This is an easy, short (4.8 miles), dead-end jeep road which primarily provides fishing access to Regan Lake (91.5 acres). The road begins at the lower end of Wilderness Ranch's reservoir. It has a well-lined double tread and runs primarily through rolling country, traversing meadow land and both open and heavy aspen and Engelmann spruce timber types. The first 2.7 miles traverses through the open meadow lands of House Canyon and is relatively level. The next 1.3 miles travels through scattered and heavy timber, climbing about 760 feet. This section has several ups and downs. The final 0.8 mile is open grassland and parallels the shoreline of Regan Reservoir. A Colorado Division of Wildlife cabin, at the west end of the reservoir, marks the end of the road.This Colorado Division of Wildlife cabin is open to public use. All that is asked, is that the cabin be left clean and that the door be latched when you leave, to keep wild animals out.
The Colorado Division of Wildlife has two experimental windmill/aerators located on the lakeshore. One is located near the south end of the reservoir and the other at the north edge of the shoreline just off the road, about midway to the old cabin. These windmills are connected to perforated underwater pipes through which the air is pushed. The air bubbles up through the water to the surface. This keeps the ice open over a small portion of the reservoir, providing oxygen to the fish through the long cold winter, preventing winterkill of the fish population each year.
Several shorter, steep grades (10-15 percent) are encountered along the route. In the early season and wet weather, the road can become boggy in several locations.
Potential campsites exist along the route or at the reservoir.
Directions from Creede, Colorado: 20.1 miles southwest on Colorado Highway 149 to the intersection of Colo. 149 and Rio Grande Reservoir Road #520. Bear left at the junction. Go west on the Rio Grande Reservoir Road for 3 miles to the junction of Regan Lake (House Canyon) Road #521 (approximately 0.1 mile before reaching Bristol View Guard Station and just prior to crossing the bridge over Crooked Creek). Bear right at this junction. The road is signed, and signs for Wilderness Ranch and S-Lazy-U Ranch are also present at the junction. Continue on the Regan Lake (House Canyon) Road #521 for 1.6 miles to the lower end of Wilderness Ranch's reservoir, where the Regan Lake Road turns off the to the left (southeast). If you come to the Wilderness Ranch buildings, you've gone too far.
Seasonal Information:
Normally Accessible:
June through October .
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