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Twin Lakes, Colorado, USA

Also known as:  Twin Lakes Reservoir

In the mid 1800’s gold was discovered in Lake County Colorado, and everything changed. Settlers moved west seeking their fortunes and discovered not only gold but also the treasure of Twin Lakes. Made up of two natural glacial lakes, Twin Lakes are tucked at the base of Mt. Elbert in South Central Colorado. Located in the San Isabel National Forest, the mountain is named for Samuel Hitt…
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    • All About Twin Lakes, CO

    Lake Locations: USA - US West Region - Colorado - South Central Colorado -

    In the mid 1800’s gold was discovered in Lake County Colorado, and everything changed. Settlers moved west seeking their fortunes and discovered not only gold but also the treasure of Twin Lakes.

    Made up of two natural glacial lakes, Twin Lakes are tucked at the base of Mt. Elbert in South Central Colorado. Located in the San Isabel National Forest, the mountain is named for Samuel Hitt Elbert, a Colorado statesman. At 14,433 feet, Mt. Elbert is Colorado’s highest mountain and the second highest peak in the contiguous United States.

    Although the lakes are natural, the Twin Lakes Dam was constructed in 1978 about 2,500 feet downstream from the original location of Twin Lakes, making the lakes part of a project to store water in the Pueblo Reservoir. Water is moved from Turquoise Lake to Mt. Elbert’s power plant and then on to Twin Lakes. From there the water goes to Lake Creek and the Arkansas River and on to the Pueblo Reservoir. The Mt. Elbert power plant is on the north shore of Twin Lakes. The plant is equal to a 14-story building most of which is below ground, and includes a visitor center that’s open in the summer to explain the project.

    Recreation on and around Twin Lakes is managed by the U.S. Forest Service with camping, hiking, climbing (including ice climbing), and snowmobiling. Located in the San Isabel National Forest, the Forest Service offers a boat ramp and four campgrounds: Dexter Point, Lakeview, Twin Peaks, and Parry Peak. The lakes are only 34 miles from Aspen and about an hour from Copper Mountain and Breckenridge, names familiar to skiers. Twin Lakes offer great boating and fishing for Mackinaw, rainbow, and brown trout. Ice fishing is popular in winter.

    Two miles west of the lakes is Twin Lakes Village, a National Historic Site. Settled in 1879, it was part of the area’s prospecting boom that started with gold and then moved to silver and lead. The Denver and Rio Grand Railroad arrived at Twin Lake Station, and it became a mining transportation hub for Leadville and Aspen. Mining ended, but by that time tourism was thriving. In 1885, a resort community named Interlaken was built on the southern shore of the lower lake. Today, Interlaken is preserved by the Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation and includes a nautical style cabin from the 1890’s, the hotel, two granaries, a stable, laundry, privy, and cow barn. Visitors can find Interlaken by following the Colorado Trail. Nearby Leadville, a historic mining town complete with an old west saloon, is a National Historic Landmark District and a great place to visit.

    Rich history, majestic mountain peaks, and clean glacial water combine to make Twin Lakes a fantastic mountain getaway.

    Things to Do at Twin Lakes

    These are some activities in the Twin Lakes, CO area visitors can enjoy:

    • Vacation Rentals
    • Fishing
    • Ice Fishing
    • Boating
    • Camping
    • Campground
    • Cabin Rentals
    • Hiking
    • Ice Climbing
    • Snowmobiling
    • National Forest

    What Kind of Fish Are in Twin Lakes?

    Twin Lakes has been known to have the following fish species:

    • Brown Trout
    • Trout
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    Find Places to Stay at Twin Lakes

    If you’re considering a Twin Lakes 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 Twin Lakes Vacation

    Our interactive Twin Lakes 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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    Twin Lakes Statistics & Helpful Links

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    Lake Type: Natural Freshwater Lake, Dammed

    Water Level Control: U.S. Bureau of Reclamation

    Surface Area: 2,440 acres

    Shoreline Length: 14 miles

    Normal Elevation (Full Pond): 9,181 feet

    Minimum Elevation (Min Pond): 9,157 feet

    Maximum Elevation (Max Pond): 9,200 feet

    Average Depth: 44 feet

    Water Volume: 107,000 acre-feet

    Completion Year: 1978

    Drainage Area: 105 sq. miles

    Twin Lakes Map
    Lake Water Level
    Local Weather Forecast

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