Right Now

Vallecito This Week

Built October 24, 2026 for the week of October 19: conditions, the bite, what's on and who's open, on one printable sheet.

Right Now

Week of October 19 at Vallecito Lake

Built October 24, 2026 ·
47° / 38° hi / lo 79% of full pool No fire restrictions fire restrictions AQI 37 Good

Lake and air as of October 24, 2026, the same feed as the bar at the top of the page. Highs and lows are this week's forecast.

7-day forecast

Sat
Showers
50°
35°
97%
Sun
Rain or snow
48°
28°
83%
Mon
Sunny
51°
27°
19%
Tue
Sunny
53°
28°
1%
Wed
Sunny
54°
28°
1%
Thu
Some sun
55°
30°
38%
Fri
Showers
51°
32°
80%

Highs in the 48–55° range, overnight lows 27–35°. An unsettled week, with rain or showers likely on several days.

Full interactive forecast — hourly, models & radar

The lake

The lake is about 79% of full pool (102,908 acre-feet, 7656 ft), up about 124 inches this week.

Inflow to the lake is running about 2420 cfs, with about 456 cfs released at the dam.

The lake’s rain gauge caught 3.64 in of rain and melted snow over the 7 days to 7 AM Sat, Oct 24; 7.39 in since Oct 1. Rain & snow gauge

The public boat ramp is open (season runs May 1–Oct 31).

Lake storage across the year — median since 1941 with this year's path marked. Full lake history

The likely players this week

The species most worth targeting around October — Fall feed — bigger lures:

Brown trout illustration — USFWS, public domain

Brown trout

Prime late September through November as browns turn aggressive before the fall spawn — streamers near structure.

Rainbow trout illustration — USFWS, public domain

Rainbow trout

The most reliable catch — troll, bait-fish from shore, or cast spinners; best around ice-out and again in fall.

Northern pike illustration — USFWS, public domain

Northern pike

The trophy — work the weedy north end with big spoons, spinnerbaits, and swimbaits; CPW encourages harvest.

Anglers 16 and up need a Colorado fishing license; each vehicle on PRID land needs a PRID recreation permit — permit details. For this week's actual bite, see the weekly report or ask at the marina.

This week's events

A quiet week at the lake — a good time for an early-morning paddle before the wind, or the free Tour of Carvings. See the calendar

Trail picks

  • The Lake Trails / “Walk Path” · flat, lakeshore
    Signed flat segments along CR 501/CR 501A with benches and fishing spots — the closest thing to a lakeshore promenade. Great for families and a sunset stroll.
  • Vallecito Creek #529 — to the first bridge · ~3 mi round trip
    THE classic local hike from Vallecito Campground: 0.6 mi flat, then switchbacks above the creek to the first footbridge — the standard turnaround. Busy in summer.
  • Lake Eileen #899 · 2.1 mi one-way · ~1,150 ft
    The one locals under-mention — steep-for-its-length through aspen to a lily-pad lake and a ridge overlook of the reservoir. Wilderness rules apply.

Vallecito Creek #529: the “Middle Bridge” (~5.5 mi up) washed out completely in the October 2025 flood — plan around it.

Afternoon thunderstorms build most July–August days — start early and watch the sky, on the water and on the trail.

Full trail guide

On the water

The public boat ramp is open (season runs May 1–Oct 31).

Rain or snow is likely today (97% chance) — check the forecast before you go out on the water, and dress for cold spray.

Permits: a PRID day-use permit (from $6/day) plus a Colorado license — details. Clean, drain & dry — launch guide.

Eat this week

= GoVallecito partner. Hours change seasonally — the business directory has the full list and links.

Tonight's sky

Sunrise 7:27 AM · Sunset 6:21 PM · Moon: Full moon (98% lit).

Vallecito sits under some of Colorado's darkest skies. More sky & solunar

Before you head up

  • County: no fire restrictions. Forest: no restrictions. Community stage effective Friday, July 24, 2026 (12:01 a.m.). Fire status & details
  • Air quality is Good (AQI 37). Regional EPA monitor (Southern Ute reporting area, ~30 mi) · AirNow.
  • Cell service is spotty around the lake — download maps and directions before you come. First-visit tips
  • Emergency & lake contacts — 911, clinics, ranger, marina. Contacts
Front desk? Hit print — the sheet condenses to a single page (conditions, 7-day, lake, events, and tonight's sky) for guests. Refreshed with every update, so a fresh copy is always a click away. Questions or a correction? contact us.

Auto-assembled from our live feed, the fishing and trails guides, the events calendar, and the business directory — the same sources the weekly Lake Report email uses. Conditions move fast up here; the linked pages carry the current numbers. How we verify