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

Contact:

970-645-2551

[email protected]

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

Contact:

970-645-2551

[email protected]

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People enjoying boating, tubing and jet skiing

People enjoying boating, tubing and jet skiing at Jackson Lake

Activities and Trails

What to Do at Jackson Lake

Jackson Lake State Park in northern Colorado is a beloved recreation spot known for its sandy beaches, warm water, and stargazing-friendly camping. With 251 campsites, including 243 with electrical hookups, it's perfect for year-round stays. Popular activities range from boating, water skiing, OHV riding, fishing, and swimming to picnicking, hiking, wildlife watching, and hunting.

Activities

  • Biking
  • Birding
  • Boating
  • Camping
  • Education Programs
  • Fishing
  • Geocaching
  • Group Camping
  • Group Picnicking
  • Hiking
  • Waterfowl Hunting
  • Ice Fishing
  • Ice Skating
  • Jet Skiing
  • Off-highway Vehicle Riding
  • Photography
  • Picnicking
  • Sailboarding
  • Swimming
  • Volleyball
  • Water Skiing
  • Wildlife Viewing

Best of Jackson Lake

Family with dog boating on lake

The lake

The park's main attraction, the 2,500-surface-acre lake, draws visitors who want to boat, fish, jet ski and swim.

Person riding OHV on dirt track

Off-highway Vehicle Track

The off-highway vehicle track is laid out in a 1.5 mile loop over rolling prairie terrain. Since OHVs (except those licensed with DMV) are not permitted on roads or in other areas of the park, they must be trailered into the staging area, which is located on the south side of the park at the Cottonwood parking lot. A park pass gets visitors access to the track without an additional fee.

Stargazing

Stargazing

Jackson Lake was designated as an International Dark Sky Park by the International Dark Sky Association, becoming just the fifth national park and eighth total location in Colorado to receive the designation. Enjoy the stars by reserving a campsite. Hammock camping is allowed at our tent sites for the best views.

Meadowlark singing at Jackson Lake

Birding

Bird enthusiasts travel to the region because of the abundance and diversity of bird species. Long-billed curlews and whooping c​ranes are occasionally observed. Ferruginous and rough-legged hawks are present in the winter, while Swainson’s hawks return for the summer months.

Upcoming Events

Night Sky at Pearl Lake State Park

Apr

11

Star Party at Jackson Lake!

Apr 11, 2026 · 8:15pm - Apr 11, 2026 · 11:00pm

Jackson Lake State Park

The Northern Colorado Astro Society will bring out their telescopes and share their knowledge while they point towards stars...

Night Sky at Pearl Lake State Park

Apr

11

Registration Required:

Event participants must register

Star Party at Jackson Lake!

Apr 11, 2026 · 8:15pm - Apr 11, 2026 · 11:00pm

Jackson Lake State Park

The Northern Colorado Astro Society will bring out their telescopes and share their knowledge while they point towards stars...

Night Sky at Pearl Lake State Park

May

9

Star Party at Jackson Lake!

May 9, 2026 · 8:30pm - May 9, 2026 · 11:00pm

Jackson Lake State Park

The Northern Colorado Astro Society will bring out their telescopes and share their knowledge while they point towards stars...

Night Sky at Pearl Lake State Park

May

9

Registration Required:

Event participants must register

Star Party at Jackson Lake!

May 9, 2026 · 8:30pm - May 9, 2026 · 11:00pm

Jackson Lake State Park

The Northern Colorado Astro Society will bring out their telescopes and share their knowledge while they point towards stars...

Night Sky at Pearl Lake State Park

Sep

12

Star Party at Jackson Lake!

Sep 12, 2026 · 8:30pm - Sep 12, 2026 · 11:00pm

Jackson Lake State Park

The Northern Colorado Astro Society will bring out their telescopes and share their knowledge while they point towards stars...

Night Sky at Pearl Lake State Park

Sep

12

Registration Required:

Event participants must register

Star Party at Jackson Lake!

Sep 12, 2026 · 8:30pm - Sep 12, 2026 · 11:00pm

Jackson Lake State Park

The Northern Colorado Astro Society will bring out their telescopes and share their knowledge while they point towards stars...

Night Sky at Pearl Lake State Park

Apr

11

Star Party at Jackson Lake!

