Big Meadows Reservoir — Attraction in Four Corners States

Just found this place again after years of searching, thanks to Google Image Search’s Lens feature. Visited when camping with my parents in the late summer of 1975. I recalled it being somewhere near Durango. Asked my dad - who had an amazing memory for these things - but he couldn’t remember exactly which lake we’d visited that day, though he thought it was closer to Pagosa Springs than Durango. He was right, as usual. Even though it was 45 years ago I remember the day we visited, a day trip from the campground where we were staying. I think he got the idea to go there from an elk hunter who was staying in the other campground where we had been staying elsewhere in the national forest. I recall the lake being very remote, and very quiet, with almost nobody else in the area on the day we visited. It was perfect, and my mom snapped the perfect photo of a boy about to turn 8, and a dad who looked like he didn’t have a care in the world. I have a lot of happy memories, but this place gave me one of the happiest. Lost Dad a little less than a year ago, and I hate that I can’t tell him I found our lake. But I promise one day soon I will visit again and take a photo in the same place.

Edit: in 2023 I found the lake. Basically unchanged in the nearly 50 years since the first photo. It’s a special place in general, but extra...

Beautiful place the lake is wonderful and the trail. The only bad things is the amount of trash people are leaving behind. Please I beg you do your part and clean up after yourselves so we can continue to enjoy this place. I don't understand how someone can go to a place like this and destroy it. Also please leash your dogs you're not the only one going here. I had this dog almost attack my baby girl saying sorry doesn't help what does is taking responsibility for your dog and leashing it in a...

We were here 3rd week in September and most of the campground was closed. We parked in the last space available (out of 5) and were very happy with it. There was no facility close by but we're fine with that. Walked around the closed loops and most of the spaces were very nice, some very private and right on the lake. Scenery was gorgeous! I imagine the lake might get a bit crowded in...