Highway of Legends
Cuchara River Recreation Area, CO

Years ago, the Federal Government set out to protect some of the forestland around the Spanish Peaks and the Sangre de Cristos. The road into the Cucharas River Recreation Area winds along the river. It continues through several switchbacks to Blue Lake, known for its fantastic blue color and its shores covered with spruce trees. Past Blue Lake, the road continues through the evergreens until it reaches Bear Lake.

Asa Arnold was the first Forest Ranger for the newly formed San Isabel National Forest in 1907, building the National Forest trails in the area, including the Apishapa Trail, Blue Lakes Trail, Indian Creek Trail, and Chaparral Trail.

Shortly after he became Forest Ranger, a bear began killing the range cattle in the Blue Lakes area. Arnold trapped the bear near a lake north of Blue Lake. The bear, being extremely large, dragged the trap, and the log to which the trap was attached, into the lake and drowned. Arnold used his saddle horse and packhorse to pull the bear, trap, and log out of the water. From that time on, the lake was known as Bear Lake.