Between Aspen And Colorado Springs Is A Scenic Lake With A State Park For Fishing In The Rockies

When it comes to states that are chockfull of natural beauty, it's hard to find a place with more of it than Colorado. From the Rocky Mountains to the remote mountain lake with crystal waters that could be getting a new state park, Colorado is a nature enthusiast's dream. One of those stunning locales is Spinney Mountain State Park — particularly its Spinney Mountain Reservoir. With 2,444 surface acres of water, this reservoir isn't just a great spot for boating but is a member of the Gold Medal Waters, meaning it's consistently full of trout and an ideal place for fishing.

The park is also a goldmine for wildlife spotting. There are over 220 species of birds around the park and mammals like Gunnison's prairie dogs and the iconic American bison. Both Spinney Mountain and its reservoir are geological stunners thanks to a Wisconsin-aged glacial outwash that happened 10,000 to 15,000 years ago, resulting in the fine silt, clay, and gravel you find there today. The event also created the conditions that allow several species of plants to thrive in the park, including short prairie grass, brush, and various wetlands.

From Aspen, Spinney Mountain Reservoir is about a 2.5-hour drive by car, and from Colorado Springs, it's almost 90 minutes. Although it sits between these two major cities in Colorado, the reservoir is also just over two hours from Denver and 2.5 hours from Boulder, one of the best college towns that lies in the foothills of the Rockies. In other words, its location makes it accessible from Colorado's most popular destinations.

Although getting into the waters of Spinney Mountain Reservoir is prohibited — no swimming, scuba diving, or anything similar — it's a fantastic spot for kayaking, canoeing, sailing, and other types of boating. Thanks to winds that reach 30 to 40 mph regularly, it's also the perfect place for windsurfing. However, it's advised that wetsuits are worn, as the waters are very cold.

As much as the water-related activities can keep you busy for hours, this scenic lake's fishing is the real draw. Spinney Mountain Reservoir is a member of the Gold Medal Waters, and fishing is among the 13 things locals want you to experience when visiting Colorado. The reservoir is comprised of two Gold Medal sections: the reservoir itself and the South Platte River that flows into it. The latter is known for rainbow trout, brown trout, and the cutbow, a rainbow-cutthroat hybrid. You'll find the same fish in the reservoir, as well as trophy-size northern pike. 

Fishing season runs from the spring ice melt to mid-November, but the best day to try for a trophy-size fish is during Mountain Reservoir State Park's opening day. When fishing in the reservoir, you must adhere to several rules. Only artificial flies and lures are allowed, there's a limit of only one 20-inch-plus trout per bag and a limit of two trout total, and you can't fish a half hour prior to sunrise or a half hour after sunset. Should you reach your trout limit, all other trout are catch-and-release, as is anything caught in the river.

If the scenic waters of Spinney Mountain Reservoir and all it has to offer weren't enough, Spinney Mountain State Park and its 6,080 acres are also a hotbed of outdoor activities from which to choose. You can take a run or a hike along the Spinney Mountain Reservoir East Shoreline Loop, a trail that's considered easy and doesn't take more than an hour, then stop at one of the 21 picnic sites to enjoy a packed lunch or grill up a trout you caught earlier in the day. With the park sitting at the foot of Spinney Mountain, you have exceptional views no matter what you decide to do, including Collegiate Peaks to the west and Thirtynine Mile Mountain to the southeast.

For birdwatchers, keep your eyes peeled for American white pelicans and great blue herons, as well as other wildlife, including red foxes, bison, pronghorns, cottontail rabbits, and prairie dogs. Although you can't camp overnight, as it's a day-use-only park, considering it's open a half hour before sunrise to an hour after sunset, you can definitely get a lot in during that time. You can also bring dogs, as long as they're leashed.

No matter how you enter the park, there's an entrance fee. A day pass for a vehicle is $10 to $15, while an individual day pass costs $4. Unlike some state parks, Spinney Mountain State Park isn't open all year, opening only after the spring ice melts and closing again on November 15 or at the first ice of the year — whichever comes first. The opening and closing dates are subject to change every year, so keep an eye on the state park websites and social media for the official announcement.