Sweitzer Lake State Park
State Park in Delta, CO
Hours:
Park: Daily, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Entrance Fees:
Daily Vehicle Pass: $10
Individual Daily Pass: $4
Animals Permitted:
- Leashed Dogs
- Service Animals
- Horses
Park Address:
PO Box 173
Delta, CO 81416
United States
Sweitzer Lake State Park
State Park in Delta, CO
Hours:
Park: Daily, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Entrance Fees:
Daily Vehicle Pass: $10
Individual Daily Pass: $4
Animals Permitted:
- Leashed Dogs
- Service Animals
- Horses
Park Address:
PO Box 173
Delta, CO 81416
United States
Sweitzer Lake with dramatic clouds and mountains in the distance
Welcome to Sweitzer Lake State Park
This lake-based retreat for the Western Slope provides nature, picnic and water recreation. Visitors come to Sweitzer Lake for action-packed boating and waterskiing on busy days, and relaxed nature play on mellow days. In the distance, the majestic San Juan Mountains, the Uncompahgre Plateau and Grand Mesa — the largest flattop mountain in the world — surround Sweitzer Lake. Visitors should be aware that Sweitzer is a day-use area only, with no overnight camping.
314
acres
137
surface-acre reservoir
32
picnic sites
3
miles of trails
Directions
Accessing the Park
From Delta
Sweitzer is located one mile south of Delta on US 50. Follow the signs and turn east on E Road.
The Sweitzer Park Office is located on the west side of the lake on the park road that partially circles the lake.
Hours: Please call Crawford State Park at 970-921-5721.
The boat ramp is located on the west side of the lake near the park office, bathrooms and shower facilities.
Fees and Passes
Pass |
Description |
Duration |
Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Daily Vehicle Pass |
Single vehicle and its occupants |
1 Day |
$10 |
|
Individual Daily Pass |
For individual entry on foot, bicycle, horseback, etc at select parks |
1 Day |
$4 |
|
DMV vehicle registration renewal option for Colorado residents |
12 Months |
$29 |
|
|
Annual Vehicle Pass (Affixed) |
Pass for a single vehicle and its occupants |
12 Months |
$80 |
|
Family Annual Pass (Hang Tag) |
Members of the same household |
12 Months |
$120 |
|
Aspen Leaf Annual Pass |
Visitors 64+ |
12 Months |
$70 |
|
Centennial Pass |
Income-eligible Colorado residents |
12 Months |
$14 |
|
Columbine Pass |
Colorado residents with disabilities |
12 Months |
$14 |
|
Veterans License Plate |
DMV vehicle registration renewal option for military veterans (disabled veterans or purple heart plates) |
Lifetime |
Free |
|
Independence Lifetime Pass |
Colorado resident veterans with disabilities |
Lifetime |
Free |
|
Blue Spruce Pass |
Colorado resident first responders with disabilities |
Lifetime |
$10 |
Nature and Wildlife
Sweitzer Lake State Park features a variety of plants and landscapes, like greasewood shrublands, mat saltbush shrublands, xeric shrublands, emergent wetlands, wet meadows, riparian shrublands and riparian woodlands. These diverse natural areas make the park a home to a variety of animals, including waterfowl, foxes, pheasants, rabbits, shorebirds, deer, Gambel’s quail and raccoons.
Be on the Lookout for Birds
Can you spot all the resident and visiting bird species? Download the Bird List Brochure (PDF).
Birds You Might Find
- Great Blue Heron
- Clark's Grebe
- Trumpeter Swan
- Wilson's Warbler
Mammals You Might Find
- Mule Deer
- Muskrat
- Common Raccoon
- Red Fox
Geology at This Park
In the distance, the majestic San Juan Mountains, the Uncompahgre Plateau and Grand Mesa, the largest flattop mountain in the world, encompass Sweitzer Lake. The western edge of the West Elk Mountain Range near Crawford can be seen from the picnic area on the west side of the lake.
Habitats and Plants at This Park
The native upland vegetation communities include greasewood shrublands, mat saltbush shrublands, xeric shrublands, emergent wetlands, wet meadows, riparian shrublands and riparian woodlands.
Upcoming Events
Nov
11
Free Park Entry for Veterans and Active Military
Monday, Nov 11
Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area
Nov
11
Free Park Entry for Veterans and Active Military
Monday, Nov 11
Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area
Nov
11
Free Park Entry for Veterans and Active Military
Monday, Nov 11
Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area
Nov
11
Free Park Entry for Veterans and Active Military
Monday, Nov 11
Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area
History
In 1953, Morgan Sweitzer of Delta approached what is now Colorado Parks and Wildlife, offering some of his land for a dam to be built. His wish was to create a lake so people could boat, swim, fish and picnic. The land was an alkali draw, so it was too steep and too salty to farm. The state of Colorado accepted the property and constructed the dam. The dam was filled using 19 shares of irrigation water from the Uncompahgre Water Users Canal.
During the 1950s, a boat ramp, swim beach and small campground were built, though overnight camping would be discontinued in 1981. The number of visitors in these early days was quite high (some say as high as 80,000 to 90,000 annually) because this was the only recreational lake on Colorado’s West Slope from Douglas Pass north of Grand Junction south to Red Mountain Pass, and from the Utah line east to McClure Pass.
In August 1960, the newly appointed Parks Board received the transfer of Sweitzer Lake from the Game and Fish Department to the newly formed Colorado State Parks and Recreation.
Since 1972, the area, with its 137-surface-acre lake and 211 land acres, has been managed by Colorado Parks and Wildlife.