Round Trip Distance: 0.7 miles
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation: 8750 - 8778 feet
Cellphone: 0 bars
Time: 30 mins.
Trailhead: Beaver Lake Campground
Fee: $4
Attractions: Scenic mountain lake
The Beaver Lake trail is located in the Mountain Division of the Uncompahgre National Forest east of Montrose, Colorado. Beaver Lake sits in a beautiful mountain setting about 1 mile north of Silver Jack Reservoir. The Forest Service has built a campground at Beaver Lake that is equipped with a vault toilet while each campsite has a picnic table and fire grate.
To get to the trailhead drive east from Montrose on Highway 50 for about 20 miles and turn south on the Big Cimarron Road. Drive for another 15 miles and you will come to the Uncompahgre National Forest boundary. After crossing the bridge over the Cimarron River the Big Cimarron Campground will be on the right. Another mile up the road and you will come to the Beaver Lake Campground.
After paying the $4/vehicle day use fee, if you don't have an Interagency Pass, you can park in the Fishermen Parking area. The fee for camping is $12 unless you have an Interagency Pass whereas the fee is $6.
The trail around the lake is an easy to follow gravel path.
About a year ago, 2013, the Division of Wildlife poisoned the lake to rid it of an unwanted species of fish that had been introduced. It has since been restocked. Small motorless watercraft are allowed on the lake.
Several side trails leading to fishing spots break off from the main trail.
Beaver Lake sits near the head of the Cimarron Valley where to the south the skyline is pierced by rugged mountain peaks some of which reach to elevations over 13,000 and 14,000 feet. The scenery in the area is nothing short of stunning.
