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Outdoors | Sweetwater Lake is gorgeous, but it can’t…
Monday, June 22nd 2026

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Sweetwater Lake is gorgeous, but it can’t handle large crowds — and maybe never will

Officials are planning to make it Colorado’s 43rd state park, but locals fear the small area will be overwhelmed

Raindrops ripple the surface of Sweetwater Lake in Garfield County. The property is owned by the White River National Forest, and forest officials want Colorado Parks and Wildlife to manage it for them. The land was acquired by the forest in 2021. (Kelsey Brunner/Special to The Denver Post)
Raindrops ripple the surface of Sweetwater Lake in Garfield County. The property is owned by the White River National Forest, and forest officials want Colorado Parks and Wildlife to manage it for them. The land was acquired by the forest in 2021. (Kelsey Brunner/Special to The Denver Post)
DENVER, CO - JANUARY 13 : Denver Post's John Meyer on Monday, January 13, 2014. (Photo By Cyrus McCrimmon/The Denver Post)
By | jmeyer@denverpost.com | The Denver Post
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Parking is scarce. The lake is very small and the nearby wetlands are off limits. Hikers have few options, and mountain bikers have none. There is no trail around the lake and no place for sunbathing.
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