Copyright: Christine M. Douglas-USDA Forest Service Heart Lake

FISHING - Good fishing is available at many of the lakes in the Flat Tops area. Heart Lake is the largest lake at 480 acres.

SCENIC VIEWS - This region offers many scenic views. They include spectacular views of the lakes, surrounding mountains, and meadows of wildflowers.

HISTORY - Ute hunting parties camped at Deep Lake in the early 1800's. President Teddy Roosevelt followed nearly a century later when his Flattops hunting party camped at the lake in 1905. Pioneer travelers on the Dotsero to Meeker wagon road rested at a hotel which was built on the lake in 1890. After the hotel was destroyed by fire in 1906, the U.S. Forest Service built a guard station on the northwest edge of Deep Lake. It has since been removed. Heart Lake was increased in size and depth by the Colorado Division of Wildlife for better fish habitat. On the south side of the lake a study was done in 1948 on grazing of land. The fenced off area from this study remains. The old town of Carbonate is located here. This was the former County Seat for Garfield County. Some buildings still remain.

Directions from Eagle: Travel 12 miles west of Eagle on I-70 to the Dotsero exit, follow signs for Sweetwater/Burns, turning north on the Colorado River Road. Follow this road 1.8 miles, turning left onto the Coffee Pot Road, FDR 600. This road will give you access to the Flat Tops. Please remember that bikes are not allowed within the Flat Tops Wilderness.

Directions from Vail: Travel 43 miles west of Eagle on I-70 to the Dotsero exit, follow signs for Sweetwater/Burns, turning north on the Colorado River Road. Follow this road 1.8 miles, turning left onto the Coffee Pot Road, FDR 600. This road will give you access to the Flat Tops. Please remember that bikes are not allowed within the Flat Tops Wilderness.

Directions from Beaver Creek: Travel 34 miles west of Eagle on I-70 to the Dotsero exit, follow signs for Sweetwater/Burns, turning north on the Colorado River Road. Follow this road 1.8 miles, turning left onto the Coffee Pot Road, FDR 600. This road will give you access to the Flat Tops. Please remember that bikes are not allowed within the Flat Tops Wilderness.

Seasonal Information:
Normally Accessible: July through September .

Coffee Pot Spring Campground - Coffee Pot Spring Campground, with 6 developed sites, sits on the edge of an aspen stand at an elevation of 10,000 feet, with a sweeping view of the surrounding mountain ranges.

Deep Lake Campground - Deep Lake Campground sits on the edge of Deep Lake, at an elevation of 10,580 feet. It is the largest and most popular campground on the Eagle Ranger District.

Deep Lake/Heart Lake Loop Four-Wheel Drive Road - This series of four wheel drive roads travel through the Deep Lake and Heart Lake areas on the Flat Tops, northwest of Dotsero.

Heart Lake - 480 acre Heart Lake sits on the Flat Tops, northwest of Eagle, at an elevation of 10,708 feet.

Klines Folly Campground - This small campground with limited facilities is located near Heart Lake, on the Flat Tops.

Supply Basin Campground - This campground at 10,760 feet elevation, is located on the edge of a small lake on the Flat Tops in the Deep Lake/Heart Lake area.

Ten Mile Park Four-Wheel Drive Road - These scenic roads to the north of Deep Creek provide a good area for four- wheel driving, motorcycling, or mountain biking.

White Owl Campground - This relatively undeveloped campground sits on the edge of White Owl Lake at an elevation of 10,680 feet.

White Owl Lake - White Owl is a 21 acre natural lake located on the Flat Tops at an elevation of 10,680 feet.