City: Colorado Springs, CO

Category: Parks & Recreation

Telephone: (719) 748-3863

Description: Eleven Mile is a big chunk of Colorado: a large, high altitude (8,600 feet above sea level) reservoir for boating and fishing, miles of hiking and biking trails, secluded canyons, and remote hillsides. Even on hot summer weekends, crowds are rare.The dam that made the reservoir was finished in 1932, and is today owned by the Denver Water Department. As one of seven reservoirs for Denver’s drinking water, there are strict regulations to protect against pollution. This poses some barriers for the recreational user, but more than that has created a pristine space of land and water that is perfect for a weekend in the mountains.Fishing is perhaps the biggest draw, with the popular catch of brown, cutthroat, and rainbow trout, as well as northern pike. The lake is one of a very few in Colorado stocked with kokanee salmon. Boating is also a big draw, including kayaking, canoeing, sailing, and motor boating. Keep your toes in the boat and on shore, though: Because of the human water supply issue, you can’t swim, scuba dive, water-ski, or even wade. Sailboarding is allowed all summer, although the high mountain winds make it a challenge even for the most experienced of sailboarders. If you need to rent boating and/or fishing equipment, 11 Mile Marina (719-748-0317, 877-725-3172, www.11milesports.com) is located on the north shore of the reservoir and rents boats (pontoon, fishing, power, and canoe), boat slips, and mooring buoys.For landlubbers, Eleven Mile has scenic hiking and biking trails in the Coyote Ridge/Backcountry area. There also is a self-guided nature trail and an orienteering trail. Brochures for both are available at the park office. While you’re out in the woods, watch for every kind of bird from songbirds and raptors to waterfowl and shorebirds. The rare bald eagle, American peregrine falcon, and white pelican also might be spotted. (Download a PDF of Eleven Mile’s Bird List under the “Publications” link on the website.) There also are 15 picnic sites and a playground, if you’re just out enjoying the day. If you want to make it a weekend, there are 349 campsites, from basic and secluded sites to electric or lakeshore sites. Or, there are 25 secluded backcountry sites for the more adventurous campers. In the fall, hunt for everything from elk and bear to mallards and gadwalls. (Go to the park’s website for more information about hunting in the area; or for general season dates and regulations, go to the Colorado Division of Wildlife’s hunting webpage at http://wildlife.state.co.us/Hunting.) This high-altitude park doesn’t take a vacation when the snow comes. In fact, winter is almost as active as summer, with cross-country skiing on the open meadows and, when the water freezes solid, on the lake. Ice skaters also enjoy the hard surface. Snowshoers find the park a virtual paradise. But the biggest crowds in winter are hearty ice fishermen. Those who leave with a fish story catch kokanee, trout, and pike all winter long. Ice boating is not currently allowed on the lake. Eleven Mile has numerous education programs each summer, presented by Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) Interpreters. (See the website’s calendar for upcoming programs.) There’s also a Junior Rangers program for those budding outdoors kids, ages 6 to 12. Those who’ve completed the Eleven Mile Junior Ranger activity book can receive certificates in a ceremony held on Sunday mornings. To get to Eleven Mile, head west out of Colorado Springs on US 24. One mile past the small town of Lake George, turn left (south) on CR 90 and drive for 6 miles to CR 92. Continue south on CR 92 for 5 miles to the park.The park is open 24 hours a day for camping and fishing, and the office is open daily. Fees are $7 per vehicle for a daily pass, or an annual pass is $70 (discounts available for Colorado seniors).