North Trout Lake Road, Ophir, CO 81426 - San Miguel County

Site #1 at Trout Lake offers a short walk to the shores of one of the prettiest high mountain lakes in all of Colorado and direct views of the famously colorful big mountain peaks that surround the lake.

This location has the easiest year-round access in Trout Lake from Highway 145 with a winding preliminary driveway in place.

SMPA power and phone are available.

The building envelope is mostly flat and easy to build on.

This is a premier location at Trout Lake with much easier winter access than many others, an easy walk to the lake, and the big lake & mountain views people have been coming to Trout Lake to see for generations.

8 highway miles from the entrance to the Mountain Village.

The Property is owned in undivided fee simple by Trout Lake Land Company. By virtue of ownership of Stock, the owner has a right to build on the Building Site corresponding to their stock certificate.

Site Pin is marked with pink tape and has a 50 foot length of rope attached to it to illustrate the 50 foot radius of the building envelope.

-- HISTORY --

Trout Lake is a natural body of water with use and visitation dating back to the French fur trapping expeditions of the early 19th century. With the introduction of the railroad, a small community of hopeful prospectors developed around Trout Lake, with a post office operating on and off for several decades beginning in 1882.

Starting in 1891, Trout Lake was used as a refueling station for steam-powered railroad trains in need of water along the Rio Grande Southern Railroad. A large wood tank from this era can still be seen today, near the Trout Lake Trestle, which was added to Colorado's Register of Historic Properties in 1997.

In 1894, the construction of the Trout Lake dam began to expand the water storage capacity for the nearby Ames Hydroelectric Plant. In the fall of 1909, the timber dam at Trout Lake flooded and was replaced with a rock and soil dam the following year. In 1954, the dams spillway was reinforced to divert excess water to the nearby Lake Fork.

With towering peaks set behind clear waters, green forests, and exceptional wildflowers, Trout Lake is a great place to enjoy the fresh air and pristine scenery of the Rocky Mountains.