07/12/2026
𝑮𝒐𝒍𝒅𝒆𝒏 𝑺𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒚 𝒂𝒕 𝑫𝒆𝒆𝒓 𝑳𝒂𝒌𝒆𝒔
One of my favorite places to visit every fall is Deer Lakes, just off County Road 50 near Slumgullion Pass outside of Lake City, Colorado. 🍂💛
This photograph was taken in late September, not long before the Deer Lakes Campground closed in 2023 for extensive renovations. It officially reopened on May 28, 2025, but I haven't had the chance to see all the changes yet.
One thing I've been wondering about is this little spot in the foreground. It's right near the parking area and wasn't really a pond—just a very shallow, low-lying area that collected water. Whether it was natural or formed over time, I don't know, but the wildlife certainly loved it. I've spent many mornings and evenings watching for moose, and other visitors passing through this peaceful meadow, and this little water hole was often part of the scene.
I was really hoping to make it back this year to see if it's still there after the renovations, but it doesn't look like that's going to happen. Hopefully next fall I'll be standing in this same spot again, camera in hand, seeing what has changed... and what thankfully hasn't.
For those of you who have visited Deer Lakes since it reopened, I'd love to know—did they leave this little water hole alone, or is it gone now?
Sometimes it's the smallest, quietest places that end up holding the biggest memories. ❤️🍁
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