The main recreation spot in this area is Jackson Lake State Park, located about 25 miles northwest of Fort Morgan (tel. 970/645-2551). The park offers swimming, boating, fishing, and picnicking in summer; and ice fishing, ice skating, and cross-country skiing in winter ($5 day-use fee).

Water-skiing, sailboarding, and boating are the most popular activities on the park's 2,700-acre reservoir, which has sandy beaches and boat ramps. The Shoreline Marina (tel. 970/645-2628) has fuel, fishing and boating supplies, propane tank exchange, an ATM, a snack bar, and boat rentals May through September (depending on lake water levels).

Anglers try for walleye, bass, and catfish, except when fishing is prohibited during the migratory waterfowl season. There's also a .5-mile nature trail, plus 260 campsites (some with electric hookups), showers, and a dump station ($12-$18). To get to Jackson Lake, follow Colo. 144 northwest for 22 miles; the park is about 2 1/2 miles north of the community of Goodrich via paved C.R. 3.

One of the nicest city parks in the region is Riverside Park (tel. 970/867-3808), located off Main Street between I-76 and the South Platte River. Admission is free, and it has a large children's playground, more than 4 miles of nature trails along the river, tennis and basketball courts, horseshoe pits, an in-line hockey rink, a picnic area, a duck pond where kids can fish, and a swimming pool open in summer. The park offers free tent camping and free overnight RV camping with electrical hookups.