In The Shadow of Longs Peak
Jackson Lake State Park
Jackson Lake State Park is located east of Greeley, just over an hour from Longmont
07 April 2012
Jackson Lake, east of Greeley, Colorado has been on my ‘to do’ list for quite some time so when RMSKC planned an outing there, I knew I had to go.
Originally I was going to go out there an camp on Friday evening but then Gary decided to join me in this endeavor so we decided to get up early on Saturday and make it a day outing.
We packed everything on Friday evening, work up early on Saturday, ate breakfast and were on the road by 7:15 AM. Our route was east on Hwy 66 , north on 85, east on 34 to the sign for Jackson Lake where we turned north. We arrived at the marina parking lot just after 9 AM.
Even as we started out in Lyons, it was windy. Now that we are here, we are wondering: is this a good idea? Or not? After a 2 hour drive, I am game to at least give it a try so we unload and get ready. Jud is already here as is Mark Scott. Brian H and Marsha D supposedly camped here but are not yet at the marina.
There are white caps! There look so innocent but experience puts me on guard.
Marsha and Brian paddle over from the campground. We pop in our boats and are off, making headway into the wind. Our plan is to make a round of the lake, not venturing too far from shore so we paddle mostly into the wind.
Predictions are for the wind to die down and indeed it seems that as we go on the wind is not as intense. And there is not a cloud in the sky.
We stay about the same distance from shore and soon are across the lake from where we started and turn south. Lots of fisherpersons are out and the wind continues to diminish.
Our plan was to paddle an hour and then access and decide to continue still staying close to the shore and soon take a break. At this point we have been out and hour and have traveled two miles. Now we turn and start to paddle toward a jetty. We reach it and decide to continue to it’s end. The jetty turns out to be 2 miles long. At its end we spy a beach and stop there for lunch at about the 6 mile mark. I sit in the sun, surprised at how cool it is in the shade. Gary made ham and cheese and mayo sandwiches. Ymmm!
After lunch, we climb back in and paddle along the east shore, past a community of cottages and summer homes. A small boy and dad are on the shore and I snag their fishing line. Opps! I get unsnagged and we head to our launch.
8 miles total! Phew! I am glad to be back.
Other notes: The map shows this lake having arms but it did not seem so. Birds: Pelicans, Great Heron, lots of coots and ducks. I did not bring my camera due to the wind so have inserted a photo from other outings.