Dry Lakes

Dry Lakes: crowds and conditions

Typical pattern: usually quiet; mostly local visitors. Been there recently? Post today’s status and it shows here for the next traveller.

Status options for this lake: Full / gates open · Low water level · Entry closed.

Best time to visit Dry Lakes

Season: August to December when reservoirs are full and gates may open.

Crowd: Usually quiet; mostly local visitors.

Typical week: Mon quiet · Tue quiet · Wed quiet · Thu quiet · Fri light · Sat light · Sun light.

How to reach Dry Lakes — distance from nearby cities

Coordinates: 37.55250, -105.70391. Road distances are estimates; the road-trip planner uses real routes and adds stops worth the detour.

Places to visit near Dry Lakes

• Zapata Falls · waterfall · Alamosa · ~19 km · Must-see
• Denver and Rio Grande Western Number 169 · attraction · Alamosa · ~21 km · Must-see
• Twin Peaks · viewpoint · Alamosa · ~21 km · Must-see
• Sacred Heart Catholic Church · church · Alamosa · ~21 km · Must-see
• Alamosa National Wildlife Refuge · sanctuary · Alamosa · ~23 km · Must-see
• Little Bear Peak · viewpoint · Alamosa · ~23 km · Must-see
• Ellingwood Point · viewpoint · Alamosa · ~24 km · Must-see
• California Peak · viewpoint · Alamosa · ~24 km · Must-see
• Blanca Peak · viewpoint · Colorado · ~24 km · Must-see
• Colorado Gators Reptile Park · park · Alamosa · ~28 km · Must-see
• Mount Lindsey · viewpoint · Costilla · ~29 km · Must-see
• Smith Reservoir · lake · Costilla · ~29 km · Must-see
• Mosca Spring · viewpoint · Alamosa · ~33 km · Must-see
• Fort Garland Museum & Cultural Center · museum · Costilla · ~35 km · Must-see
• Great Sand Dunes National Park · sanctuary · Saguache · ~35 km · Must-see
• Mountain Home Dam · lake · Costilla · ~41 km · Must-see
• Mount Zwischen · viewpoint · Saguache · ~43 km · Must-see
• Great Sand Dunes National Preserve · sanctuary · Saguache · ~44 km · Must-see

See everything within a day’s drive of Dry Lakes

Other lakes, dams & reservoirs near Dry Lakes

• Smith Reservoir · lake · Costilla · ~29 km · Must-see
• Mountain Home Dam · lake · Costilla · ~41 km · Must-see
• Willow Lake · lake · Saguache · ~62 km · Must-see
• Terrace Dam · lake · Conejos · ~70 km · Must-see
• La Jara Dam · lake · Conejos · ~82 km · Must-see
• Acascosa Lake · lake · Conejos · ~91 km · Must-see
• Lake Isabel Picnic and Day Use Area · lake · Custer · ~93 km · Must-see
• De Weese Dam · lake · Custer · ~96 km · Must-see
• Trujillo Meadows Dam · lake · Conejos · ~108 km · Must-see
• Big Meadows Reservoir · lake · Mineral · ~121 km · Must-see

All lakes, dams & reservoirs in Colorado

Frequently asked