Delaney Butte Lakes State Wildlife Area
The three lakes here are often less birdy than others in North Park, but can sometimes have waterbird fallouts. North Delaney Lake tends to be the most productive. The small riparian corridor and fields just to the south of the lakes sometimes have Short-eared Owl, and it’s not unusual to see a Great Horned Owl perched up if you drive the area late in the evening. The most accessible Greater Sage-Grouse lek in the state is also here, a prime reason to visit this site during the spring months. Please observe lek etiquette: arrive before dawn, use your car as a blind, keep noise and movement to a minimum, and don’t leave until after the birds do.
Restrictions: Sailboards prohibited
County: Jackson
Directions: From the intersection of CR 12W and CO 125 one mile south of Walden, take CR 12W a little more than 5 miles to the intersection with CR 18. Continue west onto CR 18 for 4.5 miles and bear right onto CR 22. Continue north on CR 22 for .5 miles to CR 5, and take a left and then an almost immediate right onto CR 5A to scan the west side of South Delaney Lake. To scan the east side of the lake, go right onto CR 5 from CR 22, go 0.8 miles to CR 5D on your left, and scan the lake from along CR 5D. To get to East Delaney Lake, turn right onto a small dirt road leading to a parking lot just past the intersection with CR 5D. To scan North Delaney Lake, go 1.2 miles from the intersection of CR 5 and CR 22 to CR 5C and take a left. Go 0.5 miles to CR 5B and scan the lake from along this road and from the parking lot just east of the intersection of CR 5B and 5C. To reach the small pond, turn left at the intersection of CR 5 and 22 and go about .5 miles and over a cattle guard. The pond is on the left.
Alternate Directions: From Walden, head south for less than half a mile on CO 125/14. Turn right onto CR 12W and go 5 miles to CR 18. Continue west onto CR 18 for 4.5 miles and bear right onto CR 22. Go 0.5 miles to CR 5, turn left and continue on to the lakes, on both sides of the road.
Habitat: Pond/Lake/Reservoir, Streamside Willow, Wet Meadow, Sagebrush
Dates of Access: Open all year
Hours:
Ownership: Colorado Parks and Wildlife
Admission or Fees: A valid hunting or fishing license is required for everyone 18 or older to access any State Wildlife Area or State Trust Land leased by Colorado Parks and Wildlife.
Parking: Gravel parking areas
Lodging: Primitive camping
Handicapped: No
Handicapped Access: Car birding
Delorme: 17 C6
ROC: 37 F1-F2, 38 A1-A2
Latitude: 40.69574
Longitude: -106.46239
Visit the Website for Delaney Butte Lakes State Wildlife Area »