Birding Colorado

Lemon Reservoir - La Plata County
Aliases: City Reservoir (La Plata County)
Ownership: None Listed
Description: The reservoir itself is usually very quiet, but the road that extends north from the north end of the reservoir toward City Reservoir can be very good for high elevation birds including Dusky Grouse in summer. This road is very rough and takes about one and a half hours to drive one-way [high clearance vehicle recommended] through ponderosa and spruce/fir forests. At the top, the trail towards City Reservoir goes above tree line to alpine tundra were American Pipits, White-tailed Ptarmigan, and Brown-capped Rosy-finches can be found in summer about two to three miles up the trail. This is a full day trip.

Habitat: Pond/Lake/Reservoir, Ponderosa Forest, Spruce-Fir Forest, Alpine Tundra
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 straight on CR 243 toward Lemon Reservoir while CR 240 turns right. Drive past the reservoir and first campground and turn right on FR 597. This is a slow and rough road that winds up the mountain. Park at the trail head where the road ends and hike NNE on trail 534 toward City Reservoir. After about two miles ptarmigan nest above tree line, as do Brown-capped Rosy-finches and pipits.
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