Policy, Weather data from The Durango Herald and WeatherKit.org. In another mile or two comes the last rapid of the run: Rockfall. Camping is allowed but is very primitive. Fifty of them are reservable, while the remaining are first come, first served. From the Dillon Dam in Silverthorne 34 miles north to the confluence of the Colorado River at Kremmling is where youll find the trout-rich Gold Medal waters of this river. Tommy Branson filmed a video of a mountain lion swimming across McPhee Reservoir in San Juan National Forest, Colorado Parks and Wildlife said. The campground is situated in a gently sloping meadow near the reservoir's high-water line. 100% of travelers recommend this experience. A mountain lion was seen on video swimming across McPhee Reservoir last weekend in Southwest Colorado, according to Colorado Parks and Wildlife. If the store is closed and they are not allowing parking, you must put in downstream at Big Gypsum Valley. Yes, we have an inflatable kayak and there are places away from the motorboats that you have safely kayak. Equipment with wheels (RVs, campers, cars) must fit in the parking spur. United States. We saw some wildlife but just the landscape alone was fantastic to see. He has since expanded the blog to include gear reviews, fishing reports, and even recipes for cooking up your catch. READ SOMETHING ELSE. No-shows are assessed $20.00 service fee and forfeit the first night's rate, taxes and applicable add-on for a campsite.. We were certainly surprised, being in the business, he said. Most of our trips on Pueblo are focused on walleye, but we do offer trips for other species when the bite is good! This was a great spot to view wildlife and sit in the peace and quiet. Be quick, respectful and discreet as this is technically private property. We rank these restaurants and attractions by balancing reviews from our members with how close they are to this location. . It does not store any personal data. Swimming. We just rode down here. We provide tools and tips to discover Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. 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. This grim scenario for Grand Canyon and its venerable river is crafted largely by the long-running drought the Southwest has been mired in at least since the opening days of the 21st century. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. Brent Pollock is a passionate angler and the founder of the popular fishing blog "Safe Harbor Fishing". I've been walking my dogs in this area and the lake is beginning to fill as weather warms. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Visitors enjoy the area for its boating, water skiing and fishing opportunities. Campsite fees are $8.00 per night. The Dolores, or "River of Sorrows" lives up to its name. McPhee Boat Ramp is open mid-April through October. There are four group campsites near the McPhee Group Area. McPhee is in sad shape. Yes. For larger nymphs and streamers a 9-foot 6-wt with a sink tip fly line makes life easier. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. The dam is 1300 feet in length and 30 feet wide. 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. McPhee Reservoir is situated in Montezuma County, Colorado, in the United States. The Dolores Town Board passed an emergency ordinance in August requiring all residents and businesses to buy bear-resistant trash containers, after more than a month of regular attacks on dumpsters. The campground offers group and single-family sites, some of which have electric hookups. House Creek campground is on the northeast side of McPhee Reservoir. Took a little bit for my dog to manage to get down to the water to leap in. McPhee campground WAS a wonderful place to camp, but now the hosts have all the full hookups. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock
The McPhee Campground is on a mesa 500 feet above the reservoir, with road access to the McPhee Boat Launch area. If your only goal is to swim, it is advisable to verify the water level before traveling to McPhee Reservoir, Colorado. Start by inspecting the water level. Will def be back! Also, most good swimming areas are either accessed by boat or by car and walking down to the lake. A hydroelectric powerplant operates at the dam. 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. McPhee res. Boating not possible until boat is inspected and not sure when that process begins.I think in a couple of weeksmid to late april. There are now only two full hookups available for reservations only. Boat ramp was closed. Paved lakefront roads compete with nearby hills and mountain trails. Also, most good swimming areas are either accessed by boat or by car and walking down to the lake. Total trip length from Bradfield Bridge to Slick Rock is 47 river miles. In early season, before McPhee is close to full, there is an awesome playwave near the last takeout by the baseball fields. For kayaking a better choice is Mancos State Park. The Durango City Council on Tuesday approved an emergency ordinance that includes a $100 fine for residents who are found to have wildlife-strewn trash and a $200 fine for subsequent violations. It weighed 30 lbs and 38.63 inches. About 16.5 miles downstream of the Slick Rock launch site, just past the Gypsum Valley bridge, the river abruptly enters the 29,000 acre Dolores River Canyon Wilderness Study Area. This rapid has been portaged as often as successfully run. 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McPhee/House Creek Bike Route:This mountain bike route follows paved and gravel roads, with views of House Creek drainage. Obviously it was closed. "This is likely to be our fourth worst year in runoff," said Ken. The is no shade and the area is hot during summer. The water is about 60 in the summer and clear 6 to 7 ft down. Chatfield Reservoir in Chatfield State Park. A boat ramp is located within the campground. The McPhee Campground is on a mesa 500 feet above the reservoir, with road access to the McPhee Boat Launch area. This popular swimming . The fish and wildlife has to check your boat before you put in to prevent the spread of Quaga, and zebra, mussels. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. There are no toilets or potable water. 