Lake Capote Recreation Area

The Lake Capote Recreation Area is a 400 acre facility owned by the Southern Ute Indian Tribe and managed by the Tribes’ Division of Wildlife.  The facility is located within the exterior boundaries of the Southern Ute reservation and is roughly 16 miles southwest of Pagosa Springs and 46 miles east of Durango, Colorado.  The recreation area is equipped with: a concessions-bait shop, fish cleaning station, public restrooms, multiple shade structures, campground with 30 primitive camping sites and 10 RV sites with electric and water hook-ups, RV water fill station, RV dump station, rental boats and paddle boats, and a centrally located campground bathhouse providing restroom and shower services. The facility is developed around a 40 acre spring-fed lake which is annually stocked with rainbow trout, brown trout, channel catfish, and largemouth bass.  The lake’s shoreline is accessible by road, a nature path, 4 docks, and by boat.  Power boats or aspirated outboard motors are not allowed but anglers may use electric trolling motors.  Swimming is not allowed in the lake.