McPhee Reservoir

McPhee Reservoir is a large lake in the San Juan National Forest, roughly 10 miles south of Dolores in Montezuma County. It is surrounded by pinyon, juniper, and sagebrush landscapes and offers about 50 miles of shoreline to explore.

The reservoir was built in the 1980s and is now one of the largest water storage areas in southwestern Colorado. The region has a long history of settlement, with traces of the Ancestral Puebloans and later European logging operations, remembered by an old locomotive from 1947.

The reservoir takes its name from James McPhee, an early settler of the region. Today, visitors use this place for boating, fishing, and camping, showing how it has become a center for outdoor recreation and gathering.

Visitors can launch vehicles and boats at several ramps that are easy to access during the season. It helps to arrive early to find parking, especially during the busy season from May through September.

An old piece of railroad history sits at the edge of the reservoir: a Montezuma Lumber Company locomotive from 1947 that recalls the era of logging. This unexpected monument tells the story of past industrial activity in the region.