Lake Isabel (Colorado)

Lake Isabel
Lake Isabelle thawing (Indian Peaks Wilderness)
Location	Pueblo County and Custer County, Colorado
Coordinates	37°59′05″N 105°03′09″W / 37.9847°N 105.0526°W / 37.9847; -105.0526Coordinates: 37°59′05″N 105°03′09″W / 37.9847°N 105.0526°W / 37.9847; -105.0526
Basin countries	United States

Lake Isabel is located within the San Isabel National Forest in Pueblo County and Custer County, Colorado, United States. The lake is in the Wet Mountains. The lake is largely open to fishing year around and is regularly stocked by the Colorado Department of Wildlife. Available activities include fishing, hiking, camping and sledding in the winter.

The creation of Lake Isabel was part of two social projects in the early 20th century. It was seen as a placation for the Ludlow Massacre in which the Colorado National Guard was responsible for the deaths of 18 civilians including women and children. The lake was used predominately as a storage for CF&I Steel and also partially funded by them to offset bad community feelings for worker mistreatment. At this time United States president Theodore Roosevelt started putting forests aside as reserves for the people under Roosevelt's New Deal.