Jackson Lake State Park- Colorado

 Colorado offers 42 state parks all around the state.  These parks draw over 11 million visitors each year.  The parks are spread all around the state and include locations in the plains of the eastern part of the state and parks in the higher elevations of the Rocky Mountains.  Jackson Lake State Park is one of the parks that is out in the plains of north eastern Colorado.  Known mainly for the water that it offers, Jackson Lake offers numerous opportunities to get out and enjoy the outdoors at all times of the year.  I am going to discuss some of the most common activities in the park for you to keep in mind when you are planning your next vacation.

Jackson Lake State Park offers 2,700 surface acres of lake for various water activities. Boating is a definite attraction at Jackson Lake. If you want to get in the water there is a sandy beach available for you to take a swim with the kids. If speed is your thing, you can hit the lake on skis and try your hand at some water skiing. You can also just enjoy the lake or wet a line from your boat.

Speaking of fishing, Jackson Lake is a great place to bring your kids or friends fishing. Jackson Lake is considered to be one of Colorado's warm water fisheries. Which is nice, because most of Colorado is considered cold water fishing. Among the fish you can catch are walleye, saugeye, catfish, perch, rainbow trout, crappie and wipers. You might even find Northern Pike and both Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass. So whether you are fishing from the shore, or from a boat, make sure you cast out a line and try to catch a fish when you visit Jackson Lake.

If you get tired and decide that you want to spend the night, Jackson Lake has 260 camp sites available for you to get some rest. These site can accomodate a variety of campers, trailers or tents. There are eletric hook ups at some of the sites and there are even showers available in parts of the park. You can also reserve one of the group campgrounds if you are looking to plan a trip with your extended family.

Other popular activities including bird watching and photography. Due to the large numbers of waterfowl that travel through the area, hunting for ducks and geese can be productive when they are in season. There are even some trails to check out if you want to explore the park a little more.

Come check out why so many people enjoy Jackson Lake State Park each year. Bring a camera, fishing pole and your swimsuit to take advantage of some of what this lake has to offer.