Hawk Springs

Hawk Springs State Recreation Area occupies 59 acres on the western shore of Hawk Springs Reservoir in southeastern Wyoming's Goshen County. Designated as a state recreation area in 1987, this small park provides one of the few public recreation lakes along Wyoming's eastern border. Located approximately 25 miles south of Torrington, the reservoir offers fishing, boating, and camping in a scenic agricultural landscape.

The reservoir supports warm-water fish including largemouth bass, walleye, and channel catfish, drawing anglers throughout the open-water season. A great blue heron rookery on the reservoir, accessible by boat, provides wildlife viewing opportunities. Waterfowl including blue-winged and green-winged teals, gadwalls, wood ducks, and pintails use the reservoir during migration. Upland game birds occur in surrounding habitat.

Vegetation around the reservoir reflects the semi-arid climate of southeastern Wyoming. Native grasses and agricultural lands dominate the surrounding landscape. Limited riparian vegetation occurs along the shoreline. The reservoir itself provides an important water feature in an otherwise dry landscape, creating a green oasis that attracts wildlife.

Hawk Springs Reservoir was created by damming a natural drainage in the High Plains of southeastern Wyoming. The underlying geology consists of Tertiary sedimentary deposits typical of the region. The flat to gently rolling terrain reflects the High Plains landscape formed by ancient stream deposits from the Rocky Mountains.

The recreation area experiences a semi-arid continental climate with hot summers and cold winters. Elevation of approximately 4,500 feet allows summer temperatures to exceed 90 degrees regularly. Winter can be harsh, with temperatures occasionally dropping below zero. Annual precipitation averages about 14 inches, concentrated in spring and early summer thunderstorms.

The area around Hawk Springs has been ranching and farming country since Euro-American settlement in the late 1800s. The reservoir was constructed for irrigation water storage, serving agricultural operations in the surrounding area. Recreation developed as a secondary use of the water resource, eventually leading to state management of the recreation area.

The Wyoming Game and Fish Department initially developed recreational facilities at the reservoir, installing a boat ramp, restrooms, picnic tables, and fire rings as recreation use increased. In 1987, the site was designated a state recreation area and transferred to Wyoming State Parks administration. The park continues under management from Guernsey State Park.

Water-based recreation dominates park activities, with fishing, boating, and swimming the primary draws. The reservoir's warm-water fishery provides different angling opportunities than the cold-water trout streams typical of much of Wyoming. The great blue heron rookery offers unique wildlife viewing by boat. Ice fishing attracts winter visitors when the reservoir freezes.

Twenty-four primitive campsites provide walk-up camping on a first-come basis. Facilities include a boat ramp, boat dock, restrooms, picnic tables, fire rings, and a playground. Water is available seasonally, but restrooms operate year-round. The recreation area is located about 10 miles southeast of the town of Hawk Springs, accessible via county roads from Highway 85.

Management balances recreational use with protection of nesting colonial waterbirds at the heron rookery. Fishery management cooperates with Wyoming Game and Fish Department to maintain bass and walleye populations. The recreation area provides important public access to water recreation in an agricultural region with limited public lands. Water quality monitoring tracks reservoir conditions.