News Release

Iola boat ramp opening and transition to summer hours

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News Release Date: May 6, 2024

Gunnison, Colo. – The Iola boat ramp on Blue Mesa Reservoir in Curecanti National Recreation Area opens Thursday May 9, 2024, at 7:00 a.m. It will be open daily from 7:00 am to 3:00 pm through May 17, 2024. Starting May 18, Iola and Elk Creek inspections stations will be available for summer hours from 5:30 am to 9:00 pm. Lake Fork inspection station will remain open from 6:00 am to 4:00 pm daily, until further notice.

Motorized and trailered watercraft launched onto Blue Mesa Reservoir must be inspected for aquatic invasive species prior to launching. Boaters are encouraged to get an exit inspection to verify watercraft are clean, drained, and dried. Boat inspections help ensure that Blue Mesa will be available for future generations to enjoy. 

U.S. Highway 50 remains closed from milepost 136 to milepost 140 due to the closure of the middle bridge over the reservoir. Please plan accordingly and visit https://www.codot.gov/news/media for information. Use https://www.cotrip.org/home to find alternative routes. Elk Creek remains accessible from US50 on the Gunnison side of the closure. Lake Fork is accessible from the Montrose side of the closure. Iola is accessible via CO149, on the Gunnison side of the closure. 

Blue Mesa Reservoir is project to reach 7,510 feet (2289 m) elevation by late June. This is about 9 feet (2.7 m) below full pool at 7,519 feet (2291 m). For more information about Blue Mesa, see the Bureau of Reclamation website at www.usbr.gov/uc/water/crsp/cs/asp.html.-

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About the National Park Service: More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America’s 429 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve natural resources, local history, and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Learn more at www.nps.gov.

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