Glade Lake
Glade Lake is remote, intermittent and not to be missed. It has the best waterbird potential in the county and perhaps the best shorebird potential as well. Breeders here include Eared Grebe, Pied-billed Grebe, Cinnamon and Green-winged Teals, Northern Shoveler, Redhead, Ring-necked Duck and lots of Yellow-headed Blackbirds. Other species that have been seen here include Virginia Rail, Bufflehead, Willet, Least Sandpiper and Red-necked Phalarope. The road south of Glade Lake is good for ponderosa birds including Grace’s Warbler and Lewis’s Woodpecker. Orange-crowned and MacGillivray’s Warblers also breed along this road. Williamson’s Sapsucker and Flammulated Owl are almost certainly in the area. Mammals abound in this area, including the rare Abert’s squirrel, black bear, elk, American badger, and mule deer.
Restrictions: Road may be snowed in during the winter
County: Dolores
Directions: From Lone Dome SWA, continue east across the river to the junction with FR 504 (<0.5 miles); turn left. Glade Lake is on the east side of FR 504, about one mile past the turnoff to FR 514, 13.5 miles from Lone Dome.
Alternate Directions: From Dove Creek, go south on US491 for 9 miles to CR R in the town of Cahone, and turn left. Go 3 miles to CR 16 and turn right and go 1.25 miles to CR S. Turn left on CR S and go 1.8 miles to CR 18, on the left. Turn left and go 10 miles to the lake, on the right.
Habitat: Pond/Lake/Reservoir, Ponderosa Forest, Wet Meadow
Dates of Access: Open all year
Hours: Any
Ownership: US Forest Service
Admission or Fees: Free
Parking: Roadside
Lodging: Primitive camping
Handicapped: No
Handicapped Access: Some viewing from car
Delorme: 74 B3
ROC: 129 D1
Latitude: 37.7749019
Longitude: -108.657088
Additional Resources
Learn more about birds reported at this location at eBird:
https://ebird.org/hotspot/L2827939