Christmas and New Years Office Closure
Colorado Parks and Wildlife offices will be closed on December 24, December 25, December 26 and January 1.
Jackson Lake State Park
State Park in Orchard, CO
Hours:
Park: Daily, 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Office: Mon.-Fri. 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Visitor Center: Mon.-Fri. 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Closed Sat. & Sun.
Entrance Fees:
Daily Vehicle Pass: $10
Individual Daily Pass: $4
Animals Permitted:
- Leashed Dogs
- Service Animals
- Horses
Park Address:
26363 County Road 3
Orchard, CO 80649
United States
Jackson Lake State Park
State Park in Orchard, CO
Hours:
Park: Daily, 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Office: Mon.-Fri. 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Visitor Center: Mon.-Fri. 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Closed Sat. & Sun.
Entrance Fees:
Daily Vehicle Pass: $10
Individual Daily Pass: $4
Animals Permitted:
- Leashed Dogs
- Service Animals
- Horses
Park Address:
26363 County Road 3
Orchard, CO 80649
United States
Navigate to:
Adults enjoying the beach
Welcome to Jackson Lake State Park
Jackson Lake is ranked one of the Top 15 Park Beaches by Reserve America for its shoreline camping and its large warmwater reservoir with sandy bottom and beaches. Anglers, boaters and naturalists alike will enjoy the variety of water and land-based recreation and facilities found here.
Jackson Lake State Park is the first Colorado State Park to be certified by the International Dark-Sky Association.
4,600
acres
247
campsites
18
picnic sites
3.4
miles of trails
Accessing the Park
Directions
From Denver
Head east on I-76. Take the second Wiggins exit (exit 66). Turn left (north) on CO 39/CO 52. Drive approximately nine miles. Continue half a mile past Goodrich. Turn left onto County Road Y.5 and stay on County Road Y.5. It will turn north after a couple of miles. This will take you past the park’s south side and into the main park area on the west side.
The Jackson Lake Visitor Center is located on the west side of the lake north of the entrance station.
Winter Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Closed Saturday and Sunday.
The boat ramp is located on the west side of Jackson Lake and is open for the season.
All vessels are required to be inspected for aquatic nuisance species prior to launching. See Mandatory Boat Inspections on the Park Highlights page for more information.
There are 2 Rivian Chargers located on the south side of the boat parking Lot near the Shoreline Marina Store and Pelican Shower House building. To use them, one will need a valid parks pass and there is kilowatt fee. The Kilowatt fee is $0.15.
Seasonal and Construction Closures
The boat ramp is CLOSED to all motorized boats.
Dam access is currently CLOSED. There is no fishing or beach access due to construction. No opening date is known.
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
Visitors to Jackson Lake might see deer, rabbits, squirrels and coyote, along with an abundance of migratory bird species.
Bird, plant and wildlife guides are available on Jackson 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 and even an automated identification tool. Using iNaturalist helps you learn about local nature, connect with other enthusiasts, and most importantly, 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).
Birds You Might Find
- American white pelican
- Whooping crane
- Northern harrier
- Lark bunting
Birding Tips
- Always view birds and other wildlife from a safe distance.
- Use binoculars or a spotting scope for a closer view.
- Protect young by avoiding nests or dens.
- Help protect birds by using your senses to find them, not recorded calls.
- To see more birds, keep voices and other sounds low.
- Protect plants and wildlife by staying on trails and respecting closures.
- Keep dogs leashed and under control at all times.
- For the best viewing experience, leave pets at home.
- Human food can hurt wildlife - please keep their diets wild.
- Take nothing but pictures - leave what you find for others to enjoy.
Mammals You Might Find
- White-tailed deer
- Black-tailed jackrabbit
- Fox squirrel
- Red fox
Learn How to Coexist
View a short video and tips on watching wildlife safely and find important information on crossing paths with wildlife.
Reptiles and Amphibians You Might Find
- Painted turtle
- Bullfrog
- Snapping turtle
- Western hognose snake
YOU Can Help!
The park is lacking vital data on amphibian and reptile populations. By logging your reptile and amphibian observations into iNaturalist, you'll help us collect data that's essential for protecting and preserving the Park's natural resources.
Geology At This Park
The area near Jackson Lake is covered by sand and silt from the Pleistocene and recent times. This material formed as dunes were carried by the wind from the South Platte River basin. On top of shales from the upper Cretaceous Pierre Formation, you'll find sand hills, and these shales are visible just north of the park's boundary.
Habitats and Plants At This Park
Short grass and mixed grass prairie communities cover the park’s uplands. Vegetation composition consists of species tolerant of clay and sandy soils and drought. The dominant grassland species in clay soils include blue grama, needle-and-thread grass, western wheatgrass, buffalo grass and thread leaf sedge.
On sandy soils, prairie sandreed grass, sand and little bluestem, sandhill muhly, sand dropseed and indian ricegrass are the dominant species. Some shrub invasion of grasslands has occurred by sand sagebrush, yucca and prickly-pear cactus.
Diverse wetland, riparian and aquatic plant communities have become established around the reservoir, below the dam and on large seeps that exist below distribution canals. One rare plant species, the showy prairie gentian, is known to occur in the park.
Upcoming Events
No Results.
There are no results to display at this time.
No Results.
There are no results to display at this time.
History
One of the main land features in the area surrounding Jackson Lake State Park is the South Platte River, which runs across the northeastern region of Colorado. This area was originally inhabited by Sioux, Cheyenne and Arapahoe American Indians.
- 18th century: French explorers name both the South and North Platte rivers.
- 1820: Major Stephen H. Long explores the Colorado prairies, expressing doubts about the land's agricultural potential due to limited water from the South Platte River.
1850: Gold discovery in the late 1850s leads to the development of the Overland Trail as a transportation route to Denver. The trail brings thousands of pioneers to the Front Range. - 1901–1902: With increased population and the need for water storage, Jackson Reservoir is built by the South Platte Land, Reservoir and Irrigation Company. Jackson Reservoir is named after Leonard A. Jackson, a Weld County pioneer, in recognition of his contributions to canal construction. Agricultural use of the land continues for several decades.
- 1962: The State of Colorado purchases the property around the reservoir, establishing it as a hunting and fishing sanctuary.
- 1965: The Colorado Game, Fish,and Parks Department takes over recreational facilities, marking the birth of Jackson Lake State Park.
Today, Jackson Lake State Park is managed by Colorado Parks and Wildlife. Park visitors come to enjoy some of the best boating, fishing, swimming and water skiing conditions in Colorado. With 3,303 acres of land and water to explore, Jackson Lake State Park is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts.