It's our first trip to have enough time to play tourist. We first drive up above the ranch and look down over the river and distant spillway. When we do arrive at the spillway the noise is thunderous and the view is impressive. El Vado lake is full to the brim. I really like El Vado Ranch and wish I was retired and either lived there or owned it. Even their private cemetery has a comforting feel and great view. One major improvement over the past years is that the swinging bridge has been replaced with a new version. Safe enough that even I walked across.