John Martin Reservoir State Park
State Park in Hasty, CO
Hours:
Park: Daily, 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Office: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Renovation Closures, Transitions
Entrance Fees:
Daily Vehicle Pass: $10
Individual Daily Pass: $4
Animals Permitted:
- Leashed Dogs
- Service Animals
- Horses
Park Address:
30703 Co. Rd. 24
Hasty, CO 81044
United States
John Martin Reservoir State Park
State Park in Hasty, CO
Hours:
Park: Daily, 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Office: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Renovation Closures, Transitions
Entrance Fees:
Daily Vehicle Pass: $10
Individual Daily Pass: $4
Animals Permitted:
- Leashed Dogs
- Service Animals
- Horses
Park Address:
30703 Co. Rd. 24
Hasty, CO 81044
United States
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John Martin Reservoir and cottonwood trees, with the dam in the background
Welcome to John Martin Reservoir State Park
Sometimes called a sapphire on the plains, John Martin is a peaceful paradise for recreation and wildlife. It's not too far from historic sites, but it's remote enough for nature and recreation lovers to enjoy all year-round. In the Lower Arkansas River Valley, John Martin offers modern campgrounds, excellent fishing, a variety of wildlife and even historical signs of the past. The reservoir provides uncrowded boating, waterskiing and spectacular conditions for wind water sports.
12,286
acres
213
campsites
20
picnic sites
4.5
miles of trails
Accessing the Park
From Highway 50 West
Take US Highway 50 west from Lamar approximately 20 miles to Hasty. Turn south on CR 24 (School Street) and proceed approximately 2 miles. The Visitor Center is on the right just past the curve.
TEMPORARY LOCATION CHANGE: Due to renovations, the visitor services will be operating out of the Lake Hasty gatehouse. See Renovation Closures & Transitions for more details.
The John Martin Reservoir Visitor Center is located north of the reservoir on State Park Road.
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
East Boat Ramp
The east boat ramp is located on the northeast side of the reservoir past the Sandstone Cove day-use area.
West Boat Ramp
The west boat ramp is closed.
As of March 24, the park visitor center and parking lot are closed so contractors can perform renovations until approximately April 21. Our leaky roof will be replaced, foundation repairs and new flooring will be added, asphalt for the parking lot and driveway will be replaced, and other minor repairs and painting.
While we are excited to be having this work done, our mandatory boat inspections and visitor services will be slightly inconvenienced. Mandatory boat inspections and decontaminations to prevent aquatic nuisance species will be transitioning to the inspection shed by the pull-off on the boat ramp road and our visitor services will be operating out of the Lake Hasty gatehouse.
Staff will be splitting their time between these two buildings, so while our boat inspection hours will be 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. for March, our gatehouse hours will be 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. until more seasonal staff are brought on.
We will continue to try and provide the best service we can with these circumstances. Please wish our staff luck as we try to cram our workspace into a 400sq-foot building for the next several weeks.
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
John Martin Reservoir State Park sits on a high desert prairie and supports a diverse community of wildlife. The area abounds with high rocky bluffs and short grass. Commonly seen animals include deer, coyotes, rabbits, raccoons, squirrels and prairie dogs. Resident and migratory birds can often be seen at John Martin, making the park a bird-watcher's paradise.
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
- Bald Eagles
- Golden Eagles
- Least Tern (endangered)
- Mallard Duck
- Piping Plover (threatened)
- Scaled Quail
- Turkey Vultures
Mammals You Might Find
- Mule Deer
- Bobcat
- Coyote
- Black-tailed Prairie Dog
- Black-tailed Jackrabbit
- Desert Cottontail
- Common Raccoon
- Fox Squirrel
Reptiles and Amphibians You Might Find
- Striped Bark Scorpion
- Texas Brown Tarantula
- Typical Jumping Spider
- Woodhouse's Toad
Habitats and Plants at This Park
John Martin Reservoir State Park is located in Southeast Colorado and sits on a high desert prairie. The area abounds with high rocky bluffs and short grass prairie. Although at first glance the area looks dry and barren, the flora and fauna of the area are extensive.
The most recognized plant in the park is the prickly pear cactus blooms, yucca or soap-weed plant, which has many medicinal uses dating back to the Native American tribes that once roamed the area. Also spotted are sagebrush, buffalo grass and many tree species.
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History
In the past, people came to the Lower Arkansas River Valley for shelter, food from hunting and plants, and water. Petroglyphs in the area suggest that Native Americans camped here. Explorers like Lt. Zebulon Pike and Kit Carson traveled along the Arkansas River. Later on, traders and settlers traveled through the region on the mountain branch of the Santa Fe Trail. You can still see parts of this historic trail on the North Shore of the park. The dam creating John Martin Reservoir was built from 1939 to 1948 as a project by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for irrigation and flood control. Since October 2001, Colorado Parks and Wildlife has managed the Lake Hasty area below the dam, the surface of John Martin Reservoir and a part of the north shore through a lease agreement with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.