Colorado | State Parks

Browns Park National Wildlife Refuge (Maybell)

Browns Park National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) was established in 1963 to provide habitat for migratory birds and to provide for suitable wildlife-dependent recreation. The Green River runs through the heart of the 13, 455-acre Refuge, providing the life blood for the wetlands and cottonwood forests. The threatened Ute's ladies tresses orchid and hundreds of species of animals depend on the habitat that the Refuge provides. Migrating waterfowl stop to refuel, some staying to nest in the wetlands.

Trinidad Lake (Trinidad)

Trinidad Lake is a multipurpose project for flood control, irrigation and recreation. Trinidad is in the heart of historic coal mining country. The community of Cokedale, just northwest of the lake was named for its coke ovens. The ovens converted coal to coke, a more efficient fuel than coal. Remnants of a few coke ovens are located on the project.

John Martin Reservoir (Hasty)

John Martin Reservoir is located in high plains of southeast Colorado. It was completed in 1948 as a part of a comprehensive plan for flood damage reduction and water resources management in the Arkansas River Basin. The water surface can vary from 3, 000 acres to 15, 000 acres depending on the inflow and outflow.

Carter Lake (Loveland)

Developments include 5 campgrounds with 151 campsites and 3 boat-launch ramps. A concession-operated public marina located at the north end of the lake (970.667.1062). A concession for members only (Sail Club) is operated on the northwest shore of the lake. Total water surface available for recreation is approximately 1, 144 surface acres. Access is good. Primary recreation activities include fishing, camping, power boating, and sailing.

Flatiron Reservoir (Loveland)

Flatiron Dam and Reservoir are located on Chimney Hollow Creek 8 miles southwest of Loveland, Colorado. The dam and reservoir are features of the Colorado - Big Thompson Project. One campground with 41 campsites. Access is good. Total available surface acreage for recreation is 47 acres. No boating currently allowed. Primary recreational activities include fishing and camping. Primary sport fish available are rainbow trout. Facilities and campground are closed in winter due to ice and snow.

Lemon Reservoir (Durango)

Lemon Dam was completed in 1963 and is the principal feature of the Florida Project in southwest Colorado. The Florida Project is one of the initial group of participating projects authorized with the Colorado River Storage Project. The reservoir has a maximum surface area of 622 acres and is located on the Florida River, northeast of Durango, Colorado.

Silver Jack Reservoir (Grand Junction)

Silver Jack Dam and reservoir are part of the Bostwick Park Project. Recreation at Silver Jack Reservoir is under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Forest Service, Uncompahgre National Forest, 970-240-5400. The reservoir is located on Big Cimarron River about 20 miles above the junction with the Gunnison River at an 8, 926-foot elevation. The area has rustic and developed, without hook-ups, camping, picnicking facilities, and restrooms.

Vega Reservoir (Grand Junction)

Recreation at Vega Dam and Reservoir, Collbran Project, is managed by the Colorado Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation under agreement with the Bureau of Reclamation. The park can be reached at 970-487-3407; e mail vega@csn.net. Call 1-800-678-2267 for camping reservations. Vega sits nestled on the Grand Mesa high above the little mountain town of Collbran, Colorado. Excellent ice fishing and snowmobiling opportunities.

Lake Estes (Estes Park)

Lake Estes, a feature of the Colorado-Big Thompson Project, is formed by Olympus Dam constructed across the Big Thompson River. The afterbay storage in Lake Estes and the forebay storage in Marys Lake enable the Estes powerplant to meet daily variations in energy demand. Recreation facilities include a nine-hole golf course, five picnic and associated day-use areas, and a marina. Good access to recreation areas. Water surface available for recreation is 185 surface acres.

Lake Granby (Granby)

Granby Dam and Lake Granby, features of the Colorado-Big Thompson Project are on the Colorado River near Granby, Colorado. Developments include 260 campsites and 3 boat-launch ramps. Total water surface available for recreation is approximately 7, 250 surface acres. Primary recreation activities are power boating, fishing, and camping. Primary sport fish are rainbow trout, mackinaw trout, and salmon. Facilities closed in winter due to ice and snow conditions.

Marys Lake (Estes Park)

Marys Lake Dikes, Colorado-Big Thompson Project, are 2 dikes on the shoreline of Marys Lake, 2 miles from Estes Park, Colorado. There is a concession-developed campground accommodating 270 campsites, including both RV sites with utility hookups and tent camping sites, has been constructed adjacent to the site. Access is good. Water surface available for recreation is approximately 42 acres. No boating is allowed. Primary recreation activities include camping, fishing, and picnicking.

