Near the Grand Mesa & Vega Reservoir, Colorado National Monument- hiking fishing

Completed in June 1962 by the Bureau of Reclamation, Vega Reservoir sits at the center of Vega State Park, offering 900 surface acres of water fed by Park and Leon creeks and Plateau Creek. The park spans 1,800 acres of upland managed by Colorado Parks and Wildlife, providing hiking trails, cross-country skiing, and fishing opportunities amidst montane meadows and aspen foliage. A post office, cemetery, and school once served the area’s homesteaders, who raised dairy herds and beef cattle before the school closed in 1936. Today, visitors enjoy camping sites and picnic areas within the scenic backdrop of the Colorado National Monument. The reservoir’s construction was driven by the need for increased water storage for irrigation in the Plateau Valley, and the area remains a hub for birdwatching and wildlife viewing.