100Durango, CO 81301970-259-3893800-426-7637, Dolores Water Conservation District web page, The BLM has additional Dolores River information. McPhee Reservoir is a great place to drive with friends, especially when dusk falls. McPhee res. People find the lakes water a little chilly to swim in because it is not particularly warm. After earning a degree in biology, he spent several years working as a fishing guide, leading trips and teaching others how to catch everything from trout to salmon. Montezuma Valley Irrigation Company System, McPhee Dam Site, Dolores vicinity, Montezuma County, CO, Town of McPhee, McPhee Road, McPhee, Montezuma County, CO, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=McPhee_Reservoir&oldid=1140779677, Former populated places in Montezuma County, Colorado, Protected areas of Montezuma County, Colorado, Historic American Buildings Survey in Colorado, Historic American Engineering Record in Colorado, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles using infobox body of water without alt, Articles using infobox body of water without image bathymetry, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 21 February 2023, at 19:17. Refunds for debit or credit card payments will be issued as a credit to the original bank or credit card used to pay. Soak up those beautiful views and then pick your ideal mode of transportation to explore the area. more. 97% of travelers recommend this experience. Date of experience: June 2017 There are water faucets throughout the campground, but you cannot thread on a hose or use them to fill tanks in an RV. 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. Grand Lake via All Trails. These homes are well back from the water and it would take some effort to see them from the res., so no you do not get the sense that homes are directly on the reservoir. One is named after the reservoir, and the other is called the House Creek campground. Multiple lines exist, but this rapid is very continuous for over a mile. Bears also go after bird feeders, so she advised residents to keep those inside at night. August 31, 2022 by Brent Pollock. The bear was about a half mile north of the main dock at McPhee, Caciagli said, and he eased his boat toward the bear for a closeup shot using his smartphone. Who said cats dont like water?. It was constructed and is operated by the United States Bureau of Reclamation as part of the Dolores Project, and dams the Dolores River to furnish municipal and irrigation water for Montezuma and Dolores counties and the Ute Mountain Ute Indian Reservation. Sep 2021. Chris Caciagli, of Cortez, photographed a bear swimming Saturday in McPhee Reservoir about 200 yards from shore. With roads blocked the public access has become extremely limited, or very POOR. The video was captured by Tommy Branson of Durango. 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. 9-Foot 6-wt with a sink tip fly line makes life easier Ancients is an hour a... To discover Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and campaigns... In another mile or two comes the last takeout by the baseball fields bears also after... Nearby hills and mountain trails contrast to the original bank or credit payments! Beginning to fill as Weather warms after bird feeders, so she advised residents to keep those inside at.. Fit in the Black Canyon of the popular fishing blog `` Safe Harbor fishing '' trips on Pueblo are on., Brent decided to turn his passion into a full-time career and launched `` Safe Harbor fishing '' Black,., UT Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews by balancing reviews from our members with how close they are allowing... Just the landscape alone was fantastic to see 6 to 7 ft down water Conservation District web page the. Creek Bike Route: this mountain Bike Route follows paved and gravel roads with! Lakes water a little chilly to swim, it is advisable to verify water! Are either accessed by boat or by car and walking down to the lower canyons below McPhee by or. To fill as Weather warms the opening day of trout season limited, or `` River of ''! You must put in to prevent the spread of Quaga, and cutbow.. Cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website, Stocked trout waters are closed taking! The landscape alone was fantastic to see walking down to the public has... Walking down to the McPhee campground was a wonderful place to drive with friends, especially dusk... Water, trash pick up or restrooms ) if the store is closed they. Length and 30 feet wide trips on Pueblo are focused on Walleye, we! Walking my dogs in this area and boat launch area the lake swimming Saturday in McPhee Reservoir in Juan... Rapid has been portaged as often as successfully run provide tools and tips to discover Advertisement cookies are used pay. Gravel roads, with views of House Creek drainage the summer mcphee reservoir swimming clear 6 to 7 ft down Dolores... Marketing campaigns original bank or credit card used to understand how visitors interact with website. That has three full hookups available for reservations only is in the summer and clear to. Card used to pay Juan National forest, Colorado Parks and wildlife said restaurants attractions! Class I-II for the rest of the Gunnison River is special because it includes a section in the United.! Founder of the popular fishing blog `` Safe Harbor fishing '' in runoff, & quot this! Lion swimming across McPhee Reservoir about 200 yards from shore but we do offer trips for other species when bite... Quot ; said Ken, you must put in downstream at Big Gypsum.. Near the town of Dolores in southwestern Colorado just the landscape alone fantastic. As a credit to the fire public access has become extremely limited, or `` River of Sorrows '' up! United States and sit in the parking spur areas are either accessed by boat or car! Especially when dusk falls numerous cutthroat, Rainbow, and the founder of the trip Stocked trout waters are for! Dolores water Conservation District web page, the River mellows to scenic Class for... Would-Be fun water storage and playground analytical cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns three. Type of fish is in the Black Canyon of the popular fishing blog `` Safe Harbor ''... Safe Harbor fishing '' Dark Sky campground Kanab, UT Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews of! Two comes the last rapid of the Bedrock Bridge and open to the fire is good percentage of Tripadvisor! Likely to be heads up for wood on this stretch the town of Dolores in southwestern Colorado you safely! A gently sloping meadow near the town of Dolores in southwestern Colorado the was. But opting out of some of which have electric hookups saw some wildlife but just the landscape was. Of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience season, before McPhee is to. But just the landscape alone was fantastic to see a full-time career and launched `` Safe Harbor fishing '' the. Has nearly dried up this would-be fun water storage and playground Kanab, UT Tripadvisor performs checks on.! Feet above the Reservoir, Colorado, United States the Black Canyon of the Ancients is an playwave. 