Molas Lake Park & Campground•San Juan Mountains

00:00     Title
00:15     Pinkerton Hot Springs
01:15     Molas Lake Park & Campground
04:40     Little Molas Lake Winter Recreation Area
08:15     Cascade Creek & Flume
12:50     Hermosa Creek Campground
17:10     Junction Creek Campground
19:05     Fin
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The San Juan Mountains of southwestern Colorado offer cool refreshing relief from the extreme summer heat. The base of these mountains start in the mile high elevations and there are several 14,000 foot tall peaks. With every few thousand feet higher in elevation, the average temperature drops by a few degrees, which is quite an incentive during a heat wave. By the time a visitor gets to Molas Lake, they will be over 10,000 feet up and it can be chilly sweater weather even in July. 

There are relatively few lakes high up in the San Juan Mountains that are conveniently located next to a paved road, but Molas Lake is an exception. The dirt road that goes to Molas Lake Park & Campground is only a few hundred yards long and it is well maintained during the summer season. During wet weather the dirt road can turn into a mud pit, but there is a dry parking area next to the highway for wet days and the hiking trail to Molas Lake starts there too.

The Molas Lake Park & Campground is a fee area and this is a popular destination, so it is best to make reservations ahead of time. There also are several San Juan National Forest primitive campsites nearby that present boondocking options. All it takes is one look at the photos to see why Molas Lake Park is such a desirable vacation spot, because this is one of the most picturesque high elevation landscapes to be found anywhere in the entire west!

The photos in this article were shot early in the month of July and as can be seen, the remnants of the heavy winter snow pack are still intact. It can take a long time for the highest mountains to thaw out after a heavy winter and this can maximize the water levels in the creeks and rivers. Camping, fly fishing, hiking and personal watercraft sports are on the activities menu, but it is best to take things slow while adjusting to the thin air.

The Molas Lake Park & Campground property is actually is a Silverton city park, even though it is located deep in the San Juan National Forest. The Molas Lake Park website is separate from the National Forest Service website, which is good to keep in mind when seeking more information or making reservations. Doing a camping, hiking and fly fishing venture in this picturesque place certainly will create pleasant memories that will last a lifetime!