Facility · Colorado ·
Managed by the USDA Forest Service
San Isabel National Forest (NF) · Open Access
Locted at the far west end of Turquoise Lake, Boustead Tunnel conveys water collected by the West Slope Collection System under the Continental Divide and into Turquoise Lake on the East Slope. The tunnel is five miles long and has a water conveyance capacity of 945 cubic feet per second (ft/s). Eight percent of the water in the Watershed is currently diverted to the Eastern Slope.
The West Slope Collection System, located upstream of Ruedi Reservoir in the upper Fryingpan River and Hunter Creek watersheds, is a series of 16 stream diversion structures and eight tunnels. The system collects spring snowmelt runoff by gravity and directs it to the Boustead Tunnel.
This area does not allow camping. Please see the Leadville Ranger Dsitrict Campgrounds for a list of suitable campground choices.
39.27886, -106.43920 · 39°16'43.9"N 106°26'21.1"W
Typically 73°F in Jul, down to 31°F in Dec.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °F | 32 | 33 | 39 | 44 | 55 | 68 | 73 | 70 | 62 | 51 | 39 | 31 |
| Low °F | 3 | 3 | 9 | 18 | 27 | 34 | 40 | 38 | 31 | 24 | 14 | 6 |
| Precip in | 1.0 | 1.4 | 1.3 | 1.7 | 1.4 | 0.9 | 1.9 | 2.1 | 1.4 | 1.1 | 1.3 | 1.1 |
1991–2020 averages from the nearest NOAA station, 4.2 mi away — not measured at the facility itself, and elevation can make a real difference over that distance.
Recreation.gov last updated this record on 2026-02-25.
Facility information and photographs from Recreation.gov (RIDB). SpotOpened is not affiliated with Recreation.gov or any federal agency.
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