Crystal Reservoir facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Crystal Reservoir |
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 Crystal Reservoir
Location in Colorado
Crystal Reservoir
Location in the United States
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| Location | Montrose County, Colorado |
| Coordinates | 38°28′52″N 107°34′53″W / 38.48118°N 107.58142°W |
| Type | Reservoir |
| Part of | Wayne N. Aspinall Storage Unit (Bureau of Reclamation) |
| Primary inflows | Gunnison River, Cimarron Creek, Crystal Creek, Mesa Creek |
| Managing agency | Curecanti National Recreation Area (National Park Service) |
| First flooded | 1976 |
| Max. length | 6 mi (9.7 km) |
| Surface area | 340 acres (140 ha) |
| Water volume | 26,000 acre-feet (32 GL) |
| Surface elevation | 7,160 ft (2,180 m) |
| Settlements | Gunnison, Colorado; Montrose, Colorado |
Crystal Reservoir is a lake in western Colorado. It's not a natural lake; people built it in 1976. This lake holds water from the Gunnison River. It's part of the beautiful Curecanti National Recreation Area. The U.S. government built it to make electricity, store water, and create a fun place for people to visit. Crystal Reservoir is the smallest of three lakes in this area. It's also the least developed and hardest to reach.
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Why Was Crystal Reservoir Built?
Crystal Reservoir is part of a bigger plan called the Wayne N. Aspinall Unit. This plan helps manage the water from the Colorado River and its smaller rivers, like the Gunnison. The water is used for farms and cities.
The lake was made by building Crystal Dam across the Gunnison River. This dam is 323 feet tall. It's about 6 miles west of another dam called Morrow Point Dam. Crystal Dam was the last of three dams built for the Aspinall Unit. Its construction started in 1973.
Crystal Reservoir is the last lake on the river before it flows into the deep and amazing Black Canyon of the Gunnison.
Fun Things to Do at Crystal Reservoir
Crystal Reservoir is part of the Curecanti National Recreation Area. This area is managed by the National Park Service. They create and look after places for people to have fun at the three lakes in the Aspinall Unit.
At Crystal Reservoir, you can enjoy:
- Boating (only small boats you carry yourself)
- Camping
- Hiking
There are two main spots near the lake where you can start your adventures:
- Mesa Creek Trailhead
- Crystal Creek Trailhead
Mesa Creek Trailhead
Mesa Creek Trailhead is just west of Morrow Point Dam. You can get there from a one-mile road north of U.S. 50 at Cimarron. This is where you can launch your small boats into Crystal Reservoir.
A special campsite for boats is about 4 miles west of Mesa Creek. It's located where Crystal Creek meets the lake. Mesa Creek is also the start of the Mesa Creek Trail. This trail is about 1.5 miles long (round trip). It crosses the reservoir on a footbridge and goes along the north shore. It can be a bit challenging to hike. While Mesa Creek is for day visits, you can find campsites nearby in Cimarron.
Crystal Creek Trailhead
Crystal Creek Trailhead is on Colorado Highway 92. It's 24 miles west of Blue Mesa Dam. From here, you can access the Crystal Creek Trail. This trail is 5 miles long (round trip) and is moderately challenging. It doesn't go all the way to the water. Instead, it ends at a viewpoint about 1800 feet above the reservoir, offering amazing views.
