Sweitzer Lake State Park was built and is maintained
for your enjoyment. In the interest of safety and for
the preservation of your park, please observe the
following regulations:
Wildlife And Hunting
• Place trash in the receptacles provided.
A wide variety of small mammals live around Sweitzer
Lake. Visitors can view mule deer, rabbits, raccoons,
mink, muskrat and pheasant. The lake provides a
haven for many native ducks, migratory waterfowl,
pelicans, swans, eagles and much more.
• Keep your vehicle on designated roads or in
parking lots. Off-road driving can damage the
resources and wildlife habitat.
Hunting within the park’s boundaries is controlled.
Information on seasons and regulations is available from
the park office, which can be reached at (970) 874-4258.
• Keep your pet on a leash no longer than six feet to
avoid accidents with vehicles and wildlife.
• Use fire grills or rings provided and make sure your
fire is completely out before you leave. This will
eliminate destruction to the environment.
• Report any problems to a park ranger.
For Colorado’s senior citizens 64 and older, Colorado
Parks & Wildlife offers the Aspen Leaf annual pass,
which allows admission to all state parks every day.
Persons accompanying the Aspen Leaf pass holder in
the same vehicle are admitted free.
Fishing
Sweitzer Lake, generally considered a good fishing spot
for youngsters, contains channel catfish, blue catfish,
bluegill and carp. Fish in this lake contain selenium
and are not edible. CATCH AND RELEASE ONLY.
Water Sports
Water-skiing, swimming and scuba diving are
popular. Swimming is permitted in the swim area
only. Swim beach attendants are not on duty at the
swim area.
Picnicking
Picnicking is Sweitzer Lake’s
primary visitor activity and
offers many sites with shelter
and a lake view.
Boating
Boaters at Sweitzer Lake
State Park are subject to
Colorado Boating Statutes
and Regulations. Brochures
are available at the entrance
station and park headquarters.
ENJOY YOUR STATE PARKS
Location
I-70
Paonia
GRAND JUNCTION
. 92
COLO
Delta
Crawford
Sweitzer Lake
State Park
MONTROSE
0
U.S. 5
Miramonte
Colorado Disabled Veterans (DV) displaying
Colorado disabled veteran license plates are admitted
free without a pass.
Power boating, sailing and canoeing are popular. A
boat ramp is located at the west end of the lake near
the dam.
Sweitzer Lake
State Park
0
Visitors to Sweitzer Lake are required to display a
current Colorado State Parks pass on their vehicle
windshield. Two types of passes are available. A daily
pass is valid from the day purchased until noon
the following day. An annual pass is valid at any
Colorado State Park. For annual pass holders who
own more than one car, multiple passes are available
for an additional fee.
C O L O R A D O PA R K S & W I L D L I F E
First aid can be obtained at the park headquarters or
from any park ranger.
S.5
U.
Passes, Permits, Fees
First Aid
U.S. 550
Help Protect your Park
Community Facilities
Delta, two miles from Sweitzer Lake, offers all
medical, commercial and religious facilities.
Sweitzer Lake
State Park
1735 E Road • Delta, CO 81416
(970) 874-4258 E-mail: sweitzer.park@state.co.us
cpw.state.co.us
Accessibility
There is an accessible restroom and picnic site near
the park headquarters.
Funded in part by Great Outdoors Colorado
through Colorado Lottery proceeds.
CPW_RMSW_.3/17
cpw.state.co.us
Sweitzer Lake State Park
W
ell-known as a fine boating and water
sports area, Sweitzer Lake State Park
welcomes several thousand visitors
annually, many from the surrounding Delta/
Montrose area.
Wakeless
SKI COUNTER–CLOCKWISE
With land donated in 1953 by the Morgan
Sweitzer family to what is now Colorado Parks &
Wildlife, man-made Sweitzer Lake was built for
the sole purpose of recreation. Since 1972, the
area, with its 137 surface-acre lake and 73 land
acres, has been administered by Colorado Parks
& Wildlife.
PARK ENTRANCE ROAD
(TO U.S. 50 1/2 MILE)
LEGEND
Boat Ramp
Park Office
Dam
Restrooms
Group Picnic Area
Showers
Parking
Swim Beach
Foot Trail
Coined the “oasis on the edge of the desert,”
Sweitzer Lake has become a bird sighting area
and a waterfowl observation site by the Audubon
Society. About 179 species of birds have been
spotted in the area.
In the distance, the majestic San Juan Mountains,
the Uncompahgre Plateau and Grand Mesa–the
largest flattop mountain in the world–encompass
Sweitzer Lake. The western edge of the West Elk
Mountain Range near Crawford can be seen
from the picnic area on the west side of the lake,
where the environment has been altered with
shade trees and grass.
A day-use area with no overnight camping,
Sweitzer Lake offers picnicking, swimming,
sightseeing, boating and fishing. The park is
open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. between October 1
and May 1, and from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. from
May 1 to September 30.
