Prewitt and Jumbo are wildlife areas, not parks — access works differently

Logan County has some good open water and bird country at places like Prewitt Reservoir and Jumbo Reservoir. It is worth knowing these are State Wildlife Areas, which is not the same thing as a state park.

State Wildlife Areas are managed mainly for wildlife and for the hunters and anglers who fund that work. Because of that, getting in is not automatic. Colorado generally requires visitors 16 and older to have either a valid hunting or fishing license or a Colorado State Wildlife Area (SWA) Pass to use these areas. The rules can also limit camping, vehicles, and what you can do on site, and they can change from year to year.

This catches people off guard. A wildlife area can look like a public park with a boat ramp and a shoreline, but the access rules are different. The point is not to keep people out. It is to match the use of the land to how it is funded and managed.

Before you head to Prewitt, Jumbo, or another wildlife area in Logan County, check the current access rules, license requirements, and the page for the specific property on the Colorado Parks and Wildlife website.