John Martin Reservoir

C O L O R A D O PA R K S & W I L D L I F E John Martin Reservoir State Park © JON DE LORENZO ENJOY YOUR STATE PARKS W elcome to John Martin Reservoir State Park, an oasis on the plains of southeastern Colorado. Located in the Lower Arkansas River Valley, present day visitors come to John Martin to take advantage of modern campgrounds, great fishing, uncrowded boating waters, diverse wildlife viewing opportunities and to see historical signs of the past. With 373 documented species of birds in Bent County, John Martin Reservoir is a premier birding area. Past visitors came to the Lower Arkansas River Valley to find shelter in trees along the river, food in the form of wild game and edible plants, and water. Petroglyphs in the area suggest Native Americans camped here. Lt. Zebulon Pike, Kit Carson and many other explorers followed along the Arkansas River. Years later, traders and settlers traveled through the area while on the mountain branch of the Santa Fe Trail. Remnants of this historic trail remain on the North Shore of the park. The dam which created John Martin Reservoir was built between 1939 and 1948 as an irrigation and flood-control project by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Colorado State Parks has managed the Lake Hasty area below the dam, the surface of John Martin Reservoir and a portion of the north shore since October 2001 through a lease agreement with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. John Martin Reservoir State Park 30703 Road 24 • Hasty, CO 81044 • (719) 829-1801 E-mail: johnmartin.statepark@state.co.us cpw.state.co.us Funded in part by Great Outdoors Colorado through Colorado Lottery proceeds. CPW_SEJM_2/18 © CPW/THOMAS KIMMEL Passes And Permits cpw.state.co.us All vehicles entering the park are required to display a current Colorado State Parks Pass. A Daily Parks Pass is valid from the day purchased until noon the following day. An Annual Parks Pass is valid at any Colorado State Park. For annual pass holders who own additional vehicles, multiple passes are available at a reduced fee. The Aspen Leaf is a discounted annual pass for Colorado residents age 64 or older. The Aspen Leaf also allows reduced camping fees on weekdays. Colorado disabled veterans displaying Colorado Disabled Veteran (DV) license plates are admitted free without a park pass. In addition to a parks pass, campers are required to purchase and display a camping permit at their campsite. Passes and permits are available at the visitor center and self service stations. Picnicking Picnic sites, located throughout the park, are available on a first-come first-serve basis. Picnic tables and grills located in both the Point and Lake Hasty campgrounds are reserved for registered campers. Group Facilities Group picnic and camping facilities are available. Reservations are required. Please call the visitor center at (719) 829-1801 for more information or to make reservations. Camping John Martin Reservoir State Park has a total of 213 campsites, which can accommodate recreational vehicles, trailers and tents. Each campsite has a picnic table and fire ring. The Lake Hasty Campground, located below the dam provides plentiful shade with large trees. All campsites have electrical hook-ups and modern facilities including centrally located water hydrants, coin operated showers and laundry facilities, and flush toilets. Some campsites are available year-round. The Point Campground, located on the north shore, sits on a ridge over looking the reservoir. It is a basic campground, there is no electricity, water or shade. Each site contains a picnic table and fire ring and has stunning views of the reservoir and surrounding landscape. The Point Campground is open for year round camping. For campsite reservations, call 1800-244-5613 or visit us online at www.cpw.co.us. Campgrounds are patrolled for your safety and assistance. Please camp only in designated campsites and display your camping permit in the campsite marker. A valid park pass is required on every vehicle, for every day you are in the park. Check out time is noon. Dump Station Swimming A dump station is located across from the Lake Hasty entrance and open year round. It is illegal and a health hazard to dump any waste or sewage (including dishwater) anywhere except into the dump station. The only designated swim beach is at Lake Hasty below the dam. Swimming is at your own risk. No lifeguards are provided, so swimmers are urged to use caution. Children 11 years or younger must be supervised. Cliff diving and rock jumping are prohibited. The Lake Hasty Swim Beach is open Memorial Day to Labor Day. Accessibility The Lake Hasty area has parking spaces and campsites that are accessible for people with disabilities. An accessible fishing pier and picnic site is available on the west shoreline of Lake Hasty. Restrooms, showers, picnic tables, drinking fountains and grills are also accessible. Hiking The 4.5 mile Red Shin Hiking Trail begins below the dam near the stilling basin and circles