COLORADO PARKS & WILDLIFE

​Mule deer, pronghorn antelope, and even an occasional elk, red fox or badger may be observed here, while cottontail rabbits, whitetail jackrabbits, coyote and ground squirrels are found in abundance.

​Among the many migratory and resident birds that frequent the area are the plains species of horned lark and meadowlark, mountain bluebird, black-billed magpie, common raven, and a variety of raptors, waterfowl and shorebirds which are all attracted to the reservoir’s water supply. Download a bird list that is common to both Eleven Mile and Spinney Mountain State Parks.

Designated a Gold Medal trout fishery, anglers enjoy the cold-water fishing opportunities for cutthroat, rainbow and brown trout, as well as Northern pike. White and long-nose suckers are also present in the reservoir’s waters.

Ecologically, the park uplands are dominated by short-grass prairie. This eco-type is heavily populated with grass species that include blue grama, ring muhly, three awn, western wheatgrass, junegrass and squirreltail. Common wildflowers and small shrubs found here include Indian paintbrush, copper mallow, wallflower, sulfur-flower, locoweed, fringed sagewort, rabbitbrush and snakeweed. 

A sparse montane coniferous forest grows on the flanks of Spinney Mountain itself. Ponderosa and limber pine are present with an understory of mountain mahogany, rabbitbrush, currant, blue and sideoats grama, mountain muhly, Arizona fescue, needle-and-thread grass and Spanish bayonet. 

Diverse wetland, riparian and aquatic plant communities have become established around the reservoir and below the dam. Download a plant list​ of species found at both Spinney and Eleven Mile.