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 Closed for Zebra Mussel Treatment -
Highline Lake is closed to all motorized (includes electric motors) boating but is still open to hand-launched, human-powered vessels. Highline Lake is open to fishing as a salvage operation: all limits and size restrictions are lifted. A valid fishing license is still required. All limits and size restrictions still apply to Mack Mesa Lake.
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
36
campsites
105
picnic sites
9.6
miles of trails
Directions
Accessing the Park
East Entrance
Take the Loma exit from I-70, turning onto Highway 139 North. Travel 6 miles and turn left onto Q Road. At 11.8 Road, turn right. Follow 11.8 Road to R Road. Turn left onto R Road. Follow the signs and turn right onto the West Park Entrance Road.
West Entrance
Take the Loma exit from I-70, turning onto Highway 139 North. Travel 6 miles, and turn left onto Q Road. At 11.8 Road, turn right. Follow 11.8 Road to R Road. Turn left onto R Road. Follow the signs and turn right onto the West Park Entrance Road.
The Highline Lake Visitor Center is located on the east side of the lake, after the east entrance on 11.8/10 Rd.
Retail Store
Located in the Visitor Center at Highline Lake, the park’s retail store carries all kinds of items needed for camping, picnicking, riding, walking or hiking the trails, and playing at the swim beach. Ice is available in 10-pound bags, and firewood comes in large bundles for only $5 per bundle.
Hours: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily.
The boat ramp is located on the east side of the lake and accessed through the main entrance.
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
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
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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 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.