Paxton Dam

Paxton Dam: crowds and conditions

Typical pattern: moderate; weekends busier. 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 Paxton Dam

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

Busiest days: Weekends and long holidays.

Crowd: Moderate; weekends busier.

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

How to reach Paxton Dam — distance from nearby cities

Coordinates: 38.22384, -107.97056. Road distances are estimates; the road-trip planner uses real routes and adds stops worth the detour.

Places to visit near Paxton Dam

• Horsefly Peak · viewpoint · Ouray · ~6 km · Must-see
• Uncompahgre National Forest · sanctuary · Ouray · ~14 km · Must-see
• Ridgway Dam · lake · Ouray · ~23 km · Must-see
• Ridgway State Park · sanctuary · Ouray · ~24 km · Must-see
• North Pole Peak · viewpoint · San Miguel · ~26 km · Must-see
• Hayden Peak · viewpoint · San Miguel · ~28 km · Must-see
• Mount Sneffels Wilderness · sanctuary · Ouray · ~31 km · Must-see
• Ute Indian Museum · museum · Montrose · ~31 km · Must-see
• Mears Peak · viewpoint · San Miguel · ~32 km · Must-see
• Montrose Botanic Gardens · sanctuary · Montrose · ~36 km · Must-see
• Mount Sneffels · viewpoint · Ouray · ~36 km · Must-see
• Dallas Peak · viewpoint · San Miguel · ~36 km · Must-see
• Montrose County Historical Museum · museum · Montrose · ~37 km · Must-see
• Cirque Mountain · viewpoint · Ouray · ~38 km · Must-see
• Mount Ridgway · viewpoint · Ouray · ~38 km · Must-see
• Whitehouse Mountain · viewpoint · Ouray · ~38 km · Must-see
• Gilpin Peak · viewpoint · Ouray · ~38 km · Must-see
• Teakettle Mountain · viewpoint · Ouray · ~39 km · Must-see

See everything within a day’s drive of Paxton Dam

Other lakes, dams & reservoirs near Paxton Dam

• Ridgway Dam · lake · Ouray · ~23 km · Must-see
• Crystal Reservoir · lake · Montrose · ~55 km · Must-see
• Trout Lake Dam · lake · San Miguel · ~56 km · Must-see
• Morrow Point Reservoir · lake · Gunnison · ~66 km · Must-see
• Lake Fork · lake · Gunnison · ~78 km · Must-see
• Waterdog Lake · lake · Hinsdale · ~81 km · Must-see
• Lake San Cristobal · lake · Hinsdale · ~82 km · Must-see
• Blue Mesa Reservoir · lake · Gunnison · ~92 km · Must-see
• Electra Lake · lake · La Plata · ~93 km · Must-see
• Emerald Lake · lake · Hinsdale · ~110 km · Must-see

All lakes, dams & reservoirs in Colorado

Frequently asked