Glendo State Park plays host to thousands of visitors most weekends during the summer, beginning on Memorial Day weekend in late May and winding down after Labor Day weekend in early September. There are several reasons why this park is so busy. First, it’s just a short three hour drive from the Denver metropolitan area and the Front Range of Colorado to Glendo State Park, and on Fridays during June, July and August, a steady stream of motor homes, boats, campers and RV’s can be seen heading north on I-25 to the Glendo exit.
Secondly, Glendo State Park has so much to offer in the way of summer recreation. With a fairly reliable water level, it’s almost a sure thing that, whatever kind of boat you have, you’re going to get it in the water. Mornings are generally quite calm on the lake, making this the best time for some great fishing opportunities as well as canoeing, water skiing, and exploring the coves and upper reaches of the lake where the North Platte feeds the lake.
By mid-afternoon, the winds can pick up and this is generally when you see sailboats, catamarans, and windsurfers out. It’s also when most everyone else gets off the lake, as this can be a very dangerous time for most watercraft.
In addition to the boating, Glendo State Park offers seven campgrounds with between twenty and two hundred campsites. They are all unique, but most of them offer the standard amenities such as toilets, beach access, swimming, and spots for tying up your boat.
One exception is Two Moon Campground, the largest and best camping in the park. This campground, however, is located high on a bluff above the lake, with no access to the shoreline. The advantage is that this campground has lots of ponderosa pine trees offering shade and protection from the afternoon winds.
The marina at Glendo State Park has about everything you need for a great weekend whether you are camping, fishing, boating, or just having a great time in the “Wild West.”
As anywhere, there are a few rules to follow. There is a maximum of fourteen days permitted for camping in the park, fishing and boating licenses are required, fishing is not allowed within a 20 yard limit of designated beach areas, boat ramps and docks, no firearms or fireworks are allowed in the park, and pets are to be kept on a leash. In addition, quiet hours are from 10:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m.
