Itinerary · 7 days

A week at the lake

Seven unhurried days, one easy anchor each — built for a big multi-gen group, with optional satellites when the crew wants to split by energy.

Day 1 — Pontoon day

9:00 am–3:00 pm

Everyone on the water

Water play? Heads-up on water play: there is NO designated swim beach and no lifeguard — it's an open, busy motorized reservoir, and the water stays snowmelt-cold well into summer (ease in; cold-water shock is real). Stay near shore, mind boat lanes, and keep flotation on kids.

Take it easy The whole family on a pontoon from the marina — shade, seats, and a cooler; toddlers to grandparents all fit. Reserve ahead: (970) 884-7000.

Standard Two boats — a pontoon for the crew, a fishing boat for the anglers.

Turn it up Anglers take a fishing boat at dawn; the pontoon joins mid-morning.

Vallecito Marina →

📍 restroom: ownerConfirm (marina) · bench/seating: on the boat · shade: pontoon bimini

🍼 Kids: plan the midday reset for naps; keep flotation on at the water (no lifeguard).

🐾 Dogs welcome on pontoons (not paddle craft); leashed on the dock.

🌧️ Wind/storms cancel the water — swap to carvings + Country Market.

💡 Group of 8+: book multiple boats early; ask the marina about capacity and life jackets.

Day 2 — Carvings day

10:00 am–2:00 pm

The 14 carvings, at your pace

Take it easy The full carvings loop, drive-to-drive, with a picnic in the middle. The easiest big-group, all-ages, all-weather day.

Standard Carvings + a short lakeside walk.

Turn it up Carvings in the morning, a trail or paddle in the afternoon.

Tour of Carvings →

📍 restroom: owner-confirm · bench/seating: owner-confirm · shade: varies

🐾 Leashed dogs fine at the pull-offs.

🌧️ Rain-proof from the car; Pondering Pines if you want indoors.

💡 Regroup point: the carvings lot — the reunion spot all week.

Day 3 — A taste of the Weminuche

7:30 am–1:00 pm

High-country day

Take it easy A lower, gentle trail or a lakeside stroll — no summit required.

Standard Lake Eileen #899 — 2.1 mi one-way, ~1,150 ft.

Turn it up Deeper into the Weminuche from the north-end trailheads (e.g., Vallecito Creek #529, ~10.5 mi / ~3,340 ft — mind the Oct 2025 washout). Go early; be below treeline by early afternoon. Distances + trailheads on the trail guide.

Trail guide → · Wildlife →

📍 restroom: ownerConfirm (trailhead) · bench/seating: owner-confirm · shade: yes

🐾 Leashed — moose and bear country.

🌧️ Afternoon storms are the rule — turn around by 1 pm. Rainout: Stories hub.

💡 Split by energy; everyone back at the carvings lot at 3:00 pm.

1:00–3:00 pm

Midday reset

Take it easy Naps, knees, regroup — back at the cabins.

Standard Rest + restock.

Turn it up Refuel, then out again.

📍 restroom: at your lodging · bench/seating: n/a · shade: yes

💡 The daily reset every generation of the group wants.

Day 4 — Fishing morning + pier day

6:00 am–12:00 pm

Fish the calm, then the pier

Take it easy Kids and grandparents fish the wheelchair-accessible pier — perch off the docks are the easy, all-day bite.

Standard Shore + pier in the morning; a boat if you want.

Turn it up Dawn on the water for kokanee/pike; guides listed on the fishing page. PRID permit + Colorado license first.

Fishing → · Licenses & permits →

📍 restroom: ownerConfirm (pier) · bench/seating: owner-confirm · shade: owner-confirm

🍼 Kids: plan the midday reset for naps; keep flotation on at the water (no lifeguard).

🐾 Leashed on the pier.

🌧️ Lightning clears the water — carvings or the market instead.

💡 The pier is the great equalizer: toddlers to limited-mobility all fish it.

Day 5 — Durango side-trip

9:30 am–6:00 pm

Down the hill to Durango

🚗 About 45 min / ~23 mi to Durango (owner-confirm exact from your lodging).

Take it easy A relaxed town day — lunch, shops, the river walk; easy on knees and strollers.

Standard Add the historic downtown and a museum.

Turn it up The Durango & Silverton narrow-gauge railroad or a Durango-area ride, then back for sunset.

Getting here / the route →

📍 restroom: in town · bench/seating: in town · shade: in town

🐾 Leave dogs at the cabin for a long town day, or check dog-friendly patios in town.

🌧️ A town day IS the rainy-day move for the week.

💡 Group logistics: caravan or carpool; pick a Durango meet-point + time before you leave the lake.

Day 6 — Stories / rain-flex day

10:00 am–3:00 pm

The valley's history (weatherproof)

Take it easy Read the stories and see the easy sites: the carvings, the Missionary Ridge fire + Alan Wyatt memorial, the October 2025 flood, Tuckerville. Mostly from a screen or a dry car.

Standard Pick two stories and walk their ground.

Turn it up Pair a story with a short hike to its site.

Stories hub → · Pondering Pines →

📍 restroom: owner-confirm · bench/seating: owner-confirm · shade: varies

🐾 Leashed at story/roadside stops.

🌧️ This is the flex day — slot it wherever the week's worst weather lands.

💡 Handmade goods + a dry hour: Pondering Pines Maker's Market — (970) 398-5958.

Day 7 — Lazy last day

8:00–11:00 am

Slow morning, easy goodbye

Take it easy Coffee on the shore, a last flat lakeside walk, and pack up unhurried. Grab road snacks + hand-cut meats at the Country Market on the way out.

Standard A short paddle or one more carving you missed.

Turn it up A sunrise cast off the pier before the drive home.

Country Market →

📍 restroom: at your lodging · bench/seating: owner-confirm · shade: yes

🍼 Kids: plan the midday reset for naps; keep flotation on at the water (no lifeguard).

🐾 One last leashed lakeside break at Old Timers.

🌧️ Rain just makes the goodbye easier — pack and roll.

💡 Check-out logistics for a big group: stagger cars, and confirm the Country Market's hours (closed Tue–Wed) before you count on a resupply.