Summary
The park is situated around Glendo Reservoir, which offers opportunities for boating, fishing, and swimming. The park covers over 22,000 acres and has several campgrounds, hiking trails, and picnic areas.
One of the main reasons to visit Glendo State Park is for its scenic beauty. The park offers stunning views of the reservoir and surrounding hills, as well as opportunities to spot wildlife such as deer and bald eagles.
There are several points of interest within the park, including the Oregon Trail Ruts, which are visible reminders of the historic trail that passed through the area. The park also has a marina, where visitors can rent boats and other watercraft, as well as a disc golf course and a playground.
Interesting facts about Glendo State Park include that it was established in 1957 and was named after the nearby town of Glendo. The park is also home to several species of fish, including walleye, bass, and catfish.
The best time of year to visit Glendo State Park is during the summer months when the weather is warm and the water is ideal for swimming and boating. However, the park is open year-round, and visitors can enjoy hiking and wildlife viewing in the cooler months.
Weather Forecast
Park & Land Designation Reference
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 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.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
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.
Related References