the Lake Hasty area through riparian, short-grass prairie and wetland environments. The trail then proceeds to the Santa Fe Trail marker on the north shore of John Martin Reservoir. Fishing Fishing is permitted anywhere on the park with a valid fishing license, except from the boat docks and areas closed to public access. The most common species caught at John Martin include walleye, saugeye, large and small mouth bass, perch, wiper, crappie, bluegill and catfish. The same species of fish can be caught in Lake Hasty with the addition of trout. A fish cleaning station is located near the Lake Hasty Campground. Please be courteous to other visitors and do not clean fish in the laundry room or restrooms No swimming, wading, or use of a floating device is permitted on the waters in the stilling basin or in the river below the dam to the Arkansas River bridge. Boating Hand-propelled craft, sailboats and boats with electric motors are permitted on Lake Hasty. John Martin Reservoir is open to all types of boating. In efforts to try to contain the spread of Aquatic Nuisance Species (ANS), inspection of boats and trailers is required before launching every boat at John Martin. During waterfowl season, John Martin Reservoir is closed to boating from the waterfowl closure line east to the dam from November 1 through March 15 of each year or as posted except to retrieve downed waterfowl. Boaters must observe Colorado boating statutes and regulations, which are available in brochure form at the park. Be on the lookout for areas that are temporarily closed to all public access to protect threatened and endangered bird nesting and brooding areas. The water level at John Martin Reservoir can fluctuate. Boaters are warned to be especially alert to floating debris, submerged hazards and shallow areas that may not be marked. Lake Hasty Campground John Martin Reservoir State Park To Hasty & Hwy 50 Dirt road open seasonally from November to March East Santa Fe Slough Red Shin Trail Visitor Center Santa Fe Trail Historic Site Sta te West Santa Fe Slough To Wildlife Area Par k Roa d Da m LEGEND Point Campground Catch and Fry Picnic Area West Boat Ramp Caddoa Group Camping Ro ad East Boat Ramp Hasty Campground DAM Point Overlook JOHN MARTIN RESERVOIR Camper Registration Lake Hasty Fishing Pier West Group Picnic NO ING T BOA Caddoa East Group Picnic Wildlife Point Campground 204 210 213 207 205 212 215 209 217 216 Hunting is not permitted within the park boundary, but is permitted on the John Martin State Wildlife Area adjoining the State Park. 206 208 214 John Martin supports a diverse community of wildlife. A few of the commonly seen animals include deer, coyote, rabbits, raccoons, squirrels, and prairie dogs. Resident and migratory birds abound at John Martin making the park a bird-watcher’s paradise. 203 211 218 202 201 219 220 302 221 222 304 223 224 300 303 298 297 301 299 230 229 226 228 225 285 231 233 237 239 241 266 264 281 295 294 292 293 290 286 284 235 234 291 289 283 227 232 287 296 288 282 280 279 278 277 275 236 238 Threatened & Endangered Wildlife 276 240 265 263 261 242 243 244 267 268 269 270 262 259 260 257 258 255 245 253 247 251 256 246 254 252 248 249 250 274 271 272 273 The sand and gravel shores of John Martin are among the few remaining nesting areas in Colorado for the threatened Piping Plover and the endangered Interior Least Tern. In an effort to conserve these species, portions of the shoreline and the reservoir surface are temporarily closed to all public access during the nesting and brooding season. In addition, threatened bald eagles winter at John Martin. Eagles particularly like the large trees of the Lake Hasty Campground. In order to protect these roost sites, some campsites are closed in the treed area of the campground from November 1 to March 15th of each year. Any trespass into a closed area is a violation of State and Federal law. The best action to take upon observing a closure is to avoid it completely. Regulations John Martin Reservoir State Park is managed and maintained for your enjoyment and for the protection of the park’s natural resources. For your enjoyment and in the interest of public safety, we must insist that you observe the following regulations: • Keep vehicles on maintained roads and parking areas. • All open fires must be contained within rings or grills provided or in metal containers. Never build a fire on the ground. • Keep pets on a six foot or shorter leash at all times. Please pick up after pets. • Use proper receptacles for trash, wastewater and sewage. • Camp only in designated campgrounds. • Observe campground quiet hours from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. • Tree cutting or wood gathering is strictly prohibited. • Fireworks are not permitted. • Only 3.2% beer is permitted. • No hunting is permitted. First Aid/Emergencies Park Rangers are trained and equipped to give first aid. In an emergency, go to the visitor center or dial 911 on any phone. The nearest hospital is in Lamar, 26 miles east of the park.