Morrow Point Reservoir

The Morrow Point Reservoir is located 12 miles downstream from the Blue Mesa Reservoir in the Curecanti National Recreation Area. This Colorado reservoir is truly unique because you’ll find it deep in the canyon that blends into the Black Canyon of the Gunnison. The geology of the canyon really sets off the green waters of the reservoir. Held back by the Morrow Point Dam, a thin arch double curvature Dam, the waters of the Morrow Point Reservoir are part of the Colorado River Storage Project.

More information

Region: Southwest	County: Montrose	Surface Acres: 817
Latitude: 38.4517	Longitude: -107.5373	Elevation: 7,165 ft. ( 2,184 m)
Boating: No	Boat Ramps: No	Marina: No

Fish species: Kokanee Salmon, Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout, Lake Trout, Brook Trout and Cutthroat Trout

Because Morrow Point Reservoir is so far down into the canyon, there are only a couple of ways to get to it. The first, is the Morrow Point Boat Tour. This 1 1/2 hour pontoon boat tour down the upper Black Canyon gives passengers the opportunity to view the canyon up close and to learn more about it’s geological history from a National Park Ranger guide. The tour begins at the Pine Creek boat dock and takes place twice a day, one at 10:00 am and the other at 12:30 pm. Reservations are required for all Morrow Point Boat Tours, no walk-on guests are permitted. The Morrow Point Boat Tour is one of the best ways to see the reservoir up close since no private boats are allow on the lake.

Getting to the boat tour requires a beautiful 1 1/2 mile round trip hike along the Pine Creek Trail. Access to the dock also includes a stairway of 232 steps. This trail is rated Moderate in difficulty, however there are some steep stair sections throughout the hike. The trailhead is located just off U.S. Highway 50 at mile marker 130, which is one mile west of the junction with Colorado Highway 92, look for the Pine Creek NPS sign. Make sure to allow at least one hour to hike from the trailhead to the boat dock. Make sure to come prepared! Colorado weather can be very unpredictable. A day that starts off as a sunny morning can quickly change. Rain storms can move in quickly, temporarily changing the weather! In addition, you can expect the temperature to be much cooler on the water. Dress properly and be sure to bring drinking water, staying hydrated while hiking in Colorado is extremely important. And since the total time needed for this tour can be up to 4 hours, you might consider bringing lunch in your day pack, there are picnic tables along the trail and at the boat dock. If nothing else, bring some snacks to help you keep your energy level up. NOTE: No pets, smoking or alcoholic beverages are allowed on the boat.

Another way to see Morrow Point Reservoir

The second way to get an up close look at Morrow Point, is a 1,800 foot descent on the Hermits Rest Trail! The trailhead is located at the Hermits Rest Overlook and Picnic Ground, located approximately 23 miles East of Crawford Colorado on Colorado State Highway 92, which is also know as the West Elk Loop Scenic Byway. Gunnison Colorado is about 50 miles from the overlook. Take US-50 west 26 miles to the junction of CO-92, turn right on CO-92 and proceed another 24 miles to the Hermits Rest Overlook. At the overlook, you’ll have a beautiful view of the Morrow Point Reservoir at the bottom of the canyon.

If you’re thinking about hiking this trail, be aware that this trail is rated Strenuous! This is not a trail for inexperienced hikers or those with physical limitations! The 3.5 mile decent will take approximately 1.5 hours to make. At the end of the trail, there are picnic sites and a few tenting sites too. The 1,800’ ascent back to the Hermit’s Rest Overlook, can take a fit hiker up to 3 hours to complete!

Fishing Morrow Point Reservoir

Fishing options for this reservoir are obviously limited. The steep canyon walls make access to the lake nearly impossible, thus creating some amazing fishing opportunities! There are a number of species that populate the lake. Kokanee Salmon, Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout, Lake Trout, Brook Trout and Cutthroat Trout can all be found here. And since the number of fishermen on this Colorado reservoir is extremely limited, the sizes of the fish being caught are impressive. One of the largest Brown Trout caught here was 32 inches and weighed in over 15 pounds!

Getting to the fish is a whole other matter. You could take the hike down the Hermits Rest Trail, camp in the campground and fish from the shore or you can schedule a guided fishing tour. Beware though that there is only one licensed outfitter for Morrow Point Reservoir and as you would expect, the price of a day on this reservoir is considerably higher than your average guided fishing trip. To get more information on a guided fishing adventure on the Morrow Point Reservoir, stop by the Elk Creek Marina on the Blue Mesa Reservoir.

No matter how you enjoy the Morrow Point Reservoir, looking up from below the Morrow Point Dam, on the Boat tour or from the Hermit’s Rest Overlook and Trail, this feature of the Curecanti National Recreation Area is worth seeing!