Haviland Lake

Haviland Lake sits at 8,100 feet in the San Juan National Forest, roughly 18 miles north of Durango off Highway 550. The 80-acre lake is backed by the dramatic Hermosa Cliffs and ringed by stands of aspen and ponderosa pine that shift from deep green in summer to brilliant gold each fall. Colorado Parks and Wildlife stocks the lake with rainbow trout and brook trout, and the gentle, wadeable shoreline makes it a reliable spot for bank anglers and families teaching kids to cast for the first time. Hand-launched and electric-motor boats are the only watercraft allowed, so the surface stays calm enough for kayaking, canoeing, and stand-up paddleboarding without competing with motorized traffic. A USDA Forest Service campground lines the eastern shore with more than 40 sites that include picnic tables, fire rings, and access to potable water and vault toilets. Several trails depart from the campground into the surrounding national forest, connecting hikers and mountain bikers to the Forebay Lake Trail and other routes through mixed-conifer forest. Birders visit the lake to spot waterfowl, sapsuckers, warblers, and grosbeaks in the dense canopy along the shoreline. Visitors 16 and older need a valid Colorado fishing license or a State Wildlife Area pass to enter the Haviland Lake SWA portion of the property. Dogs must remain on leash unless actively hunting during an open season. Haviland Lake has earned a loyal following among campers and anglers, with many returning year after year for the combination of reliable trout fishing, quiet water, and mountain scenery just a short detour from the main highway corridor between Durango and Silverton.