Highline Lake State Park
State Park in Loma, CO
Hours:
Park: Daily, 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Visitor Center: Daily, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Entrance Fees:
Daily Vehicle Pass: $10
Individual Daily Pass: $4
Animals Permitted:
- Leashed Dogs
- Service Animals
- Horses
Park Address:
1800 11.8 Road
Loma, CO 81524
United States
Highline Lake State Park
State Park in Loma, CO
Hours:
Park: Daily, 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Visitor Center: Daily, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Entrance Fees:
Daily Vehicle Pass: $10
Individual Daily Pass: $4
Animals Permitted:
- Leashed Dogs
- Service Animals
- Horses
Park Address:
1800 11.8 Road
Loma, CO 81524
United States
Navigate to:
Lake Statuses -
Highline Lake is being refilled after the 2024 zebra mussel eradication project. The lake is currently closed to ALL surface-water activity. When an opening date is closer, it will be announced. Mack Mesa Lake is open. More details...
Highline Lake State Park
Welcome to Highline Lake State Park
An oasis in the desert, Highline Lake is the recreation epicenter for the Grand Valley with two lakes, lush grass, trails and trees. Connected to miles of trails and close to nearby communities, the park makes an ideal base camp for exploring the Grand Junction area.
738
acres
56
campsites
105
picnic sites
9.6
miles of trails
Accessing the Park
East Entrance
Take the Loma exit (Exit 15) from I-70, turning onto Highway 139 north. Travel five miles and turn left on Q Road. At 11 8/10 Road, turn right. Follow 11 8/10 Road north to the Visitor Center.
West Entrance
Take the Loma exit (Exit 15) from I-70, turning onto Highway 139 north. Travel five miles and turn left on Q Road. At 11 8/10 Road, turn right. Turn left onto R Road. Travel approximately one mile and follow the signs to the West Entrance. (The West Entrance was moved in 2024. Follow the orange signs to the new park entrance road.)
The Visitor Center is located on the east side of the park, near the entrance on 11 8/10 Road.
Retail Store
Located in the Visitor Center, the park’s retail store carries gifts and items needed for camping, hiking the trails, and enjoying the outdoors. Firewood and ice are also available for purchase.
Hours: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily.
The West Boat Ramp is located on the west side of the park through the park’s West Entrance.
Highline Lake is in the process of being refilled after the 2024 zebra mussel eradication project. The lake is currently closed to all surface-water activity, including paddleboards, kayaks, boating, and swimming for safety purposes. When the lake gets closer to an opening date, it will be announced on our social media channels.
Mack Mesa Lake is open to kayaking, paddleboarding, and fishing. The park’s free Life Jacket Loaner Program is available in the Visitor Center.
Fees and Passes
Pass |
Description |
Duration |
Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Daily Vehicle Pass |
Single vehicle and its occupants |
1 Day |
$10-$12 |
|
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 |
Colorado residents 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
Highline Lake is surrounded by the high-altitude desert that stretches from the Western Slope of the Rockies to the Eastern Slope of the Sierra Nevadas. Most of the mammals in the park are nocturnal and only come out at night, but you can see squirrels, rabbits, prairie dogs, mule deer, and lizards and snakes of several varieties during the day. Migrating birds often stop to rest at Highline Lake, while some spend the entire winter season here.
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
- Rock Wren
- Mallard
- Ruddy Duck
- Great Horned Owl
Mammals You Might Find
- Desert Cottontail
- Rock Squirrel
- Striped Skunk
- Mammal 4
Reptiles and Amphibians You Might Find
- Common Side-blotched Lizard
- Common Sagebrush Lizard
- Striped Whipsnake
- American Bullfrog
Habitats and Plants at This Park
- Mat Saltbush
- Salt-cedar
- Prickly Pear Cactus
- Cottonwood
Upcoming Events
May
17
Kids to Parks Day: Junior Ranger Hike
Saturday, May 17
Highline Lake State Park
May
17
Kids to Parks Day: Junior Ranger Hike
Saturday, May 17
Highline Lake State Park
May
24
Highline Birthday History Hike
Saturday, May 24
Highline Lake State Park
May
24
Highline Birthday History Hike
Saturday, May 24
Highline Lake State Park
May
31
Kids Adventure Games - Desert Edition
Saturday, May 31 - Sunday, Jun 1
Highline Lake State Park
May
31
Kids Adventure Games - Desert Edition
Saturday, May 31 - Sunday, Jun 1
Highline Lake State Park
May
17
Kids to Parks Day: Junior Ranger Hike
Saturday, May 17
Highline Lake State Park
May
17
Kids to Parks Day: Junior Ranger Hike
Saturday, May 17
Highline Lake State Park
May
24
Highline Birthday History Hike
Saturday, May 24
Highline Lake State Park
May
24
Highline Birthday History Hike
Saturday, May 24
Highline Lake State Park
May
31
Kids Adventure Games - Desert Edition
Saturday, May 31 - Sunday, Jun 1
Highline Lake State Park
May
31
Kids Adventure Games - Desert Edition
Saturday, May 31 - Sunday, Jun 1
Highline Lake State Park
History
Highline Lake State Park, built in 1967, has been a hub for water activities and wildlife watching in the Grand Valley. The lake's warm water is perfect for water skiing, fishing and picnicking. In winter, lots of migratory birds rest here, and the National Audubon Society recognized the park as an Important Bird Area.
Back in the early 1900s, the Uintah Railway in nearby Mack played a major role in transporting dinosaur fossils to the Smithsonian Institution. You can still find traces of the railway's history in the park, so if you come across artifacts, leave them for others to enjoy.
Around the 1950s, people in the Grand Valley saw the need for more water recreation. They built Mack Mesa Lake in 1952, and as water recreation got more popular, plans for the larger Highline Lake were made in the early 1960s. Using the Government Highline Canal, Highline Lake was completed in 1967.