Trout Lake, Natural lake and reservoir in San Miguel County, Colorado, USA

Trout Lake is a reservoir in San Miguel County, Colorado, sitting above 9,700 feet (about 2,960 m) and ringed by forest and rocky slopes. A dam holds back the water at the southern end of the lake, and the surrounding terrain is typical of the high San Juan Mountains.

Trout Lake is a natural lake that was enlarged in 1894 when Telluride Power Co. built a dam to create reserves for the Ames Hydroelectric Generating Plant 3.25 miles downstream. On September 5, 1909, heavy rain caused the Trout Lake and Middle dams to fail, releasing about 2,000 acre-feet of water that flooded Placerville, Sawpit and Newmire and destroyed miles of railroad track. The dam was rebuilt in 1910 with soil and rock instead of timber, and its spillway was rebuilt in 1954 with two steel siphons.

Trout Lake takes its name from the fish that still populate its cold waters, making fishing the most common reason people come here. The shoreline draws hikers and riders from nearby Telluride, especially during summer when the surrounding meadows are in full color.

The lake is about a 25-minute drive from Telluride along a winding mountain road, and the high elevation means weather can change quickly at any time of year. Bringing layers and enough food and water is a good idea, as there are few facilities on site.

Along the shore, an old railroad trestle and a large wooden water tank survive from the days when steam trains on the Rio Grande Southern Railroad stopped here to refill. These structures are still visible from the road and can be explored on foot.