Lake Pueblo, Colorado, USA

Lake Pueblo is located west of Pueblo, Colorado and was formed when the Arkansas River was dammed as a part of the Fryingpan/Arkansas project of the Bureau of Reclamation. Today this great lake provides irrigation, drinking water, and flood control as well as exciting recreation opportunities. Lake Pueblo area has a rich history of development. The University of Denver states that there are 130 prehistoric archeological sites…
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    • All About Lake Pueblo, CO

    Lake Locations: USA - US West Region - Colorado - Southeast Colorado -

    Lake Pueblo is located west of Pueblo, Colorado and was formed when the Arkansas River was dammed as a part of the Fryingpan/Arkansas project of the Bureau of Reclamation. Today this great lake provides irrigation, drinking water, and flood control as well as exciting recreation opportunities.

    Lake Pueblo area has a rich history of development. The University of Denver states that there are 130 prehistoric archeological sites here. More current history includes the settlement of the area by Native Americans and pioneers. The Homestead Act of 1862 helped to establish the town which was formerly called Swallows and Turkey Creek who made their wealth on ranching and coal mining. In 1921 a devastating flood washed away most the town and killed 130 people. Most of the survivors left the area. A short ten years after the flood, the Fryingpan/Arkansas project began to develop.

    Today, Lake Pueblo is rated as a fishing “hot spot” with over 4,500 acres of water and is situated among limestone cliffs on the north side and an awe inspiring view of Pikes Peak and breath taking views of the Sangre de Cristo and Greenhorn mountain ranges on the eastern side. Water levels fluctuate based on downstream irrigation needs. Typically, water is stored from November 15th each year to March 15th when farmers begin their planting season. But no matter what the water level, trout, walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, crappie, channel catfish, bluegill, yellow perch and wiper (a cross between white bass and stripe bass) are waiting for your bait.

    Lake Pueblo State Park, one of Colorado’s most popular water sports areas, offers recreational facilities that were built by the Bureau of Reclamation and are managed by the Colorado Department of Natural Resources and Colorado State Parks. Water activities include sailing, boating, waterskiing, jet skiing, sailboarding, canoeing, kayaking, swimming, a huge water slide, paddle boats, bumper boats and a marina. Whitewater rafting is popular below the dam on the Arkansas River. Numerous campgrounds offer secluded campsites that allow you to enjoy the peacefulness of nature. Land adventures include beaches, horseback riding, hiking, picnicking, biking, and nature observation with photographic opportunities of mule deer, whitetail deer, bobcats, coyote, prairie dogs, raccoons, rabbits as well as several species of songbirds, hawks, waterfowl, and turkeys. Bald eagles frequent the area during the winter months.

    Located in the Southeast Tourist Region of Colorado, Lake Pueblo is only a short drive to other popular tourist attractions. Throughout this region, a national scenic and historic byway retraces the path of the Santa Fe Trail which was the route early settlers took to western homesteads. Along this route you will find detours that mark early settlements, trading posts, and American Indian culture sites.

    If you are looking for adventure and fun, then make plans to visit Lake Pueblo soon.

    Things to Do at Lake Pueblo

    These are some activities in the Lake Pueblo, CO area visitors can enjoy:

    • Vacation Rentals
    • Fishing
    • Boating
    • Sailing
    • Swimming
    • Beach
    • Canoeing
    • Kayaking
    • Whitewater Rafting
    • Jet Skiing
    • Water Skiing
    • Camping
    • Campground
    • Picnicking
    • Hiking
    • Biking
    • Horseback Riding
    • Wildlife Viewing
    • Birding
    • State Park

    What Kind of Fish Are in Lake Pueblo?

    Lake Pueblo has been known to have the following fish species:

    • Bass
    • Black Bass
    • Bluegill
    • Catfish
    • Channel Catfish
    • Crappie
    • Largemouth Bass
    • Perch
    • Smallmouth Bass
    • Sunfish
    • Trout
    • Walleye
    • White Bass
    • Yellow Perch
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    Find Places to Stay at Lake Pueblo

    If you’re considering a Lake Pueblo lake house rental or hotel, we’ve made it super easy to find the best rates and compare vacation accommodations at a glance. Save time using this interactive map below.

    Note: These are affiliate links and we may earn a small commission if you click and make a purchase. Read our full disclosure policy here.

    More Sites to Book a Lake Pueblo Vacation

    Our interactive Lake Pueblo lodging map above is an easy tool for comparing VRBO rental homes and nearby hotels with Booking.com, but there could be times when you need to expand your search for different types of accommodations. Here are some other lake lodging partners we recommend:

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    Lake Pueblo Statistics & Helpful Links

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    Lake Type: Artificial Reservoir, Dammed

    Water Level Control: Bureau of Reclamation

    Surface Area: 4,500 acres

    Shoreline Length: 60 miles

    Normal Elevation (Full Pond): 4,880 feet

    Maximum Depth: 135 feet

    Completion Year: 1975

    Lake Pueblo Map
    Lake Water Level
    Local Weather Forecast

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