Sweitzer Lake State Park is located in Delta County 1 mile (1.6 km) south of Delta, Colorado. The park includes a 137-acre (55 ha) reservoir. Facilities include a boat ramp, swim beach and picnic sites. Birdwatchers have spotted 170 different species in the park.
Colorado Fishing Guide. Published by Colorado Parks & Wildlife.
Sweitzer Lake SP
https://cpw.state.co.us/placestogo/parks/SweitzerLake
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sweitzer_Lake_State_Park
Sweitzer Lake State Park is located in Delta County 1 mile (1.6 km) south of Delta, Colorado. The park includes a 137-acre (55 ha) reservoir. Facilities include a boat ramp, swim beach and picnic sites. Birdwatchers have spotted 170 different species in the park.
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.
COLORADO
PA R K S
&
WILDLIFE
Your Guide to
Colorado’s 41
State Parks
2018 Edition
cpw.state.co.us
CAMPING RESERVATIONS • 1-800-244-5613 • cpw.state.co.us
i
Welcome to Your State Parks!
Wherever you go in Colorado, there’s
Cheyenne Mountain
a state park waiting to welcome
State Park
you. Mountains or prairies, rivers or
forests, out in the country or next to
the city… Colorado’s 41 state parks are
as diverse as the state itself, and they
offer something for everyone. Take a
hair-raising whitewater river trip, or
kick back in a lawn chair and watch
the sunset. Enjoy a family picnic, cast
a line in the water, take a hike, ride a
horse, try snowshoeing or discover
geocaching. From Eastern Plains
parks at 3,800 feet to high-mountain
parks at 9,500, the network of state
parks offers a wealth of activities
for busy people of all ages, or the
chance to do nothing at all. You can play on land or on water. On
a high peak or on the prairie. In the country or the city. In spring,
summer, winter or fall.
Golden Gate Canyon State Park
State parks are great places for families. There are plenty of
activities for families to enjoy together such as boating, hiking or
picnicking, as well as organized nature walks, talks and events.
Junior Ranger programs, activity backpacks, kid-friendly hikes
and fishing ponds for kids are among the many offerings for
youth. From toddler to teen and adult to senior, every family
member can enjoy their activity of choice, then come together to
share a meal and stories around the campfire.
Whether you’re an active
outdoor recreationist
or prefer to spend time
watching clouds go by,
you’ll enjoy the special
moments waiting for you
in the state parks.
Rifle Gap State Park
Cover photos:
Large photo: State Forest State Park; lower left: Pearl Lake State Park; lower center: Elkhead State Park;
lower right: Lory State Park
Plan Your Visit
Colorado’s state parks are open every day of the year, weather
permitting. Day-use areas are generally open from 5 a.m. to
10 p.m., and some parks may have closed gates after hours.
Campgrounds are open 24 hours a day. Contact individual
parks for hours of operation. Check our website for seasonal or
maintenance closures: cpw.state.co.us
Entrance Passes
All Colorado state parks charge an entrance fee. Cost of a daily
pass may vary by park ($7–$9). A pass covers all occupants of a
vehicle and is valid until noon the day after purchase. Some parks
may charge a per-person fee for cyclists and walk-ins. Fees are used
to help pay operating costs. Cherry Creek State Park charges an
additional fee for the Cherry Creek Basin Water Quality Authority.
Annual Pass
Who doesn’t love a deal? And the state parks annual pass is a
great one. For just one low price, the annual pass lets you enjoy
all 41 state parks for unlimited visits for 12 months from date of
purchase. That’s all the parks. That’s
unlimited times. The annual pass
pays for itself in as few as 10 visits.
If you’re a Colorado resident who’s
64 years or older, there’s even a
further discounted Aspen Leaf
annual pass. There are also passes
for disabled and income-eligible
residents. For details and to purchase a pass,
visit a Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) office, state park or buy
online: cpw.state.co.us
Extend Your Stay
Make more of your state park visit
by staying overnight. Bring your
tent or RV, spend a cozy night in a
cabin, camp in a tipi or discover a
comfortable, year-round alternative
State Forest State Park
to traditional camping with a yurt.
All together, the state parks have
more than 4,000 campsites and 58 cabins and yurts. Almost 300
campsites are ADA accessible. Many parks offer campsites or cabins
for large groups. Heated cabins and yurts make a park getaway
suitable any season of the year.
Camping Reservations
Summer weekends fill up quickly so advance reservations for
overnight stays are recommended. Reservations can be made six
months to three days ahead of arrival.
Reserve online: cpw.state.co.us
Toll Free: 1-800-244-5613
A nonrefundable reservation fee applies to bookings, and visitors
must purchase a daily or annual entrance pass in addition to
paying camping and reservation fees. Unreserved sites are
available on a first-come, first-served basis.
1
What Can I Do There?
Colorado’s state parks are places to have fun, get away, recreate and
re-create. Here are some park activities to help you do that:
Fishing
Top-notch fishing awaits anglers in 37 state parks across Colorado.
Think Gold Medal Waters and trophy fish. A valid fishing license
is required for all anglers 16 years and older. Licenses and our
annual Colorado Fishing regulations brochure are available online,
at most parks and at CPW authorized sales agents.
Water Sports
Many state parks are built around a lake or
Crawford
waterway, which means boating and other water
State Park
sports are among the headliners. Larger parks
offer boat rentals and full-service marinas. Any
boat with a motor or sail operated in Col