At 20 miles (32 km) long and with 96 miles (154 km) of shoreline, Blue Mesa Reservoir is the largest body of water in Colorado , and the largest Kokanee salmon fishery in the United States . The lake is part of the Curecanti National Recreation Area, which is about 200 miles (320 km) southwest of Denver . When full, the lake surface elevation is at 7,400 feet (2,242 m). The reservoir began to fill in 1965, upon completion of the Blue Mesa Dam. Flooded were highways, railroad bridges and three towns. The Blue Mesa, plus the Morrow Point and Crystal reservoirs are collectively called the Wayne N. Aspinall Storage Unit, and were created primarily to provide water storage to the Upper Colorado River Basin states of Colorado , Wyoming , New Mexico and Utah . The average precipitation at Curecanti is only 12 inches (30 cm)  a year, which is why few trees grow around the reservoir.

Depths to: 300 feet (91 m).

Visibility: Up to 20 feet (6 m).

Water temperature: About 68 degrees Fahrenheit (20 degrees Celsius) at its warmest.

Aquatic life: Brown trout, lake trout, in addition to the abundance of Kokanee salmon.

Fees: There is no entrance fee for Curecanti, except at East Portal, where the cost is $8 per vehicle. It covers all persons in a single, private, noncommercial vehicle and is valid for seven calendar days.

On-site amenities: Elk Creek Marina offers a restaurant and supplies. East of Blue Mesa is Gunnison , a city with ample dining and lodging options.

More info: Visit www.nps.gov/cure or call (970) 641-2337, or visit the Gunnison Chamber of Commerce Web site at www.gunnison-co.com/.

Open: Year-round.

Getting there: U.S. Highway 50 runs the length of Curecanti between Montrose and Gunnison , Colorado . The recreation area is also accessed from Colorado highways 149 and 92.