Apr 11, 2026 · 8:15pm - Apr 11, 2026 · 11:00pm

Jackson Lake State Park

The Northern Colorado Astro Society will bring out their telescopes and share their knowledge while they point towards stars...

Night Sky at Pearl Lake State Park

Apr

11

Registration Required:

Event participants must register

Star Party at Jackson Lake!

Apr 11, 2026 · 8:15pm - Apr 11, 2026 · 11:00pm

Jackson Lake State Park

The Northern Colorado Astro Society will bring out their telescopes and share their knowledge while they point towards stars...

Night Sky at Pearl Lake State Park

May

9

Star Party at Jackson Lake!

May 9, 2026 · 8:30pm - May 9, 2026 · 11:00pm

Jackson Lake State Park

The Northern Colorado Astro Society will bring out their telescopes and share their knowledge while they point towards stars...

Night Sky at Pearl Lake State Park

May

9

Registration Required:

Event participants must register

Star Party at Jackson Lake!

May 9, 2026 · 8:30pm - May 9, 2026 · 11:00pm

Jackson Lake State Park

The Northern Colorado Astro Society will bring out their telescopes and share their knowledge while they point towards stars...

Night Sky at Pearl Lake State Park

Sep

12

Star Party at Jackson Lake!

Sep 12, 2026 · 8:30pm - Sep 12, 2026 · 11:00pm

Jackson Lake State Park

The Northern Colorado Astro Society will bring out their telescopes and share their knowledge while they point towards stars...

Night Sky at Pearl Lake State Park

Sep

12

Registration Required:

Event participants must register

Star Party at Jackson Lake!

Sep 12, 2026 · 8:30pm - Sep 12, 2026 · 11:00pm

Jackson Lake State Park

The Northern Colorado Astro Society will bring out their telescopes and share their knowledge while they point towards stars...

Hiking

Trails

Jackson Lake offers visitors two trails to hike and walk. Park visitors can also enjoy walking along the shoreline or along park roadways.

    All trails north of the Marina are closed through April due to hazards during water line construction. 

    Hiking boot icon

    Prairie Wetland Nature Self-Guided Trail

    0.25 miles
    Hiking

    Access point: North of Cove Campground

    Hiking boot icon

    Trail

    1.5 miles
    Hiking

    Access point: Located between the Visitor Center north to Northview Campground​. Part of the trail is a self-guided nature trail.

    Hiking boot icon

    Prairie Wetland Nature Self-Guided Trail

    0.25 miles
    Hiking

    Access point: North of Cove Campground

    Hiking boot icon

    Trail

    1.5 miles
    Hiking

    Access point: Located between the Visitor Center north to Northview Campground​. Part of the trail is a self-guided nature trail.

    A person walking along a wooded trail

    Safety during Hunting Season

    Most of Colorado's outdoors is multi-use and intended to be shared. Hunters and nonhunters should show respect and courtesy to all users engaged in outdoor recreation.

    • Learn where and when hunting is taking place. Stay out of designated hunt areas.
    • Stay on designated trails. Enjoying activities only on designated trails will reduce the likelihood of entering designated hunt areas.
    • Make yourself easily visible by wearing bright clothing. Choose colors that stand out, like bright, fluorescent red, orange or green.
    • For protection, it is recommended to keep your dog on a leash. Tie a brightly-colored bandana around your dog’s neck or purchase a blaze orange dog vest to make your dog more visible.
    • Make noise. Alert hunters to your presence by whistling, singing or carrying on a conversation as you walk.
    • If you hear shooting, raise your voice and let hunters know you are in the vicinity.
    • Be courteous. Once a hunter is aware of your presence, don’t make unnecessary noise that disturbs wildlife. Avoid conflict. Please note it is illegal to intentionally interfere with hunters.

    Waterfowl and Birds

    Hunting

    Jackson Lake offers opportunities for hunting waterfowl and upland birds.​​​

      All designated hunting areas in the park are open seven days a week. Waterfowl hunting can be decoyed along the shoreline and ponds. Upland birds can be found in all of the designated areas as well as rabbit, squirrel, pheasant and dove. Hunting is not allowed within 100 yards of designated campgrounds, trails or buildings.

      The Bureau of Reclamation property is a popular area for hunting and allows hunting seven days a week. To hunt on this land, park at the inlet. All roads on this property are closed to the public.