Home Colorado Blue Mesa

Site:

altBlue Mesa

Location:

Gunnison, CO

Dive Type:

Lake - largest in Colorado, when full the lake surface is at around 7400 feet elevation

Associtated Costs:

none

Depth:

300' + 

Temperature:

38°-68° F

Visibility:

alt0' - 20' 

Things to see:

Three towns submerged

  • numerous highway and railroad bridges submerged
  • plenty of fishing gear
  • a wrecked airplane
  • sunken boats

The lake has an abundance of

  • Kokanee Salmon
  • Brown trout
  • Record lake trout
  • Crawdads

The lake varies in depth depending on the time of year. There is about a one week diving window in early May when the water is very low and clear with no algae growth or spring runoff. Visibility may be up to 30 ft during this window. This window can vary depending on the year, weather, etc. I would not recommend driving there in early May expecting the right conditions.

 

Here is the skinny for the last few years:

Late May: Spring runoff fills the lake, and of course no viz.

Mid June - Aug. Lake is full and surface temps are warmer. Algae growth and thermoclines. Surface temp is high 60°'s, first thermocline about 8 ft down drops to 50°'s, 10 more ft and it drops to 40°'s. There is a canyon at the bottom, and there will be upwelling in places with water in the 30°'s.

Best Diving: Late Aug - Oct. Water demands along the Gunnison and lower Colorado river basin require a lot of water from the res to be released. Less tourism, shallower water, less runoff = clearer water. Wait until Monsoon season is over...could be September.

Water will be clearer when the weather has been nice for over a week. Gets murky with rain and wind.

Diving Hours:

24

Air Fills:

No, bring lots of tanks and air!

Local Shops:

None

Camping:

Yes

No cell phone coverage. Pay phones at Marina and campgrounds.

There are very few rules:

  • You can drive to the water's edge
  • You can have camp fires
  • You can have dogs off leash
  • You can have alchohol if over 21
  • You can camp

 

There is a really good hamburger and trout restraunt at the marina called Pappy's. Reasonable and tasty. Great Margaritas. You can also rent a boat, get maps, etc, at the marina.

The headwaters are about 10 miles from Gunnison, and the lake continues for about 20 miles along highway 50 west of town.


Website:

http://www.bluemesalake.com/

http://www.bluemesares.com/

 



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