Sweetwater Lake State Park
Sweetwater Lake State Park is a proposed Colorado State Park in Garfield County, Colorado in the United States, approximately north of the town of Dotsero. The site occupies and is located within the White River National Forest in the Flat Tops Wilderness Area. The park is unique in that it is the first proposed state park in the nation to be created from land owned by the United States Forest Service. Governor Jared Polis announced the creation of the park, Colorado's 43rd, on October 20, 2021.
History
The 72-acre natural lake and surrounding land was originally part of a privately owned ranch and had been considered for a golf course or housing developments. In order to protect the area from development, The Conservation Fund acquired the property in 2020 and held the parcel until the White River National Forest obtained a federal Land and Water Conservation Fund grant to purchase the property.Future as a state park
By early 2025, it became clear that the site's future as a Colorado state park was uncertain, due largely to opposition from the community surrounding the proposed park. Although Colorado's governor declared the establishment of Sweetwater Lake State Park in 2021, it never really became an official state park.The White River National Forest is planning on granting Colorado Parks and Wildlife a 20-year special use permit for the site. An environmental impact report detailing the forest's plans for the site is expected in June 2025. After public comments are documented, a final decision is expected in Spring 2026.
The likely future of the site is as some kind of recreation area.