Highline Lake State Park park
Highline Lake State Park
One of the main reasons to visit Highline Lake State Park is to enjoy its scenic beauty. The park is situated around two man-made lakes, Highline Lake and Mack Mesa Lake, which offer stunning views of the surrounding mountains and mesas. Visitors can explore the park's many hiking and biking trails, or rent a paddleboat, kayak, or stand-up paddleboard to explore the lakes themselves.
Another popular attraction at Highline Lake State Park is the park's campground. The campground offers both tent and RV sites, as well as cabins and yurts for rent. Visitors can enjoy a wide range of amenities, including hot showers, laundry facilities, and a camp store.
Other points of interest at Highline Lake State Park include the park's nature center, which features interactive exhibits on the local flora and fauna, as well as a variety of educational programs and guided hikes. There are also several picnic areas scattered throughout the park, as well as a playground and sand volleyball court.
Interesting facts about Highline Lake State Park include the fact that it was originally established as a water storage reservoir in the early 1900s, and that the park is home to a variety of rare and endangered bird species, including the bald eagle and the peregrine falcon.
The best time of year to visit Highline Lake State Park depends on the activities you are interested in. Summer is the most popular season, with warm weather and plenty of water activities available. Fall is a great time to visit for hiking and leaf-peeping, while winter offers opportunities for ice fishing and cross-country skiing.
Park & land designation reference
A quick legend for the federal and state land categories Snoflo tracks. Each designation comes with different rules around access, recreation, and resource extraction.
- National Park
- Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
- State Park
- Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
- Local Park
- Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
- Wilderness Area
- The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized motorized access permitted.
- National Recreation Area
- Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing, often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes); may allow more development.
- National Conservation Area (BLM)
- BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
- State Forest
- State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
- Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
- Vast federal lands managed for mixed use -- recreation, grazing, mining, conservation -- with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
Plan your visit down to the hour
Same weather feed Snoflo's iOS app uses -- updated continuously from NOAA / yr.no.
Next 5 days, hour by hour
Temperature line with weather symbols on top, snow + rain accumulation as columns, humidity as a dotted line.
5-day forecast table
Every 3 hours, broken out across temperature, snow, rain, humidity, and wind.
| Time | Condition | Temp (°F) | Snow (in) | Rain (in) | Humidity (%) | Wind (mps) | Wind dir |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading detailed forecast… | |||||||
15-day temperature & precipitation
Daily temperatures, snow, and rain projected over the next two weeks.
Area campgrounds
Snoflo-tracked campgrounds within reach of Highline Lake State Park, with reservations status.
| Campground | Reservations | Toilets | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| Highline Lake State Park | ✓ | ✓ | → |
| Banjo | ✗ | ✗ | → |
| Cottonwood 1 | ✗ | ✗ | → |
| Cottonwood 2 | ✗ | ✗ | → |
| Cottonwood 3 | ✗ | ✗ | → |
| Cottonwood 4 | ✗ | ✗ | → |
Plan a longer trip
The closest parks, lakes, fishing spots, and POIs so a park visit can grow into a full weekend.
Responsible recreation & Leave No Trace
- Know before you go
- Check the operator's site for hours, permit requirements, seasonal closures, and fire restrictions before heading out.
- Stay on trail
- Stick to marked paths to protect vegetation, prevent erosion, and avoid disturbing wildlife habitat.
- Respect wildlife
- Observe from a distance, never feed wildlife, and store food securely if camping is permitted on-site.
- Pack it in, pack it out
- Carry out all trash, food scraps, and gear. Many parks have limited or no trash service.
- Leave what you find
- Don't take rocks, plants, or artifacts. They make the park what it is for the next visitor.
Set push alerts in the Snoflo app
Save Highline Lake State Park as a favorite, set a custom threshold (precipitation, freezing temperatures, fire-restriction days), and the iOS app will push the moment conditions cross.
About Highline Lake State Park
What can I do at Highline Lake State Park?
Most Snoflo-tracked parks support hiking, picnicking, and wildlife viewing. Check the operator's site for activity-specific rules (camping, fishing, paddling, hunting).
How fresh is the weather data?
The hourly forecast updates throughout the day from NOAA / yr.no. Streamflow comes live from USGS streamgauges.
When is the best time to visit?
Use the 15-day temperature & precipitation outlook on this page to plan -- pick a window with comfortable temperatures and low precipitation.
How do I get to Highline Lake State Park?
Tap Directions in the hero above to open driving directions in Google Maps, or Open in map to center the Snoflo interactive map on the park.
Can I get alerts when conditions change?
Yes -- alerts are managed in the Snoflo iOS app. Favorite this park, set a threshold (temperature, precipitation), and you'll get a push the moment it crosses.
Other parks near here
Snoflo-tracked parks within driving distance of Highline Lake State Park.