All campgrounds except the Elk Creek Campground are closed until further notice. Loops A and D of the Elk Creek Campground remain open and reservable on Recreation.gov.
A dip in Blue Mesa can be refreshing, but the water remains cold even in the summer. The shoreline of the reservoir is mostly steep and rocky, but there are few places particularly good for swimming.
Where to Swim
There are no designated swimming areas in the park. Areas with designated "no-wake" zones for motorized watercraft tend to be better for swimming.
Bay of Chickens (windsurfing beach, 1.2 miles west of Elk Creek)
Dry Creek (1 mile east of Elk Creek)
Old Highway 50 beach (100 yards west of Elk Creek)
Swim Safety
Be aware of motorized watercraft around you. Do not assume they see you.
The water is cold. Surface temperatures average about 65 degrees even in the summer.
Be aware of the symptoms of hypothermia, which can be brought on by exposure to cold water.
It is illegal to jump off rock cliffs, ledges, bridges, or structures on Blue Mesa (15 feet or higher).
Harmful algae, also known as blue-green algae, is common and natural to our waters and found throughout Colorado. The algae can multiply rapidly to form blooms and scums, particularly in areas of shallow, warm water and in the late summer.
Multiple species of blue green algae, also known as cyanobacteria, are native to our area of Colorado and are an essential part of the food web in Blue Mesa. In fact, cyanobacteria showed up about 2 billion years ago on the planet. Even though it has been around for billions of years, more and more lakes around the World are seeing bigger and more frequent blooms - Blue Mesa Reservoir included.
