Jackson Lake State Park

By America's State Parks Editorial TeamOctober 15, 2026

Jackson Lake State Park spreads 3,303 acres of land and water across the high plains of Morgan County, Colorado, around Jackson Reservoir, a warm-water irrigation lake built in 1901–1902. You come for sandy shoreline, a gently sloping lake bottom and dark night skies: it was the first Colorado state park certified as a Dark Sky Park by DarkSky International. A daily vehicle pass costs $10–$12 with Colorado plates as of October 2026.

2026 season: Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) lists the boat ramp as closed for the 2026 season. Canoes, kayaks and paddleboards you launch by hand are still allowed. The aquatic nuisance species (ANS) inspection station is closed for 2026 as well, so call the visitor center at 970-645-2551 before you tow a boat here.

Quick Facts

Location & Getting There

Jackson Lake sits on the open prairie of northeastern Colorado, north of I-76 between Wiggins and Fort Morgan. From Denver, take I-76 east to the second Wiggins exit (exit 66), turn north on CO 39/CO 52 and drive about nine miles. Half a mile past Goodrich, turn left onto County Road Y.5 and stay on it. It bends north after a couple of miles, passes the park’s south side and brings you to the main park area on the west shore. The visitor center is on the west side of the lake, north of the entrance station. The park’s coordinates are 40.3827, -104.0923.

History

The South Platte Land, Reservoir and Irrigation Company built Jackson Reservoir in 1901–1902 to store water for farms along the South Platte. It is named after Leonard A. Jackson, a Weld County pioneer who helped build the area’s canals. The State of Colorado bought the land around the reservoir in 1962 as a hunting and fishing sanctuary. In 1965 the Colorado Game, Fish and Parks Department took over the recreation facilities, and Jackson Lake State Park was born. CPW marked the park’s 60th anniversary on August 30, 2025.

The Lake: Swimming, Boating and Water Skiing

CPW gives the lake about 2,500 surface acres on its activities page (another CPW page says 4,600). USGS maps the water body, which it names Jackson Reservoir, at about 2,430 acres, at an elevation of roughly 4,440 feet. The water level is managed for irrigation, so check current levels with the park before you plan a boating trip.

• Swimming: There are no designated swim beaches. You may swim along the west and south shores out to the no-wake buoys, but not within 150 feet of any dock, boat ramp, inlet or outlet structure. CPW warns that Colorado waters count as cold water (below 70°F) for most of the year, so wear a life jacket.
• Boating: Boats are allowed in designated areas only, not in the inlet or in areas buoyed as keep-out. Normally you need an ANS stamp, a current boat registration and a pre-launch inspection at the ramp. For 2026, ramp and inspection station are closed (see above). Hand-launched, human-powered craft are exempt from mandatory ANS inspections, but CPW asks you to clean, drain and dry them.
• Personal watercraft: Drivers must be at least 18. Youth ages 14 to 17 may operate a vessel after completing a boating safety course.
• Water skiing: All areas of the lake are open to water skiing. You need an operator and an observer in any boat towing a skier, ski counter-clockwise and spread out across the reservoir. Children 12 and younger must wear a life jacket whenever their vessel is on the water.
• Marina: Shoreline Marina is on the west shore near the boat ramp, phone 970-645-2628. Two EV chargers (Rivian) stand at the boat parking lot near the marina store. You need a valid park pass, and charging costs $0.15 per kWh.

Fishing

CPW calls Jackson Lake arguably the best current warm-water fishery for walleye, saugeye and wiper in the Northeastern Plains. You can also catch channel catfish, yellow perch, rainbow trout, crappie, largemouth bass and bluegill. Special regulations apply here, as of October 2026:

• Wiper: minimum length 15 inches.
• Walleye and saugeye: minimum length 15 inches, and no more than one walleye or saugeye longer than 21 inches per day.
• Crappie: minimum length 10 inches.
• Ice fishing shelters must be portable.
• No fishing at the rotary screen below the dam.

Anglers 16 and older need a Colorado fishing license. Check the CPW Jackson Lake fishing page for current rules before you go.

Camping

Camping is open year-round, and a reservation is required. You book at cpwshop.com or by phone at 1-800-244-5613, up to six months before arrival. Sites cost $28–$36 per night as of October 2026, plus a vehicle pass. CPW lists 251 campsites, 243 of them with electric hookups. Amenities include level parking pads, water, a dump station and a camper services building with showers and toilets. One campsite is accessible, and some tent sites have hammock posts. Please do not tie hammocks to trees.

CPW’s facility map lists these campgrounds, with site counts as mapped (as of October 2026):

The mapped counts add up to 241 individual sites plus 18 group sites, which is not the same as CPW’s 251 sites. Treat the table as a guide to the layout and check availability when you book.

From October through March, Lakeside, Cove and Pelican stay open. Shower houses and flush toilets stay closed until the first weekend of April, and vault toilets are available. Check-in is at 1 p.m., check-out at noon. You can stay up to 14 days within a 28-day period, with up to six people, two motor vehicles and one camping unit per site.

Night Skies

DarkSky International designated Jackson Lake a Dark Sky Park, the first state park in Colorado to earn it. The easiest way to enjoy it is to stay the night: hammock camping is allowed at the tent sites, and CPW points to them for the best views. CPW’s event calendar listed star parties at Jackson Lake in April, May, September and October 2026.

