18 Attractions to Explore Near Blue Mesa Dam
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Curecanti NeedleCurecanti Needle is a 700 foot granite spire located deep within Curecanti National Recreation Area in western Colorado. Used for many years as an advertising symbol for the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad, whose narrow-gauge railway famously ran along the northern bank of the river and passed near the Needle, the spire is today part of the Curecanti National Recreation Area, a National Park Service facility that encompasses three impoundments of the Gunnison river.
Blue Mesa ReservoirBlue Mesa Reservoir is the state's largest body of water, which means abundant recreation and lounge-worthy beaches.It’s 20 miles long and features 96 miles of shoreline to explore. Options for play include sailing, power boating, fishing, and water skiing. Windsurfing is popular among those looking to get a workout on the water.
Morrow Point ReservoirMorrow Point Reservoir is a man-made body of water in Montrose County. The reservoir was created in 1968 by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation as part of the Aspinall Unit of the Colorado River Storage Project. It is located in the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, and its primary purpose is to store water for irrigation and hydroelectric power generation. The reservoir has a capacity of 36,700 acre-feet and a surface area of 1,200 acres. It is fed by the Morrow Point Dam.
Curecanti National Recreation AreaCurecanti National Recreation Area is a series of three reservoirs along the once wild Gunnison River. It used to be a nice destination for camping and fishing. Now it just seems to be an overnight campground for tourists. The state's premiere lake trout and Kokanee salmon fisheries, Curecanti is a popular destination for boating and fishing, and is also a popular area for ice-fishing in the winter months.
Morrow Point DamMorrow Point Dam is a concrete arch dam on the Gunnison River in Montrose County, which was built between 1963 and 1968 by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation for the purpose of generating hydroelectric power. The reservoir is used for irrigation, recreation, and hydroelectric power generation. The dam's power plant has a capacity of 72 megawatts. In addition to its main purpose of generating hydroelectric power, the Morrow Point Dam also helps to regulate water levels in the Gunnison River.
D & RG Narrow Gauge TrestleThe D&RG Narrow Gauge Trestle in Montrose County, Colorado is a historic wooden trestle that was built in the late 19th century. The trestle is located on a former railway line that was used to transport silver and other minerals from the nearby San Juans Mountains. The trestle is one of the largest and most impressive examples of railroad engineering from this period in American history. It is also one of the only remaining structures from the D&RG Railroad, which operated in Colorado.
Crystal ReservoirCrystal Reservoir is a man-made reservoir located in Montrose County. The reservoir was created in the early 1980s by damming the Crystal River. The reservoir is located near the town of Nucla and is a popular recreation spot for boating, fishing, and water skiing. It is also known for its abundance of cutthroat trout. The reservoir is fed by the Crystal River and is surrounded by steep cliffs and evergreen forests. The reservoir is used for irrigation, recreation, and flood control.
Cerro SummitCerro Summit is a high mountain pass in Montrose County, Colorado. The pass lies on the Continental Divide, at an elevation of 12,276 feet. The pass is traversed by State Highway 145, which connects the towns of Telluride and Placerville. Cerro Summit is one of the highest paved roads in Colorado. The views from the pass are stunning, with alpine meadows and wildflowers in summer, and snow-capped peaks in winter.
West Elk WildernessWest Elk Wilderness within Gunnison National Forest is 176,412 acres, the fifth largest Wilderness in Colorado. The area supports large elk and deer populations and is busiest during the fall hunting season. A good location to get interact with the wilderness and also there are so many things to see and do here.
West Elk PeakWest Elk Peak, elevation 13,042 ft, is the highest summit in the West Elk Mountains of Gunnison County, Colorado. The mountain is in the West Elk Wilderness, northwest of Gunnison. The terrain consists mostly of volcanic breccia, known in this area as West Elk Breccia, dated at 35 to 30 million years old.A good trekking destination and also you can explore some nice hisotirc locations where you can see the history of this location.
Saddle MountainSaddle Mountain is a large, conical mountain located on the western side of the West Elk Mountains southeast of Crawford, Colorado. It has an elevation of 10,005 ft with over 3,000 ft of vertical relief above the valley below. Although it has the classic shape of an extinct volcano, Saddle Mountain is an exposed igneous intrusion that geologists call a laccolith.
Hartman RocksHartman Rocks has 45 miles of single track trail, 45 miles of roads, 50 designated dispersed campsites, and countless climbing crags. Single track trails are perfect for mountain biking, dirt biking, hiking, and trail running.Views at Hartman Rocks are spectacular especially during sunrise and sunset with the Gunnison Basin to the North and the San Juan Mountains to the south.
Cimarron RidgeCimarron Ridge is a ridge in the San Juan Mountains in southwestern Colorado. The ridge runs north-south and occupies parts of Gunnison, Montrose, Ouray, and Hinsdale counties. It is considered among the most difficult peaks to climb in Colorado. Peaks along the ridge include Courthouse Mountain and Chimney rock.
Pulpit Rock OverlookNestled in the majestic San Juan Mountains of southwestern Colorado, Pulpit Rock Overlook provides breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape. The overlook is located just a short hike from the town of Montrose, making it the perfect destination for a day trip. From Pulpit Rock, visitors can see the nearby towns of Ouray and Telluride, as well as the 14,000-foot peaks of the San Juans. The overlook is also a popular spot for bird watching, as it is home to a variety of different species.
Crawford DamCrawford Dam impounds water for Crawford Reservoir in Delta County, Colorado about a mile south of the town of Crawford. The earthen dam was completed in 1962 by the United States Bureau of Reclamation with a height of 162 feet and 580 feet long at its crest. It impounds Iron Creek for irrigation flood control, one element of the Smith Fork Project. The reservoir is encompassed within Crawford State Park with Park Headquarters located on a peninsula along the northeastern shore.
Crawford State ParkCrawford State Park is a Colorado State Park that encompasses Crawford Reservoir located about 1 mile south of the town of Crawford in Delta County, Colorado. The 760-acre park was established in 1964 on the shore of Crawford Reservoir, a 400 acres lake with boat ramps and a swimming beach. Other facilities include camp sites, picnic sites and a visitors center.
Needle Rock Natural AreaNeedle Rock is an iconic landmark visible from Highway 92 near the town of Crawford. The surrounding terrain is characterized by laccolithic mountains flanked by precipitous cliffs, extensive talus aprons, forested mesas, canyons, and spacious, well-watered intermontane basins. The massive rock feature originated in the Oligocene geological epoch when magma intruded between existing sedimentary rocks as the crown of a buried laccolith or possibly the underlying conduit of a laccolith.
Powderhorn LakesPowderhorn Lake is a 50-acre freshwater lake with an adjacent 55-acre shallow pool, owned by the Forest Preserves of Cook County. To the north lies Wolf Lake, a 950-acre freshwater lake, owned by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. Once connected as part of a large collection of marshes, lakes, and rivers adjacent to Lake Michigan, these lakes have been isolated by urban and industrial development.
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Blue Mesa DamBlue Mesa Dam is on the Gunnison river about 30 miles below Gunnison, and 1.5 miles below Sapinero, Colorado. Blue Mesa Dam and reservoir are part of the Bureau of Reclamation's Wayne N. Aspinall Unit of the Colorado River Storage Project, which retains the waters of the Colorado River and its tributaries for agricultural and municipal use in the American Southwest. The dam has a volume of 3,080,000 cubic yards and the spillway intake structure has two radial gates.