Utica Reservoir - 4 Things to Know Before Visiting

Union Reservoir is a 736-acre body of water providing recreational opportunities all-year round for visitors and residents alike. Originally called Calkins Lake, the reservoir was carved out during the last glacial age and is one of only a few natural lakes in Colorado.

New Spicer Meadow Reservoir is a reservoir in the Sierra Nevada. It has a surface area of 2,000 acres when full. Visitors enjoy camping, fishing, hiking, and horseback riding. Boats on Spicer are limited to 10 MPH. The lake has 22 miles of shoreline, several islands, and numerous inlets. The upper part of Spicer is limited to non-motorized boats.

Stanislaus National Forest is a U.S. National Forest which manages 898,099 acres of land in four counties in the Sierra Nevada in Northern California. Stanislaus National Forest contains 1,4303.3 square miles of land within the Sierra Nevada Range. Most of the forest is within Tuolumne County, though it extends into parts of Alpine, Calaveras, Mono, and Mariposa counties. Two ski resorts, Dodge Ridge and Bear Valley, operate here under a special use permit.

Lake Alpine is a popular recreation area along Highway 4 in the Stanislaus National Forest. With 180 surface acres of glistening mountain water, Lake Alpine attracts anglers and boaters, campers and hikers, swimmers and sight seers. At an elevation of 7,350 feet, summer temperatures are mild.

Duck Lake lies in a glacial cirque, surrounded on three sides by peaks with its outlet on the far side. As a result, camping around Duck Lake is limited. Reflections across the expanse of Duck Lake are mesmerizing when they happen. You can continue backpacking from here by heading towards Purple Lake and Lake Virginia, or you can day hike around the area or simply enjoy being lakeside in the wilderness for awhile.

The Lake Alpine Sno-Park is located at the winter closure gate on Highway 4 in Alpine County, within the Stanislaus National Forest near Ebbetts Pass and the Bear Valley Mountain Ski Resort. It is a great place to go for family friendly snow play. Great for cross-country skiing, dog sledding, snow play, and snowmobiling.