Mormon Reservoir, Mesa Verde, La Plata County, Colorado     Custom Search User input for Mormon Reservoir, Mesa Verde, La Plata County, Colorado: Luther Butler: The Mormon Reservoir is located on Hay gulch stream before it flows into La Plata River. In the late 1920's the Mormon Church in Utah paid to have the damn across Hay Gulch constructed for the Mormon village of Red Mesa. Water is stored in the reservoir until it is needed for farmers at Red Mesa. The water is released into the La Plata River and is measured for agricultural purposes during the drier part of the summer. Young men from Red Mesa built frame buildings on the rocky and wooded west hillside going into Hay Gulch. Until the damn was completed the workers stayed in these dwellings. All of the work on the earthen damn was done by hand and horse drawn equipment. Dynamite was used to blast boulders used on the damn to hold the water in place until needed. The impounded water becomes undrinkable by early summer when it has a strong odor. Water dogs (salamanders) and tadpoles become prolific as the summer advances. On hot summer days the water is very refreshing for swimmers. In Luther Butler's novel, Homesteaders and Sheepherders, details of the reservoir are given Submit Input: Your Name: Write or Paste Input here: Upload picture:      Review Guidelines       A visit to Mormon Reservoir is always a good idea. This lake is so wonderful. Target Tree Campground is a wonderful campground nearby; paddling on Animas River is so much fun. But wait, there's more to do next to Mormon Reservoir. Mormon Reservoir is a great place to visit for more than one day, Kroeger Campground is a great place to camp nearby, and dry warm beds await you at Echo Basin Dude And Guest Ranch, LLC. Mormon Reservoir gets very little rainfall;       August is when you get the most rain here, and June is the month with the least moisture. This lake is so wonderful. What would winter be without some skiing at Hesperus Ski Center, and Cottonwood Reservoir is a nearby lake that you could have a look at. Very scenic scenery and glorious skiing is what you get at Durango; since you're here why not stop by Hay Gulch. These mountains rock, just explore all the entertaining stuff to do in the Mesa Verde. Red                  Mesa Ward Dam has good water scenery and it's in close proximity to Mormon Reservoir; you can have a delightful hiking adventure along the Whites Trail. You truly should fancy the Mesa Verde. Take a hike on the Wheeler Trail, and do stop by Red Mesa Ward Reservoir, it's a beautiful lake. For the period of the warm days of summer highs here at Mormon Reservoir get into the 80's while nighttime lows are usually in the 40's. Throughout the winter the highs are usually in the 30's while the cold winter nights at Mormon Reservoir are in the 0's. If you need a location to stay Best Western Durango Inn And Suites is a good choice; since you're here you can take a hike along the Chicken Creek Trail. Get dripping wet paddling on San Juan River. The Mesa Verde scenery is always beautiful.   Echo Basin Dude And Guest Ranch, LLC, Mancos 15 miles away Echo Basin Ranch located in the Four Corners area of Southwestern Colorado and is sthe perfect location for your next vacation. We are a non-structured guest ranch where YOU plan for your own individ... Best Western Durango Inn And Suites, Durango 18 miles away Retreat to this Durango, Colorado hotel offering cozy and affordable accommodations near world-class Colorado skiing, Mesa Verde National Park, Durango-Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad and British Petr... Current weather conditions at Mormon Reservoir, Mesa Verde, La Plata County, Colorado Local climate location: FORT LEWIS 7 miles away   Coordinates: Latitude: 37.16944 Longitude: -108.1417 Mesa Verde Lakes Complete list of all the lakes in the Mesa Verde. Mesa Verde Outdoors Info Complete outdoors info for the Mesa Verde. Colorado Lakes Complete list of all lakes in Colorado La Plata County Lakes Complete list of all lakes in La Plata County Books about Mormon Reservoir List of books available on Amazon.com about Mormon Reservoir, Mesa Verde, La Plata County, Colorado. Outdoors Recreation Near Durango, Colorado Very comprehensive list of a variety of outdoors recreation in the vicinity of Durango, Colorado, the metro area neareast to Mormon Reservoir. Find info on campgrounds, hiking trails, ski resorts, lakes, beaches, parks, whitewater and more. Colorado Outdoors Index This is a very comprehensive index of outdoors activities in the great state of Colorado.     These outdoors activities are available near Mormon Reservoir.   Hotels Near Mormon Reservoir: Echo Basin Dude And Guest Ranch, LLC, Mancos, 15 miles away Best Western Durango Inn And Suites, Durango, 18 miles away Residence Inn By Marriott Durango, Durango, 18 miles away Doubletree Hotel Durango, Durango, 19 miles away Durango/Purgatory Super 8 Motel, Durango, 19 miles away   Camp Grounds Near Mormon Reservoir: Target Tree Campground, La Plata County, 10 miles away Kroeger Campground, La Plata County, 12 miles away Echo Basin Ranch, Mancos, 14 miles away Lightner Creek Campground, Durango, 15 miles away   Ski Areas Near Mormon Reservoir: Hesperus Ski Center, Colorado, 9 miles away       700 vertical feet Durango, Colorado, 16 miles away       2029 vertical feet   Whitewater Near Mormon Reservoir: Animas River, La Plata CountyCounty, 19 miles away       Class II-III - 12 miles long (Purple Cliffs to State line) San Juan River, San Juan CountyCounty, 19 miles away       Class II - 50 miles long (Navajo Dam to Four Corners) Animas River, La Plata CountyCounty, 20 miles away       Class III - 6.5 miles long (32nd St. Park to Purple Cliffs)   National Parks Near Mormon Reservoir: Mesa Verde National Park, Mesa Verde National Park - CO, 21 miles away Yucca House National Monument, Mesa Verde National Park - CO, 21 miles away Hovenweep National Monument, Cortez - CO, 43 miles away   Trails Near Mormon Reservoir: Wheeler Trail, Montezuma County, 15 miles away Whites Trail, Montezuma County, 16 miles away Chicken Creek Trail, Montezuma County, 17 miles away   Lakes Near Mormon Reservoir: Red Mesa Ward Reservoir, La Plata CountyCounty, 0 miles away Cottonwood Reservoir, La Plata CountyCounty, 10 miles away