Location: Jackson County / 40.778552, -106.470751
Size: 565 surface acres
Management: Colorado Parks and Wildlife
Area CPW Office and Phone #: Steamboat Springs / 970-870-3333
Facilities: Restrooms / Boat Ramps
Fishing: Cold Water
Recreation: Hunting / Fishing / Boating / Camping
General Information: Plan a visit to Lake John, a scenic high-elevation lake northwest of Walden in North Park, and discover why it’s always worth the trip. Located within the Lake John State Wildlife Area, the lake sits among sweeping sagebrush flats and expansive views of the surrounding mountains, where pronghorn, waterfowl and other wildlife are common sights beneath North Park’s big blue skies.
Lake John offers some of the state’s best fishing for rainbow trout, cutbows, and Snake River cutthroats, both in open water and through the ice during the winter months. Anglers, boaters and wildlife enthusiasts alike can all find a place to enjoy the lake’s peaceful solitude. With nearby camping, day-use areas and a local resort with amenities, Lake John is the perfect destination for recreation, relaxation and a taste of Colorado’s high-country outdoors.
If you’re a beginner angler looking for pointers to reel in some lake trout, check out this Colorado Outdoors article.
To access this area, individuals aged 16 or older must possess a valid license or SWA pass. These can be obtained through CPW authorized sales agents, via phone (1-800-244-5613), or online at CPWShop.
Angling Regulations and Information
- The bag and possession limit for trout is four fish.
Colorado Fishing Atlas
Biologist Spotlight
After more than a decade of work, Mark Sandersen has developed a deep understanding of northern Colorado’s lakes and streams as an aquatic biologist with Colorado Parks and Wildlife. Since joining CPW as a seasonal technician, Sandersen has focused on balancing the health of the fishery with the experience of anglers, overseeing dozens of waters from high mountain lakes to productive reservoirs.
“Lake John is performing really well right now,” he said. “It’s one of the waters I’d be very hesitant to change. The system is essentially dialed in and you don’t want to mess with it.”
Sandersen’s work includes population sampling, creel surveys and intensive stocking efforts for rainbow trout, cutbows and Snake River cutthroat trout. He’s observed notable shifts in angler behavior over the past decade. “Back in 2013, about 40 percent of the fish caught were harvested. By 2023, that number had dropped to just 17 percent,” he said. The change has implications for how the lake is managed and stocked.
A former sucker-dominated lake reclaimed in 2011, Lake John now thrives with abundant rooted vegetation, diverse habitat, and “some incredible invertebrate hatches throughout the year.” These factors support the rapid growth and healthy condition of many stocked fish. On species performance, he noted, “The Snake River cutthroat consistently have higher condition factors than the rainbows. They really do well in that system.”
Sandersen also pointed to subtle ecological changes around the lake, including the arrival of certain birds. “Pelicans and other large water birds have moved into North Park in recent years,” he said, adding that their presence introduces new dynamics to the lake’s ecosystem.
For Sandersen, managing these waters is as much about stewardship as it is science.
“All of the spawning efforts we do — to me, that’s just some of the most fulfilling work out there,” he said.
Gold Medal & Quality Waters Programs
Colorado is famous for its wide variety of world-class fisheries. To help anglers make the most of these abundant waters, Colorado Parks and Wildlife organizes the state’s top fishing destinations into two categories: Gold Medal and Quality Waters. This video provides an overview of both programs, which includes both warm and cold-water fisheries.
Written by Ryan Jones. Ryan is a visual coordinator for Colorado Parks and Wildlife.
