Blue Mesa Lake
Blue Mesa Lake is Colorado's largest body of water, and is the largest Kokanee Salmon fishery in the United States. The lake's surface starts to freeze in late November, providing little access to boats. The surface of all three basins on the lake are usually frozen any time after late December. Ice thickness is usually safe for ice fishing on the Iola basin in January -- and winter fishing is excellent! Melting begins in April, with "ice out" (ice free conditions) as early as late April.

Permit Information
No permit needed.

Directions
From Gunnison, drive east on Hwy. 50 until you reach the park near Neversink picnic area and trail.

Information Center
There is a visitor center at Elk Creek on Hwy. 50 between Iola and Cebolla Basins.

Activities