Hiking, Biking and OHV Riding

• Prairie Wetland Nature Self-Guided Trail: 0.25 mile, starting north of Cove Campground.
• Visitor Center to Northview trail: 1.5 miles from the visitor center north to Northview Campground. Part of it is a self-guided nature trail.
• You can also walk the shoreline or the park roads.
• OHV track: a 1.5-mile loop over rolling prairie. OHVs not licensed with the DMV are not allowed on park roads, so you trailer them to the staging area at the Cottonwood parking lot on the south side of the park.

Wildlife and Hunting

The reservoir draws American white pelicans and an abundance of migratory birds. CPW lists northern harriers and lark buntings, and long-billed curlews and whooping cranes are occasionally observed. Ferruginous and rough-legged hawks winter here, while Swainson’s hawks return for the summer. On land you may see white-tailed deer, black-tailed jackrabbits, fox squirrels, red foxes and coyotes, plus painted turtles, bullfrogs, snapping turtles and western hognose snakes.

The ground itself tells the park’s story: wind carried sand and silt out of the South Platte River basin and piled it into dunes on top of Pierre Shale, which you can see just north of the park boundary. The sandy soils carry prairie sandreed, sand and little bluestem and sand sagebrush, wetlands have grown up around the reservoir and below the dam, and the rare showy prairie gentian grows in the park.

Waterfowl and upland bird hunting (along with rabbit, squirrel, pheasant and dove) is allowed in designated areas seven days a week, but not within 100 yards of campgrounds, trails or buildings. The neighboring Bureau of Reclamation land is open to hunting seven days a week. To hunt there, park at the inlet, since all roads on that land are closed to the public. During hunting season, CPW advises you to stay on designated trails and dress yourself and your dog in bright colors.

Pets

Leashed pets are welcome in campgrounds, picnic areas and on designated trails. The leash may be no longer than six feet. Do not tie pets to signs, trees, shrubs or hydrants, never leave them unattended and clean up after them.

Picnics and Groups

The Centennial Group Picnic Area holds up to 50 guests for $150 per day, with two large grills, a covered picnic area, horseshoe pits and a sand volleyball court. You reserve it at cpwshop.com or by phone at 1-800-244-5613. The Dunes group campground sits next to it.

Weather

Jackson Lake has a high-plains climate. At the NOAA station in Fort Morgan, about 15 miles away, summer highs reach about 90°F and winter lows drop to about 13°F (1991–2020 normals). CPW warns that weather changes can send boaters rushing for the dock at once, so if the sky looks like it is turning, head in early.

Nearby Parks

Distances are straight-line from the visitor center.

• Barr Lake State Park: about 46 miles southwest, near Brighton.
• St. Vrain State Park: about 50 miles west.
• Boyd Lake State Park: about 50 miles west, in Loveland.
• North Sterling State Park: about 52 miles northeast, another northeastern plains reservoir with wiper and walleye.

CPW also manages the separate Jackson Lake State Wildlife Area (394 acres) in Morgan County. It has its own rules and is not part of the state park.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to visit Jackson Lake State Park?

As of October 2026, a daily vehicle pass costs $10–$12 with Colorado plates and $15–$17 with out-of-state plates, and an individual daily pass costs $4. Annual passes and the Keep Colorado Wild Pass ($29 with Colorado vehicle registration) are also valid.

Can I launch a boat at Jackson Lake in 2026?

Not from the boat ramp: CPW lists the ramp and the ANS inspection station as closed for the 2026 season. Hand-launched canoes, kayaks and paddleboards are still allowed.

Is there a swimming beach at Jackson Lake State Park?

There are no designated swim beaches, but you may swim along the sandy west and south shores out to the no-wake buoys, not within 150 feet of docks, ramps, the inlet or outlet structures.

Is Jackson Lake State Park open in winter?

Yes. The park and camping are open year-round, and from October through March the Lakeside, Cove and Pelican campgrounds stay open with vault toilets, while showers reopen on the first weekend of April.

Are dogs allowed at Jackson Lake State Park?

Yes, on a leash of up to six feet in campgrounds, picnic areas and on designated trails, and never left unattended.

Is Jackson Lake in Colorado the same as Jackson Lake State Park in Ohio?

No. This park is near Orchard in Morgan County, Colorado, and is run by Colorado Parks and Wildlife. Jackson Lake State Park in Ohio is a 106-acre park near Oak Hill in Jackson County, Ohio.

Keep exploring: see all Colorado state parks.

Sources: Colorado Parks and Wildlife, Jackson Lake State Park (park, highlights, activities and trails, camping and group pages), CPW Jackson Lake fishing page, CPW facility and park boundary data, USGS National Hydrography Dataset, NOAA climate normals 1991–2020. Checked October 15, 2026.

About the Author

America's State Parks Editorial Team

America's State Parks is an independent online guide to state parks and other public lands in the United States. Our editorial team compiles park profiles from official agency and operator sources and other identified references, and follows our published editorial policy and review methodology. Where a profile shows a source-check date, that date applies to the detail it names. We correct errors when we find them or when readers report them.

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