John Martin Reservoir

About John Martin Reservoir

Standing on the large boulders and pebbles on the beach and seeing bald eagles hovering over the water, it is easy to believe that the John Martin Reservoir is an oasis in the surrounding high desert prairie. This relatively remote Western treasure has helped to develop one of America's most popular hiking and camping destinations and cemented its reputation as a popular destination for hikers and mountain bikers.

Located halfway between Las Animas and Lamar, the John Martin Reservoir is one of the largest freshwater reservoirs in the United States and the second largest in Colorado. The reservoir was built by the US Army Corps of Engineers in 1924 as part of the construction of the John Martin Dam on the Arkansas River.

The history behind the dam is as rich as the rest of the region, bounded to the east and west by the Colorado River, the Arkansas River, the Rio Grande River and a few other rivers.

Originally called the Caddoa Project, the dam was started by the Engineering Corps in 1936 and only 85 percent of construction was completed when it was halted during World War II. Martin was a congressman who served his state for more than a decade, and his son, US Republican John Martin Jr., ended it in 1948. The dam has since been renamed "John Martin Dam and Reservoir," in honor of its namesake, a former Colorado congressman.

He was also involved in the adoption of the Social Security Act and will be remembered as a great humanist. Repeated flooding in the Arkansas River Valley prompted him to push for legal approval of a dam project. Today, the dam and reservoir are managed by the US Army Corps of Engineers, but flooding has not been an issue in recent years, on the contrary. The recreation area and campground are under the control of the Colorado State Park System.

The size of the lake is very variable and ranges from 2,000 to 17,000 hectares, depending on precipitation, snowfall and water extraction. Reservoir levels have been low for several years and the average depth is about 1,500 meters below sea level.

In fact, the US Army Corps of Engineers has purchased a large portion of the water supply for the John Martin Reservoir in Colorado Springs to protect the reservoir's fish stocks.

The project was successful and fishing in the reservoir is good, and fishermen can fish for whales, cappies, perches and catfish from the shore or in boats. Trout are regularly caught, but you can fish for salmon, bluefin, redfish, trout, perch, whitefish and other species. Although the lake is not overcrowded, the perches are not overfished and are often caught in large numbers.

It also has the only designated bathing area, and it was the discovery of fossilized dinosaur tracks in 2002, the first in the United States.

Dinosaurs may be the oldest inhabitants of the Arkansas River Valley, but they're certainly not the only ones. Other dinosaur tracks were found in the valley, as well as other parts of Colorado and Wyoming, and park rangers found 79 tracks in two different locations. According to the US Geological Survey (USGS), the Indians hibernated in this valley for thousands of years.

The area around the Big Timbers, which takes its name from the large cotton trees that have historically covered it, provides protection and good hunting for the indigenous peoples downstream of the dam.

According to legend, a warrior named Red Shin fought for a girl against another warrior and was able to fend off her attacker. The Dakota Sandstone Formation was then called the "Red Shin Standground," and the RedShin Trail is named after the tribe that lived in the area in the early 19th century.

The 4.5 km long trail starts at the reservoir and also offers ample opportunities to observe the wildlife around the reservoir.
The Santa Fe Trail, which led the immigrants west before the arrival of the railroad, passed through the area and ends at a signpost for this historically significant route. This section of the Las Animas Hasty Trail is preserved for visitors as a signpost for the SantaFe Trail and as a public park for hikers and runners.

In addition to the rich history of the region, visitors to this reservoir can observe 373 bird species living in and around the John Martin reservoir. Bald eagles and golden eagles spend the winter there, and the coast is the only remaining breeding ground for the federally protected terns.

Hunters can use the campsite as a base camp and hunt within five minutes by car from the reservoir. In this reservoir and in the national park there are many wild animals, such as wolves, coyotes, bears, elks, mountain lions, wolves and coyotes.

Boaters will find plenty of space on the uncrowded lake and there is a marina for boating, jet skiing, water skiing and sailing. There is also a small retail and visitor centre with a variety of food and beverages as well as a wide range of outdoor activities so that everyone will find something to love.