Know before you goFlood Warning · Flood WatchUpdated Oct 24, 2026
- Flood Warning until Sat, Oct 24, 3:45 PM MDT
- Flood Watch until Sun, Oct 25, 12:00 PM MDT
Know Vallecito Lake before you go.
Live conditions from the agencies that publish them, every business in the valley, and what to know before you drive up.
Flood warning: follow La Plata County instructions.
Flood Warning issued October 23 at 3:57PM MDT until October 24 at 3:45PM MDT by NWS Grand Junction CO. Partly cloudy and 52° now, high 47°. US 160, 2 to 5 miles west of the Pagosa Springs area: road closed. (+1 more CDOT incident nearby). Also closed in Southwest Colorado: CO 112, between Del Norte and 1 mile west of the Center area; CO 151, 4 to 15 miles north of the Arboles area; US 160 Wolf Creek Pass (Pagosa Springs to South Fork); CO 112, near Del Norte. That is not on the Durango to Bayfield route, and no closure is reported there. Power outage data has been unavailable since 11:45 AM MDT.
Vallecito Lake is a 2,720-acre mountain reservoir at 7,665 feet in southwest Colorado, about 23 miles (45 minutes) northeast of Durango. When last updated, it was 52° at the lake and the reservoir 79% full, per the Bureau of Reclamation reading for October 22, 2026. Live readings here refresh every 15 minutes. All the lake’s figures.
Plan your trip
The six pages most visitors need, in one place.
Ready-made days
Itineraries, this week at a glance, and the questions we get most.
Itineraries
One perfect day, a full weekend, or a winter day, each with an easy track and a turn-it-up track.
See the itinerariesVallecito This Week
A printable one-page snapshot: conditions, events, fishing, and fire status, refreshed with every update.
Open this weekCommon questions
Swimming, permits, dogs, cell service, altitude: the questions we get most, answered straight.
Read the FAQThe stories around the lake
Not planning a trip? Just curious about this place?
Gallery
Vallecito through the years: Ute heritage, the 1940s dam, and today's high country.
Open the galleryTour of Carvings
14 chainsaw sculptures around the lake honoring the 2002 Missionary Ridge Fire.
Take the tourMissionary Ridge Fire
The 2002 fire that burned 73,000 acres over the lake, and the carved memorials that remember it.
Read the storyWildlife
Bears, moose, elk, and eagles: lock up scents, leash the dog, slow at dusk.
Meet the wildlifeFrom around the lake
More photos of the lake · got a great Vallecito shot? Send it in and we'll credit you if it runs here.
Vallecito at a glance
The quick answers, then dig into First Visit for the details. Loved hard and kept pristine: see Respect Vallecito.
Can I swim?
Yes. People swim near the day-use areas at the north end. No designated beach, no lifeguard, and it's snowmelt-cold into June.
Can I bring a boat?
Yes. Rentals at the marina; lake permits are $6/day per vehicle, or $12/day with a motorized boat. Licenses & permits
Can I hike or camp?
Yes. Hiking trails ring the lake and reach into the Weminuche Wilderness, and six USFS campgrounds serve the reservoir.
Best season?
Summer for the water; September–October for fishing, fewer crowds, and golden aspens.
A small lake, big country
How big is Vallecito Lake?
Vallecito sits at the edge of the Weminuche Wilderness, the largest wilderness area in Colorado.