Bailey Reservoir is a scenic high-elevation impoundment on the Grand Mesa in Delta County, Colorado, surrounded by the kind of panoramic mountain beauty that earns descriptions like breathtaking from visitors. Sitting at roughly 10,200 feet in the Grand Mesa National Forest, the reservoir combines fishing, camping, and sweeping alpine views in a setting that feels genuinely remote while remaining accessible by maintained forest roads.
The reservoir is stocked by Colorado Parks and Wildlife and offers trout fishing through the ice-free season, which typically runs from late May or June through October depending on snowpack. Rainbow trout and brook trout are the primary targets, and fishing pressure varies from year to year. Some visitors report steady action while others note slower days, which is typical of high-altitude reservoirs where fish activity tracks closely with water temperature, insect hatches, and stocking schedules. Bringing a float tube or small non-motorized watercraft can help reach productive water away from the bank.
Camping near Bailey Reservoir is a major draw. The surrounding forest offers dispersed camping opportunities in addition to nearby developed campgrounds on the Grand Mesa. Visitors praise the campsites as beautiful and pristine, with the kind of solitude that can be hard to find at lower-elevation campgrounds along the I-70 corridor. Expect cool nights even in midsummer at this elevation, and pack layers for temperature swings that can drop 30 degrees between afternoon and dawn.
The scenery around the reservoir is the consistent highlight across visitor reviews. The Grand Mesa's flat-top geography creates an unusual high-elevation plateau dotted with hundreds of lakes, dense spruce-fir forest, and open meadows. From Bailey Reservoir, views stretch across the mesa in every direction, and wildflower displays in July and early August add color to the already striking landscape.
Access is via forest roads off Highway 65, the Grand Mesa Scenic Byway. Road conditions are generally passable for passenger vehicles during summer but can deteriorate in wet weather. Snow closes many mesa roads by November and they may not reopen until late May or June. Check conditions with the Grand Mesa Ranger District before heading up in shoulder season.
Bailey Reservoir works well as part of a broader Grand Mesa itinerary. The Crag Crest Trail, Cobbett Lake, Island Lake, and dozens of other fishing waters are all within a short drive, making it easy to build a multi-day camping and fishing trip across one of Colorado's most underrated outdoor destinations.