Buena Vista & Salida, Colorado

CLEAR CREEK RESERVOIR

Located just outside the town of Granite, the Clear Creek Reservoir sits quietly just off of Highway 24. You’ll need a hunting or fishing license or a SWA pass for everyone aged 16 or older. It is ideal for boating and fishing, with a boat ramp and campground large enough for some RV’s. Motorized boats are allowed May through September. When you get out on the water, you can take in the splendid view of Clear Creek from the west filling this 400 acre reservoir.

Popular catches are rainbow, cutthroat, and brown trout. When it’s well-stocked, you might even catch a kokanee salmon or tiger muskie. There is plenty of shoreline to catch fish off of too!

Clear Creek Reservoir

Riding up the road for a few miles, you’ll find Clear Creek Campground. It has room for approximately 20 campsites and has a vault toilet near the lake. Travel further up County Road 390 and, after going through some private land, you’ll find plenty of dispersed camping. All sites are primitive, so be sure to bring what you need.

A popular activity is to float in your kayak or innertube down Clear Creek from the campground and into the reservoir. Watch the willows upstream from the lake to catch sight of an Osprey or a Merganser. Come autumn, you can find Bald Eagles, rabbits, coyotes, red fox, deer and elk.

The Colorado Trail crosses here on its way down to North Cottonwood Creek. It’s 18.5 miles and spends a lot of time above 11,000 ft. Northwards, you’ve got a steep incline that rates this section as difficult. For easier trails, take a drive up past the reservoir to enjoy the town of Winfield and Vicksburg. There you’ll find plenty of history among the many buildings and machinery left behind.