Blue Mesa
Long and hilly ride to Blue Mesa Reservoir in beautiful Colorado Mesa country with a couple of challenging climbs. Blue Mesa Reservoir is Colorado’s largest body of water, it spans 29 miles and boasts over 96 miles of shoreline, which means abundant recreation and lounge-worthy beaches. Located at elevation of 2300m the water is always cool, and there’s nothing more refreshing on a hot day spent in the high-altitude sun. Blue Mesa Reservoir was created by the construction of Blue Mesa Dam, a 390-foot tall earthen fill dam constructed on the Gunnison river in 1966 for the generation of hydroelectric power. Boaters love the 29-mile-long reservoir, which has several arms that lead into secluded canyons. The fishing is legendary, as it’s stocked with millions of fish each year, and it is home to the largest cokanee salmon fishery in the US. And, with camping, windsurfing, waterskiing, hiking, horseback riding and boat tours also vying for attention, it takes a few days to experience it all.
Region: Colorado
City: Montrose
Distance: 50.17 km
Elevation Gain: 1060 m
Elevation Loss: 769 m
Difficulty: 670 (Moderate)
FIETS Index: 1.28 FIETS
Avg Grade: 1.96 %
Max cat climb: 1
Min elevation: 2004 m
Max elevation: 2654 m
Ride Category: Hilly