Birding Colorado

Lake Eileen - La Plata County
Aliases:
Ownership: None Listed
Description: This high-elevation lake can be accessed by a trail starting from the Northwest corner of Vallecito Reservoir across from the Forest Service work building which climbs about 1000 ft through forested terrain. High elevation warblers and flycatchers [Hammond's and Olive-sided] are present in summer along the trail and Dusky Grouse and woodpeckers including Three-toed and Williamson's Sapsucker are usually found around the lake in the moist spruce/fir forest. Goshawk is sometimes present above the lake.

Habitat: Spruce-Fir Forest, Pond/Lake/Reservoir
Elevation:
Directions: From downtown Durango drive north on US 550 to 15th Street and turn right. Then after a short distance turn left onto Florida Road which becomes CR 240. After about 13 miles continue on CR 240 by turning right at the Lemon Reservoir intersection. After about 4 miles at the bottom of the hill turn left (north) on CR 501. After about 9 miles, past Vallecito Reservoir, look for the forest service "Work Center" on the right (east) side of the road and park here on the shoulder. The trail head is on the left (west) side and signed. An alternate route from Bayfield, east of Durango on US 160, is to turn north at the traffic light on CR 501 and proceed past Vallecito Reservoir (about 13 miles) as noted above.
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