The Long Way
Morgan County
People relax on inner tubes in the water near a sandy beach.
Plate I. Sandy beach, Jackson Lake State Park. From cpw.state.co.us
A person rides a personal watercraft on a lake with a boat in the background.
Plate II. Boating on Jackson Lake, Jackson Lake State Park. From cpw.state.co.us
Two people sit outside a tent set up on a lawn.
Plate III. Camping at Jackson Lake State Park. From cpw.state.co.us
People relax and swim along a sandy beach shaded by tall trees next to a body of water.
Plate IV. Sandy beach area, Jackson Lake State Park. From cpw.state.co.us
Two people ride all-terrain vehicles along a dirt path through grassy hills.
Plate V. OHV trail, Jackson Lake State Park. From cpw.state.co.us
People enjoy a sunny day at a sandy beach by a large body of water.
Plate VI. Sandy beach, Jackson Lake State Park. From cpw.state.co.us
A landscape photograph of a body of water surrounded by grassy fields and wildflowers.
Plate VII. Wildflowers and water at Jackson Lake State Park. From cpw.state.co.us
A turtle suns itself on a mossy log in the water.
Plate VIII. Painted turtle, Jackson Lake State Park. From cpw.state.co.us
A group of pelicans swimming in the water.
Plate IX. American white pelicans, Jackson Lake State Park. From cpw.state.co.us
A field of tall grass under a stormy sky.
Plate X. Grassy field, Jackson Lake State Park. From cpw.state.co.us

Jackson Lake State Park

Orchard, Morgan County, Colorado. State park; year-round.

Details

Map. Orchard, Morgan County, Colorado. Larger map
Where
26363 County Road 3, CO 80649 United States, Orchard, CO 26363. Directions
When
Park: Daily, 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Getting there
General: From the U.S. 34/I-76 interchange, take.
Fees
Daily Vehicle Pass: $​10-$15 Individual Daily Pass: $4.
Access
The boat ramp is CLOSED for the 2026 season.
Walk-in or reserve
A reservation is required to camp at Jackson Lake State Park, and it’s easy to make one. Reservations can be made online at cpwshop.com or by phone at 1-800-244-5613. Reservations can be made up to six months in advance of your arrival date. Visitors are required to display a vehicle pass and have a valid reservation.
Phone
970-645-2551
Managed by
Colorado Parks and Wildlife.
Established
1965.

Top park beach with shoreline camping and large warmwater reservoir; first Colorado State Park to be certified by the International Dark-Sky Association.

Notable Events

  1. 1901Jackson Reservoir was built by the South Platte Land, Reservoir and Irrigation Company to meet increased population and water-storage needs. cpw.state.co.us
  2. 1960sThe state began managing recreational facilities around the reservoir in the early 1960s, creating Jackson Lake State Park. coloradovirtuallibrary.org
  3. 1962Colorado purchased property around the reservoir, establishing a hunting and fishing sanctuary. cpw.state.co.us
  4. 1965Established in 1965, Jackson Lake State Park is administered by Colorado Parks and Wildlife. cpw.state.co.us
  5. 2020To earn the International Dark Sky Park designation, Jackson Lake staff worked to diminish light pollution in the park by removing large streetlights and updating the remaining lights to be dark sky compliant. coloradovirtuallibrary.org

People

  • Leonard A. Jackson, Namesake of Jackson Reservoir; a Weld County pioneer who contributed to canal construction.
  • James Michener, Novelist cited as describing Jackson Lake as an oasis of the plains.

Sources

  1. cpw.state.co.us/state-parks/jackson-lake-state-park
  2. cpw.state.co.us/state-parks/jackson-lake-state-park/jackson-lake-state-park-park-highlights
  3. cpw.state.co.us/state-parks/jackson-lake-state-park/jackson-lake-state-park-activities-trails
  4. cpw.state.co.us/state-parks/jackson-lake-state-park/jackson-lake-state-park-camping-lodging
  5. cpw.state.co.us/sites/default/files/dam/tq2gbh8h3t/jackson-lake-state-park-brochure.pdf
  6. coloradovirtuallibrary.org/resource-sharing/state-pubs-blog/jackson-lake-state-park
  7. denvergazette.com/2026/04/25/jackson-lake-state-park-shoreline-camping-sandy-beaches-dark-skies-and-more