OUR PICK: Fishing, canoeing and camping at Elevenmile Reservoir

Anglers know that Elevenmile Reservoir, south of Lake George, offers outstanding fishing opportunities on its massive 3,400 acres. When not reeling in a rainbow, brown, cutthroat or Kokanee trout, there are nearly five miles of scenic hiking and biking trails to explore.

Canoe around the shores of the backcountry and fish from the shore or a boat. Camp comfortably in 350 designated campsites around the shoreline, nestled among trees in the backcountry, or tucked away in secluded canyon pockets and remote hillsides.

Ride the waves, watch the skies

Ideal wind conditions make this wide-open reservoir a popular but not overly crowded destination for sailing, windsurfing and winter ice boating. Motor-boaters and kayakers also find plenty of room to play. And if you’re a bird-watcher, many species of birds and waterfowl reside in, or migrate through, the park.

Elevenmile Reservoir remains full again this year with a healthy rainbow trout population, and recent surveys conducted by the Colorado Division of Wildlife show that there are a number of large, healthy pike in the reservoir, as well.

Whatever floats your boat

The North Shore Boat Ramp at Elevenmile State Park is open to boating for the season. Boating will be allowed each day from a half-hour before sunrise to a half-hour after sunset through October. Witcher’s Cove Boat Ramp will be open this weekend.

“As has been the case the past two years, all trailered boats will be inspected for zebra and quagga mussels and other aquatic nuisance species (ANS) before they are allowed to go out on the water,” said park manager Kevin Tobey.

ANS organisms are nonnative, invasive species that spread very quickly. All boaters, belly boaters and fishermen wading into the water are advised to take a few simple, precautionary steps. Before leaving a lake or other waterway, boaters should:

• Clean the hull of the boat.

• Drain the water from the boat, live well and the lower unit of the engine.

• Dry the boat, fishing gear and equipment.

• Inspect all exposed surfaces.

• Remove all plant and animal material.