Molas lake or Big Molas Lake
Located at 10522 ft elevation, this lake has the ‘most scenic campground in Colorado’. You can already guess how amazing the view is. We had the opportunity to camp here once, and I can assure you this is one of the most amazing campsites in Colorado with a gorgeous view. Unlike lots of other lakes in Colorado, this lake is easily accessible. You will get the backcountry camping vibes without any hiking. This 25-acre waterbody is located about 6 miles south of Silverton, Colorado, and is the largest lake in San Juan County. The campground here is owned by the town of Silverton and is considered one of the most scenic developed camping sites in Colorado. There are 50 campsites including tent sites, RV/trailer sites and facilities like restrooms, showers, and drinking water are available. Imagine waking up beside a lake and the first thing you see is a beautiful lake and mountains as its backdrop. The view is stunning. Due to high demand, the campsites tend to fill up very quickly every year. If you are planning to camp here, try to make your reservation as early as possible.
Even if you are not camping here, you can simply go sightseeing. It’s so soothing to watch the clouds roll over the mountain while sitting at the edge of the lake. This lake is full of fish, which is provided by Colorado Parks and Wildlife. We saw many people fishing here all day. Please remember, you will need a valid Colorado fishing license for fishing here. You may be able to see different birds such as ducks, migratory geese, warblers, several species of hummingbird, etc. depending on the season. Though swimming is not allowed here at this lake, non-motorized boats are permitted. You can take your boat, kayak, or rent one for a small daily fee and spend the day here at Molas Lake. Visitors can use the picnic tables, BBQ grills, restrooms, and trash facilities free of charge. That means, even if you do not want to go camping or could not get a camping reservation, you can still go for a picnic beside a stunning lake with a spectacular panoramic view.
At a glance:
- Activity: Camping, fishing, sight-seeing, birdwatching, kayaking
- Address: Big Molas Lake, U.S. Highway 550, Silverton, CO 81433
- GPS coordinate: 37.74890, -107.68378
- Season: Open year-round, camping is open from June to September. This year, they are opening on May 28th due to popular demand.
- Hours: Dawn to dusk
- Permit/Reservation: free, reservation required for camping. Camping reservation can be made here:
- Molas Lake Campground Park :: Town Silverton Colorado :: Camping and Campsites
- A small fee is also required for showers.
- Contact: 970‐403-4145
- Email: info@molaslake.com
- · You can rent the Kayak from Molas Lake Campground Store. They have 5 kayaks, 4 stand-up paddleboards, and a rowboat for rent. You can rent one of those and enjoy kayaking at Molas Lake.
Little Molas Lake
Little Molas Lake is a small water body located along the Colorado Trail and the Million Dollar Highway, south of Silverton. This lake is very close to the Molas Lake or the ‘Big’ Molas Lake- it’s located about two miles west of the Molas Lake in San Juan National Forest. The last one mile of the lake is one mile long and unpaved. The good thing about this lake is that during good weather conditions most cars including two-wheel drive vehicles can through the last unpaved mile. The campground here is primitive but the view of the San Juan area is amazing. This campground has 10 designated sites with amenities including picnic tables (not in all sites), fire grates, toilets, but no drinking water or trash facilities. So be prepared and keep that in mind. Among the sites, half can accommodate RVs and horse trailers. All these campsites are free but first-come, first-served. Campers can stay a maximum amount of 14 days. As a result, it’s really hard to get a spot here in this campground. If you cannot grab one of those few spots, please refrain yourselves attempting to make dispersed campsites here. This may be harmful to the land. Moreover, you can still go for dispersed camping nearby in the surrounding national forest which also provides a stunning view. Just past the campground, there is a trailhead parking which can accommodate 20 vehicles including horse trailers. There is some additional day-use parking available close to the lake. Non-motorized boats are permitted in this lake, but all the watercraft have to be hand-launched. People also do kayak, canoeing, paddleboarding here at this lake. Like the Molas lake, swimming is not allowed here too. But this is a popular destination for fishing. During the winter, snowshoeing and snowmobiling are popular activities here.
At a glance:
- Activity: Camping, fishing, boating, sight-seeing, birdwatching, kayaking
- Address: Little Molas Lake, San Juan National Forest, US-550, Silverton, CO 81433
- Contact: 970-387-5530
- GPS coordinate: 37.744834, -107.708991
- Season: From June to the end of September. This lake is closed for snow.
- Hours: all-day
- Permit/Reservation: free, no reservation required.
- Please secure your food at night. Otherwise, it may attract wildlife.
- For both lakes, please leave no trace. You must pack out whatever you pack in. Leave only your footsteps, nothing else.
Source
- Molas Lake Campground Park :: Town Silverton Colorado :: Home Page
- Microsoft Word - Columbine CGs-North of Dgo.docx (usda.gov)
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