Colorado River Emergency Closure
Effective immediately, Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) has issued an emergency closure for all public access and downstream recreation on the Colorado River starting at James M. Robb-Colorado River State Park in Fruita and extending to the Utah state line. This closure is necessary for firefighter and public safety due to the Snyder Fire currently burning in McInnis Canyon. Learn more.
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-$15
Individual Daily Pass: $4
Animals Permitted:
Park Address:
1800 11.8 Road
Loma, CO 81524
United States
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-$15
Individual Daily Pass: $4
Animals Permitted:
Park Address:
1800 11.8 Road
Loma, CO 81524
United States
Navigate to:
Mesa County Stage 2 Fire Restrictions -
Effective immediately 6-26-26 until further notice: Building, maintaining, attending, or using an open fire, campfire, or open flame outdoors is PROHIBITED, including in developed campgrounds & picnic areas. This includes charcoal grills, BBQs, coal & wood-burning stoves. More Info: Mesa County.
Construction -
Two large projects on the park's west side may bring weekday noise & dust near Sunset Ridge Campground & the Boat Inspection, Decontamination Station. Intermittent road closures, detours may occur with little notice. Learn more.
Highline Lake State Park
With two lakes, lush grass, trails and trees, Highline Lake State Park is an oasis in the desert. Connected to miles of trails, the park is the recreation epicenter of the Grand Valley. The park is also close to local communities, making it an ideal base camp for exploring the Grand Junction area.
738
acres
56
campsites
105
picnic sites
9.6
miles of trails
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.
The East Ramp, located near the Visitor Center, is not open to motorized vessels, but is available for hand-launched vessels such as paddleboards and kayaks.
For more information on Highline‘s boat ramps, including mandatory boat inspections, see the Park Highlights page. For statewide boating information, visit the CPW Statewide Boating page.
Highline Lake and Mack Mesa Lake have the designation of “infested” for zebra mussels. Learn more about Aquatic Nuisance Species and How to Clean Your Gear.
Mack Mesa Lake is open to kayaking, paddleboarding, and fishing. The park’s free Life Jacket Loaner Program is available in the Visitor Center.
Effective immediately 6-26-26 , Mesa County is now under Stage 2 fire restrictions until further notice: Building, maintaining, attending, or using an open fire, campfire, or open flame outdoors is PROHIBITED, including in developed campgrounds and picnic areas. This includes charcoal grills, BBQs, coal, and wood-burning stoves. See Mesa County Fire Restrictions.
There are currently two construction projects occurring on the west side of the park that might impact visitor experience. Both projects may generate construction noise and dust during weekdays in the area of Sunset Ridge Campground and the Boat Inspection/ Decontamination Station. Intermittent road closures or detours may occur with little notice and we ask visitors to respect these restrictions as crews work to complete the projects by the end of June. Please contact the Visitor Center with specific questions - 970-858-7208.
Pass |
Description |
Duration |
Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Daily Vehicle Pass |
Single vehicle and its occupants with Colorado license plate |
1 Day |
$10-$12 |
|
Daily Vehicle Pass |
Single vehicle and its occupants with out-of-state license plate |
1 Day |
$15-$17 |
|
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 |
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. During the day, you can see squirrels, rabbits, prairie dogs, mule deer, and lizards and snakes of several varieties. Migrating birds often stop to rest at Highline Lake, while some spend the entire winter season here.
Bird, plant and wildlife guides are available at the park book store or on Highline Lake State Park's iNaturalist app observations for Android and iPhone. iNaturalist is a free online social network and citizen science platform that allows users to record and share observations of biodiversity. By uploading photos or sounds of wild organisms, you can get help identifying species from a global community of naturalists. The app even an automated identification tool. Using iNaturalist helps you learn about local nature, connect with other enthusiasts, and contribute valuable scientific data to biodiversity research and conservation efforts worldwide.
Be on the Lookout for Birds
Can you spot all the resident and visiting bird species? Download the Bird List Brochure (PDF).
View a short video and tips on watching wildlife safely and find important information on crossing paths with wildlife.
The park is lacking vital data on amphibian and reptile populations. By logging your reptile and amphibian observations into Highline Lake State Park's iNaturalist app, you'll help us collect data that's essential for protecting and preserving the Park's natural resources.
Nov
14
Nov 14, 2026 · 9:30am - Nov 14, 2026 · 2:00pm
Nov
14
Nov 14, 2026 · 9:30am - Nov 14, 2026 · 2:00pm
Nov
14
Nov 14, 2026 · 9:30am - Nov 14, 2026 · 2:00pm
Nov
14
Nov 14, 2026 · 9:30am - Nov 14, 2026 · 2:00pm
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 and fishing. In winter, many migratory birds rest here, and the National Audubon Society has recognized the park as an Important Bird Area.
In the early 1900s, the Uintah Railway in nearby Mack played a major role 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. 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.
