Mollie B_white River

Located approximately 14 miles east of Basalt, Colorado in White River National Forest, Mollie B White River Campground sits adjacent to the Ruedi Reservoir at an elevation just under 7,800 feet. Sites at this campground open up to views of the reservoir and starry nighttime skies. A mixed conifer forest hems in the shoreline, and nearby peaks offer an ideal setting for guests seeking recreation and relaxation. Mollie B has 27 standard sites suitable for tents, trailers and RVs, with a maximum length of 40 feet for RVs. The sites are equipped with picnic tables and campfire rings. Guests also have access to flush toilets and drinking water, but electrical hook-ups are not available. A boat ramp is available for use at this campground, and boating, swimming and water skiing are all possible. Interpretive programs are popular activities. Renowned for its fly fishing, the Fryingpan River flows below Ruedi Dam. Here, large rainbow, brown, cutthroat and brook trout are plentiful in an area nicknamed the "toilet bowl." The fish feed on mysis shrimp, a small freshwater shrimp stocked in the lake. The stretch of river from the dam down to the confluence of the Fryingpan and the Roaring Fork River has been designated as Gold Medal Waters by the Colorado Wildlife Commission. Special regulations in this area include fishing only with artificial flies and lures, and releasing all trout except brown trout, with a limit of 2 fish over 14 inches. For hikers and bikers, the Ruedi Trail, located north of the reservoir, climbs to the top of Red Table Mountain. The trailhead is located 200 feet north of the Jeep trail near the boat ramp and parking lot. This 8-mile trail gains over 3,000 feet in elevation, leading hikers to a spectacular panoramic view of the area. In the heart of the Rocky Mountains, the 2.3 million acre White River National Forest is a place of serenity and adventure, boasting 8 wilderness areas, 4 defined seasons, and 10 peaks surpassing 14,000 feet in elevation. Bighorn sheep navigate rocky ridges and bull elk bugle at dusk. Scenic rivers sustain populations of cutthroat, rainbow and brown trout, and alpine regions provide habitat for pika and ptarmigan. The nearby town of Aspen is a popular destination, with downhill skiing, world-class fly fishing, dining and resorts.