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Vallecito Reservoir, Colorado
Pronunciation And Derivation
Many thanks to Scott Maase who has relatives living in the area of Vallecito Reservoir and who informs me that the word is pronounced "vi-yeh-SEE-toe".
According to another source, the name is Spanish and means "small valley".
Location
Vallecito Reservoir is northeast of Durango, in southwestern Colorado and also in the San Juan National Forest.
Description
Extremely scenic backroads run through typical Colorado farming country between Durango and Vallecito Reservoir, and from the Reservoir south to join US160 near Bayfield. The 1993 edition of the official Colorado highway map indicates that these roads are paved. When we visited, quite a few years ago now, I seem recollect that we encountered some unpaved roads, but we might have lost our way and turned off the main roads.
The Reservoir itself is also scenic, although this is spoilt somewhat by the high level of usage for water sports.
Vallecito Reservoir was formed by the construction of Vallecito Dam, which is 162 feet high and 4010 feet long at its top. The dam was constructed between 1938 and 1941.
Some Ideas For Places To Stay
In The Area
Colorado
Colorado Plateau
Dams
Grand Circle
National Forests
Scenic Roads
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Most recently modified 31-May-04