Sweitzer Lake State Park (Blog Hike #822)

Trail: Sweitzer Trail
Hike Location: Sweitzer Lake State Park
Geographic Location: southeast of Delta, CO (38.71206, -108.04092)
Length: 2.9 miles
Difficulty: 2/10 (Easy)
Date Hiked: July 2020
Overview: A flat, sunny circumnavigation of Sweitzer Lake.
Park Information: https://cpw.state.co.us/placestogo/parks/SweitzerLake
Hike Route Map: https://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=825284
Photo Highlight:

Hike Video: 

Directions to the trailhead: The signed entrance to Sweitzer Lake State Park is located on US 50 2.3 miles east of Delta.  Turn left (east) on E Road, which dead-ends at the park entrance.  Pay the park entrance fee, then park at the parking area for the swimming beach.

The hike: Tucked away in an unlikely swale in the semi-arid area southeast of Delta, Sweitzer Lake State Park protects 210 acres on and around its namesake lake.  The lake and park are named for the Morgan Sweitzer family, who donated the land for this park in 1953.  The man-made lake was built solely for the purpose of recreation, and the park opened to the public in 1972.

            Since its opening the park has garnered the nickname "oasis on the edge of the desert" because birds and waterfowl flock to its waters.  Fall and spring migrations are the best times to come here, and I have to be honest and report that I saw more dragonflies than birds on my visit on a late July morning.  In terms of amenities, the park offers only a swimming area and boat ramp on the lake, some picnic shelters, and one hiking trail that goes along the lake's north shore.  Combining the hiking trail with a walk on the park's seldom-used gravel roads forms the circumnavigation of Sweitzer Lake described here.

Bridge across spillway

            From the swimming beach parking area, walk north atop the dam that forms Sweitzer Lake with the lake on the right and a steep valley on the left.  The mountains of Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area can be seen across the length of the lake to the east.  After crossing the iron bridge with wood deck that spans the lake's concrete spillway, you reach some ugly steel picnic shelters that occupy a pretty lakeside location.  Turn right and walk past the picnic shelters to pick up the two-track dirt/gravel course that is the park's hiking trail.

Picnic shelter beside lake

Start of hiking trail

            The trail heads east with the lake on your right and a dirt/rock mound-like hill behind an irrigation channel on your left.  For its entire distance the trail treads atop dredge from this irrigation channel, and while this route may not make for the most appealing hiking, it does make the hiking easy.  The lack of tree cover will make this hike hot and sunny in the summer, so be sure to wear a hat and/or sunscreen to protect against the intense high elevation sun.  On the plus side, nice views open up south across Sweitzer Lake to the Uncompahgre Plateau beyond.

View south across Sweitzer Lake

            As you approach the shallow east end of Sweitzer Lake, the distance between the trail and the lake increases.  After passing under a power line, the trail follows the irrigation channel as it makes a sweeping right turn.  An industrial area comes into view across the park boundary to the east.

East end of hiking trail

            At 1.6 miles, you reach the east end of the hiking trail where it intersects the dirt/gravel park road.  Turn left to continue our journey around the lake.  The remainder of this hike uses the park road to get back to the swimming beach parking area, passing a couple more picnic areas on the way.  The road is open to vehicles, but I did not encounter any vehicles or other trail users on my late morning hike here.  Return to the swimming beach parking area at 2.9 miles; a lobe of Sweitzer Lake that juts off to the south makes the road walk back to your car longer than you might expect.