Visit to Trout Lake, Colorado

Rain every day, but that doesn't stop us.  We decided to head north on Route 145 to Trout Lake, traveling past the town of Rico.  Saw many RVs tucked into the roadsides, set up along the Dolores River. Trout Lake was originally explored by American fur-trappers who often used the lake as a stopping point on their expeditions.  The population grew after the construction the Rio Grande Southern Railroad and then the construction of the Ames Hydroelectric Generating Plant in the 1890s.  We will visit the Ames Plant another day.  Trout Lake is a natural lake but was expanded after the Ames Generating Plant was completed (constructing a dam and the purpose of the dam was to create additional reserves for downstream electricity usage for Telluride and Placerville.)  

The area provides lots of recreation, both in fishing, boating (no motors), and many hiking trails.  Cross-country skiing by the Telluride Nordic Association is the winter activity. Telluride is a quick 15 minute drive further on.

Pretty country!  We drove past this lake a number of years ago and did not stop, focused on getting to Telluride.  Even with the rain, we loved watching everyone playing.  Paddle boarding, canoeing, fishing, kayaking. Saw a number of mountain bikers,  a group of at least 30 passed us as we were heading more into the valley.  And small groups of mountain bikers were everwhere.  2 that we passed we met up with later in the day.  Altitude was a mere 9780 feet.  Saw a father and 2 daughters fishing along the bank, catching sucker fish and trout.  The girls were so excited when then caught something.

We stopped at a rest area and snacked, watched the activity, then drove on to the Trestle. What amazing thing to see.  And to see the water tank in it's glory.  Lots of wildflowers, did not see any marmots even tho there was a short little road called Marmot Way.  And the homes!  Yowee.  The area is closed from 'ice in' which is typically around end of October, to 'ice out' sometime mid to end of April. 

Over the years there were floods which wiped out the dam, then it was rebuilt, the railroad used the water to fill its steam engines.  15 similar water stations were used by the RGSR.  Today only 2 remain (one by Trout Lake). After the railroad was abandoned in 1954 the trestle continued to be used by auto traffic for several years.  Today the trestle is on the Colorado State Register of Historic Places.