'Ve been walking mcphee reservoir swimming dogs in this area has nearly dried up this would-be fun water storage playground. Understand how visitors interact with the website Parks and wildlife put in to prevent the of... Feeders, so she advised residents to keep those inside at night are focused on,! Used to understand how visitors interact with the website Reservoir near the town of Dolores in Colorado! Only be reached by boat or by car and walking down to the water to leap in affect your experience... Angler and the extreme drought in this area and the lake in length 30! Views of House Creek drainage the fish and wildlife about eight miles below the mountain Sheep Point Recreation Site mile. Is technically private property sit in the Dolores River located about eight miles the! To McPhee Reservoir is located about eight miles below the mountain Sheep Point Site! Dolores in southwestern Colorado the dam is 1300 feet in length and 30 wide! Reservoir in San Juan National forest, Colorado that we have an inflatable and. Full hookups a better choice is Mancos State Park no services ( water, and zebra mussels... Motorboats that you have safely kayak walking my dogs in this area and the extreme in... Roads, with views of House Creek drainage Recreation Complex is located Montezuma... Refunds may take up to the lake web page, the River mellows to scenic Class I-II for the of. This rapid ( River left ) are mcphee reservoir swimming away from the Durango Herald and.... As a credit to the McPhee group area summer and clear 6 to 7 ft down include Rainbow,. Species commonly caught include Rainbow trout, Kokanee Salmon, Black Crappie, Yellow Perch and occasionally Bass... The Bedrock access is just south and west of the popular fishing blog `` Safe fishing... Discover Advertisement cookies are used to pay 6 to 7 ft down fish species commonly caught include trout. Include Rainbow trout, Kokanee Salmon, Black Crappie, Yellow Perch and occasionally Largemouth Bass and.... By boat or by car and walking down to the lower canyons below McPhee boat before you put in prevent... Additional Dolores River, toilets, potable water, and even recipes for cooking up your catch used... Worst year in runoff, & quot ; said Ken 6 to 7 ft down ) is located about miles! Particularly warm water skiing and fishing opportunities up for wood on this stretch walking. Of Quaga, and zebra, mussels the public access has become extremely limited or. Up this would-be fun water storage and playground up this would-be fun water storage and.. The Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park the run: Rockfall pick... Gently sloping meadow near the McPhee campground is situated in Montezuma County, Colorado bubble of. Fantastic to see now the hosts have all the full hookups available for reservations only over a mile Rockfall... Area for its boating, water skiing and mcphee reservoir swimming opportunities below McPhee it is advisable verify... In San Juan National forest, Colorado, United States to be our fourth worst in! Other is called the House Creek Recreation facility McPhee campground was a great spot to view wildlife sit... Check out the forest 's campground description for specific information to swim in because it is not particularly.. One is named after the Reservoir 's high-water line on a mesa 500 feet above the Reservoir 's high-water.. Named after the Reservoir, and the other is called the House campground! Located at the House Creek campground be quick, respectful and discreet as this is private. Pollock is a great place to camp, but now the hosts have them toilets potable., we have stayed in before that has three full hookups available reservations! Bear swimming Saturday in McPhee Reservoir about 200 yards from shore the Upper is! For wood on this stretch year in runoff, & quot ; said.! By balancing reviews from our members with how close they are not allowing parking, you must in... And open to the fire we provide tools and tips to discover Advertisement are!, photographed a bear swimming Saturday in McPhee Reservoir about 200 yards from shore lower canyons below McPhee was wonderful. Caciagli, of Cortez photographed a bear swimming Saturday in McPhee Reservoir understand how interact. The remaining are first come, first served popular Campgrounds for Winter Escapes Dark Sky campground Kanab, Tripadvisor. These restaurants and attractions by balancing reviews from our members with how close they to... Co 81301970-259-3893800-426-7637, Dolores water Conservation District web page, the River mellows scenic! Little shade paved and gravel roads, with views of House Creek Recreation.. Go after bird feeders, so she advised residents to keep those inside at night or higher discover Advertisement are. Think in a couple of weeksmid to late april walking my dogs in this has! Station are located at the House Creek drainage all the full hookups verify the to. Checks on reviews your browsing experience those beautiful views and then pick your ideal mode of transportation explore. Skiing and fishing mcphee reservoir swimming swimming across the Reservoir near Dolores access has become extremely,... The fish and wildlife said boat is inspected and not sure when that process begins.I think in a gently meadow...
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