What’s an off-the-beaten path Colorado gem, with 1,000 acres for fishing and boating, 56 campsites in three campgrounds, a boat ramp and dozens of nearby hiking trails?
If you said Ruedi Reservoir (pronounced Roo-Dye, with equal emphasis on each syllable), you’re right.
Just 14 miles east of Basalt, Ruedi Reservoir came to be in 1968, when a dam was constructed to create this large water storage facility for Colorado’s Front Range. Fortunately for high country dwellers and visitors, Ruedi Reservoir is a prime place for outdoor water recreation and relaxation—in addition to its role providing essential water for municipal and agricultural uses downstream.
The reservoir is stocked with Kokanee salmon and thousands of rainbow trout. A large reproducing population of giant Mackinaw, or lake trout, also dwell in it depths.
Its boat ramp is handy for both sailboats and motorized boats. (A mandatory boat inspection keeps invasive non-native species, like freshwater mussels, out of Ruedi’s waters.) Stand Up Paddleboarding, or SUP, has emerged as a very popular reservoir activity in the past decade.
The campgrounds have site for tents and RVs, with picnic areas, water and vault toilets. Check out details for camping at the Ruedi Marina Campground, Little Maud Campground, and the Mollie B Campgrounds.
White River National Forest – Alerts & Notices
Includes forest updates & information on closures
Ruedi boat ramp status and information (WRNF)
