Eleven Mile Canyon, CO

## Overview Nestled within the scenic Eleven Mile Canyon in Park County, Colorado, this public drinking spring provides fresh water via a hand pump located at the Spillway Campground — the last campground before you reach Eleven Mile Dam. The canyon itself is a popular destination for camping, fishing, and rock climbing, carved over millennia by the South Platte River through dramatic granite walls. Visitors have long relied on this spring pump to refill water jugs during their stays in the canyon, and many report the water tastes clean and refreshing. Eleven Mile Canyon stretches roughly 8 miles through rugged terrain leading up to Eleven Mile Reservoir, a well-known Gold Medal fishery managed by Colorado Parks and Wildlife. The canyon road follows the South Platte River and passes through several campgrounds, picnic areas, and fishing access points before reaching the reservoir and dam. While access to the canyon requires a day-use or camping fee, the spring water pump at Spillway Campground is available for anyone to use at no additional charge. ## Directions 1. From the town of **Lake George, CO**, head south on **County Road 96** (also signed as Eleven Mile Canyon Road). 2. Follow CR 96 as it enters Eleven Mile Canyon. You will pass a fee station near the canyon entrance — be prepared to pay the day-use or camping fee. 3. Continue along the canyon road, following the South Platte River upstream. You will pass several campgrounds along the way. 4. **Spillway Campground** is the last campground before you reach Eleven Mile Dam, located near the upper end of the canyon. 5. The spring water pump is located within the Spillway Campground area. **GPS Coordinates:** 38.908258, -105.45742 ## What to Expect The spring water is accessed via a hand pump situated within the Spillway Campground. The pump is straightforward to use and is a popular stop for campers and anglers passing through the canyon. Visitors frequently use it to fill jugs and water bottles during camping trips or fishing excursions along the South Platte River. The surrounding canyon scenery is striking — towering granite cliffs, ponderosa pine forests, and the sound of the river make this a beautiful spot to stop. The campground itself offers a relatively quiet setting near the upper end of the canyon, close to the dam and Eleven Mile Reservoir. Keep in mind that access to Eleven Mile Canyon is managed by Colorado Parks and Wildlife, and a valid parks pass or day-use fee is required to enter. The canyon road is paved but narrow in places, so drive carefully. Seasonal conditions may affect access — the canyon can see snow and ice in winter months, and campground availability may be limited outside the main season (typically late spring through early fall).