Bonny Lake State Park
The former park's visitors' center, now abandoned.
Map showing the location of Bonny Lake State Park
Map showing the location of Bonny Lake State Park
LocationYuma County, Colorado, USA
Nearest cityBurlington, CO
Coordinates39°36′22″N 102°11′19″W / 39.60611°N 102.18861°W / 39.60611; -102.18861
Area4,793 acres (19.40 km2)
Established1966 (closed as a state park in 2011)
Governing bodyColorado Parks and Wildlife

Bonny Lake State Park is a former state park located in Yuma County, Colorado near Hale.[1] Created in 1966 and closed in 2011, Bonny Lake was the easternmost state park in Colorado.[2]

History

In September and October 2011, Bonny Reservoir was drained and the park was permanently closed. The former park is now being operated as part of the South Republican River State Wildlife Area.[3][4]

Wildlife

More than 300 different species of birds were seen in the park, including bald eagles there are also many species of waterfowl over the winter months that including green-wing teal, widgeon, pintails, mallards, wood ducks, blue-wing teal, Canada geese, snow geese, and sandhill cranes. Mammal species found in the park include beaver, cottontail rabbit, coyote, deer (both mule deer and white-tailed deer), jackrabbit, muskrat, opossum, raccoon, thirteen-lined ground squirrel, and weasel.[5][6]

References

  1. ^ Outdoor Books & Maps (July 2010). Colorado Campgrounds. Adler Publishing. pp. 266–. ISBN 978-0-930657-55-0. Bonny Lake State Park, located about 20 miles north of Burlington on Hwy 385, is a recreational oasis in the broad valley of the South Fork of the Republican River, offering a variety of year-round recreational opportunities. Willow trees and ...
  2. ^ "State looking for plan for Bonny's future". 10 August 2011. Retrieved 24 July 2016.
  3. ^ "Colorado's Bonny Lake State Park Loses its Lake". 2012-03-03. Archived from the original on 2012-04-06. Retrieved 2012-04-15.
  4. ^ Colorado Parks & Wildlife. Bonny Lake State Park Closes for the Season and Transitions to a State Wildlife Area, September 29, 2011. Viewed: 2017-02-24.
  5. ^ "Critter Watch: Top Places to See Colorado's Wildlife". Colorado Tourism Office. 2008-04-06. Archived from the original on 2008-07-04. Retrieved 2008-09-23.
  6. ^ "Bonny Lake State Park Wildlife". Colorado State Parks. 2008-04-08. Archived from the original on 2008-12-24. Retrieved 2008-09-23.

External links

Protected areas of Colorado
Categories