The drive from the small main drag of the town of Basalt, CO to Ruedi Reservoir is a virtual Thomas Cole painting—brushed with rolling river waters and lush greenery—occasionally paused by a charming cabin or scenic overlook. The winding road that leads to the popular reservoir ebbs and flows along with the Fryingpan River, which at any given time of the day, is speckled with wader-clad fisher-men and women enjoying the world renown gold medal fishing waters in the area. As the road winds on, the anticipation builds, until finally, one last curve reveals the massive body of water magnificently laid out below you. Public lakeside campsites surround Ruedi and fill up quickly during the warm weather months, but regardless of where you choose to lay your head for the night, the colorful and lazy sunrise in the morning is best viewed back at the beginning. Back to that last revealing curve where a long-running overlook temporarily becomes the best seat in the house to witness every sparkle and every streak of color that dance along Ruedi in the early morning hours.
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