LAKE LEVELS - Updated 05/02/2008
Lakes not directly impacted by the fire, FIRE BAN has been LIFTED
Lake Henry is 100% Full - Boating and Fishing Excellent.
Lake Meredith is 100% Full - Boating and Fishing Excellent.
Camping, fishing, and boating information.
RECREATION AND TOURISM
For those who love the sun, water and fun, Crowley County is your kind of place!
There are several no-fee lakes providing abundant space for
bird watching, boating, water sports, swimming and fishing.
Camping at these lakes offers the space necessary
for quiet reflection and a hiatus from metropolitan living. If you prefer the comforts of a
hotel, the Hotel Ordway offers many clean, spacious
rooms. When you have worked up an appetite the county has eight
restaurants for your dining pleasure. For camping or picnic supplies, visit the local
convenience and grocery stores for all of
your needs.
Lakes and Birding
Lake Henry is located between Ordway and Sugar City, just two miles north of Highway 96 on Lane 20 (see map below). This large lake is a great place to fish for catfish and bass, and has plenty of room for swimming, power boating, sailing, water-skiing and jet skis. The lake is a favorite among bird watchers, who include this lake in local birding tours. The lake offers primitive campsites, vault toilets and a boat ramp…all available for free.
Lake Meredith is one mile south of Highway 96 on Lane 21, just south of Lake Henry (see map below). With 41,000 acre feet of water, Lake Meredith offers great opportunities for power boaters, jet skiers, fishing for bass and catfish, swimming and camping. Bird watchers will want to include a stop at this lake as they make their way around Crowley County. The number and species of birds visiting the lake vary as the seasons change and each fall flocks of geese will rest on the lake and feed in the fields nearby. Lake Meredith features a boat ramp, jet ski ramp, vault toilets and free primitive camping.
Crowley County has two stocked reservoirs - Ordway Reservoir and
Olney Springs Reservoir -
that
are sure to please any angler. Both reservoirs are closed to boating and offer
great trout fishing in the spring and fall and catfish and bass fishing in the
summer. These reservoirs are also good places for bird
watching. Ordway Reservoir is two miles north of Ordway on Highway 71 (see
map below), and Olney Springs Reservoir is one mile north of the town of Olney
Springs (see map below). As with Lake Meredith and Lake Henry, there is no fee
to use these two lakes, but a valid Colorado fishing license is required to fish
at all of these lakes.
Hunting
For the hunters, Crowley County is rich in natural resources. The reservoirs and lakes encourage migrations of waterfowl including Canadian Geese, Snow Geese and a wide variety of ducks. Antelope and deer are abundant throughout the county. Small game hunters will find plenty of Quail, Pheasant, Turtle Doves and rabbits in the county.
Parks
Each of the communities in the area have great parks with play equipment, picnic shelters or tables that are perfect for family gatherings. We also have tennis courts, baseball fields, and miles of bicycling and jogging space for those who just can't stand still.
Biking the Prairie Horizons Trail
State Highway 96 winds through Crowley County and is a part of the
Prairie Horizons Trail. This route is the eastern Colorado section of
the TransAmerica Bicycle Trail. Supplies are available at any of the
towns and our parks provide a cool quite place to rest along the way.
Gatherings and Festivals
Each summer for the past 90 years, the local communities have hosted Crowley County Days with a parade and fun activities in and around Ordway. The week long event culminates with a pancake breakfast, parade, barbecue, mud races, rodeo and other activities on the last Saturday of the month in July (see Events). This festival has always stayed true to it's old-fashioned roots and provides fun for the whole family.
For 2006, Crowley County Days will be sponsored in part by the 35-Million-Dollar Cash Spectacular...the new game from the Colorado Lottery. When you play the 35-million-dollar Cash Spectacular...you keep Colorado parks, recreational facilities, wildlife and Crowley County Days Spectacular too! Buy a $35 Million Cash Spectacular Ticket and then head on over to Crowley County Days for a good time and to see a number of facilities that Colorado Lottery dollars help to provide.
