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

Contact:

970-858-7208

[email protected]

Fax:

970-858-5150

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

Contact:

970-858-7208

[email protected]

Fax:

970-858-5150

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

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

    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

    Keep Colorado Wild Pass

    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
      Bird in a tree

      Mammals You Might Find

      • Desert Cottontail
      • Rock Squirrel
      • Striped Skunk
      • Mammal 4
      A herd of deer at sunset

      Reptiles and Amphibians You Might Find

      • Common Side-blotched Lizard
      • Common Sagebrush Lizard
      • Striped Whipsnake
      • American Bullfrog
      Lizard

      Habitats and Plants at This Park

      • Mat Saltbush
      • Salt-cedar
      • Prickly Pear Cactus
      • Cottonwood
      Yellow plants at Highline Lake State Park

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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.