Montrose's nearest big reservoir, Ridgway, is a short drive into Ouray County

If you live in Montrose and want a real lake day, the closest big water is Ridgway Reservoir. It is about 22 miles south on US 550, which puts it just over the line into Ouray County, not Montrose County. The drive is short and easy, so many Montrose boaters and anglers treat it as their home water even though the park itself belongs to the neighbor.

Ridgway State Park wraps around the reservoir, a roughly 1,000-acre lake with the San Juan and Cimarron mountains as a backdrop. A few rules are worth knowing before you load the truck. Motorboats and sailboats need a pre-launch inspection at the ramp, a current boat registration, and an aquatic nuisance species (ANS) stamp. Hand-launched paddle craft, like kayaks and paddleboards, do not need the stamp, but paddlers should still clean, drain, and dry their gear between waters. The inspection keeps invasive mussels and other pests from hitching a ride between lakes, which is a real threat to Colorado water. Inspections run set hours, so a very early or very late arrival can mean a wait.

Entry needs a pass, either a daily pass or the statewide annual pass. Fishing is a year-round draw, with trout and other species. Before you go, check Colorado Parks and Wildlife for current ramp status, inspection hours, fees, and the boating season.