Mesa Lake is a scenic mountain lake perched on the Grand Mesa in Mesa County, the world's largest flat-top mountain. Sitting high above the Grand Valley near Grand Junction, this lake offers a cool retreat from the desert heat below and serves as a year-round destination for fishing, camping, and winter recreation. The Grand Mesa is home to over 300 lakes, and Mesa Lake stands out as one of the more accessible and well-visited among them.
Fishing is the primary draw at Mesa Lake. The lake holds a healthy population of trout, and anglers consistently report catching fish throughout the open-water season. Bank fishing is productive from multiple points around the shoreline, and the lake is small enough to cover on foot in a single session. The surrounding Grand Mesa National Forest provides a backdrop of spruce, fir, and aspen that makes every cast feel like a postcard. The lake can get crowded during peak summer weekends as visitors from the Grand Valley head up the mesa to escape temperatures that regularly top 100 degrees.
Camping near Mesa Lake gives you a base for exploring the broader Grand Mesa trail network. Multiple campgrounds are scattered across the mesa, and several are within a short drive of the lake. The area offers a network of hiking trails that wind through alpine meadows, aspen groves, and past dozens of smaller lakes and ponds. Mountain biking is also popular on the mesa's trail system during summer months.
Winter transforms Mesa Lake and the Grand Mesa into a snow-sports destination. Snowmobiling is a major winter activity, with groomed trails crisscrossing the mesa. Cabin rentals are available nearby for visitors who want a warm base for winter adventures. Ice fishing is possible once the lake freezes solid, typically from December through March, giving anglers a chance to pull trout through the ice in a quiet, snow-covered setting.
The Grand Mesa Scenic and Historic Byway (Highway 65) provides paved access to Mesa Lake, making the drive from Grand Junction straightforward in summer. Fall brings exceptional color as the mesa's massive aspen stands turn gold, drawing leaf-peepers from across western Colorado. Spring runoff can affect lake levels and road conditions, so check current conditions before an early-season visit.
Whether you are escaping the summer heat, casting for trout, or snowmobiling through a winter wonderland, Mesa Lake and the Grand Mesa deliver a mountain experience that feels worlds apart from the valley floor below.