South Delaney Lake is a high-plains fishing destination in the remote North Park basin of Jackson County, managed by Colorado Parks and Wildlife as part of the Delaney Butte Lakes State Wildlife Area. If you want to chase trophy-class trout in one of the most beautifully desolate landscapes in Colorado, this lake rewards anglers who make the drive to Walden.
Sitting above 8,100 feet of elevation near the town of Walden, South Delaney Lake is the smallest of three Delaney Butte Lakes at roughly 56 surface acres with a maximum depth of 26 feet. Despite its modest size, the lake punches well above its weight for fishing quality. Colorado Parks and Wildlife stocks South Delaney annually with approximately 15,000 rainbow trout fingerlings and 15,000 Snake River cutthroat trout fingerlings. Fish average around 16 inches and are known for fighting hard on the line. Brown trout and cuttbow hybrids also inhabit the lake, making it one of the more diverse trout fisheries in North Park.
South Delaney is typically the first of the three Delaney Butte Lakes to fish well each spring. Rainbow trout and cutthroats become active as soon as ice-out occurs, usually in late April or May. Ice fishing is also popular here during winter months, with anglers targeting trout through the ice when the lake freezes solid. Special regulations apply: the daily bag and possession limit is two fish for all three Delaney Butte Lakes combined, and rainbows and cutthroats between 18 and 22 inches must be returned to the water immediately.
Free dispersed camping is available along a stretch of the south shoreline, with several primitive sites offering direct lake access. Facilities are minimal: vault toilets are provided, but there is no potable water, hookups, or developed campground infrastructure. A valid Colorado fishing license or State Wildlife Area pass is required for anyone 16 or older to access the property.
The setting is classic North Park: wide-open grasslands stretching to snow-capped peaks on the horizon, with almost no tree cover and enormous skies. Wildlife viewing is excellent, with reports of river otters, waterfowl, and large raptors in the area. Mosquitoes and biting flies can be fierce from June through early August, so packing insect repellent is essential. South Delaney Lake is a destination for committed anglers and campers who value solitude, quality trout fishing, and some of the most open mountain scenery in Colorado.