Cherry Creek Lake (Littleton)

Cherry Creek Dam, located at the southeast edge of Denver in Aurora, CO, was the first of the three dams to be built to protect the Denver region from catastrophic South Platte River floodwaters that plagued the area for more than 100 years. Recreational opportunities include camping, fishing, picnicking, an archery/rifle range, a horse stable, nature and bike trails, model airplane airstrip, dog training areas, a marina, and a swimming area. The park is open year-round.

Calamity Camp Mining Site (Grand Junction)

This remote, historic site contains one of the last standing vanadiun-radium-uranium camps in Colorado. Calamity Camp is an example of the historic mining camps that were active during the uranium booms from 1916 to 1980. The site has several well-preserved structures, including a cookhouse. NOTE: There is some residual radiation at this site, because of radioactive minerals in the area.

Canyon Pintado National Historic District (Meeker)

Canyon Pintado National Historic District encompasses over 16, 000 acres of public land along 15 miles of State Highway 139. Canyon Pintado (Spanish for "Painted Canyon") received its name in 1776 when Fathers Dominguez and Escalante noted numerous examples of ancient Native American rock art as they traveled through the Douglas Creek Valley.

Kremmling Recreation Management Area (Kremmling)

Kremmling manages about 394, 000 acres of BLM land, in Jackson, Grand, Larimer, Eagle, and Summit Counties. Resource activities include: wildlife, cultural resources, grazing, minerals, forest products, rights-of-ways, paleontological resources, and recreation.

Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area (Montrose, CO)

If your choice for adventures includes remote backcountry activities, then Gunnison Gorge, north of Montrose, is the place for you. It provides kayaking, rafting, hiking, primitive camping, and great trout fishing. The only access to the inner gorge is on four steep trails. (No motorized vehicles allowed.

Penitente Canyon (Alamosa)

If technical rock climbing is your type of adventure, then Penitente Canyon may have what you want. The canyon is known for its nearly 300 world class technical rock climbing routes. Other attractions include trout fishing in La Garita Creek and primitive camping.

Ruby Canyon-Black Ridge Recreation Management Area (Grand Junction)

The Colorado River runs though Ruby Canyon into Utah. Rafting is the primary recreational activity. The canyon is very scenic, but is generally accessible only by river.

Upper Colorado River Recreation Management Area (Glenwood Springs)

This 80-mile route follows the Colorado River from its headwaters to State Bridge. You can visit the historic village of Grand Lake, learn about early family life in Grand County, or stop at Inspiration Point overlook to view the Gore Canyon.

Eagle River Recreation Management Area (Glenwood Springs)

The level of rafting on this river overall is class III-IV. The trip length is about 3 - 4 hours. The best time top raft is late May to early July.

Lowry Ruins National Historic Landmark (Durango)

Visit a 1, 000-year-old ancestral Puebloan (Anasazi) ruin, which includes a 40-room village. The Lowry Pueblo site was first excavated in 1931 and became a National Historic Landmark in 1967. It is one of the most significant BLM archaeological sites in the Four Corners region, where Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, and Arizona meet.

Mosquito Peaks (Ca*on City)

This beautiful high-alpine tundra and Area of Critical Environmental Concern contains significant biodiversity. There are several small parcels of BLM land here, with unique geological formations and 18 rare plant species. There are also views of historic mining buildings in the town of Leadville, 8 miles away.

Rabbit Valley Trail Through Time (Grand Junction)

At the Rabbit Valley Trail Through Time site, view the fossils of 140-million-year-old dinosaurs at a working fossil quarry with a 1.5 mile (loop) interpretive trail. There is also an interpretive kiosk that describes the numerous dinosaurs that have come from Rabbit Valley. This is a designated Area of Critical Environmental Concern.

Frontier Pathways Scenic and Historic Byway (Westcliffe)

Historic homesteads, the pristine Wet Mountain Valley, romantic stage-stop ruins and wildlife viewing pullouts highlight this unspoiled historic and scenic route. This byway is unique for its topographical diversity.

Grand Mesa Scenic and Historic Byway (Cedaredge)

This `playground in the sky` climbs through the dusty canyon of Plateau Creek to the cool evergreen forests of the mesa top, 11, 000 feet above sea level. This byway offers the visitor a peek at porcupines, mountain lions, coyotes, red fox, elk and deer.

Santa Fe Trail - Colorado (Trinidad)

This route lets you retrace Colorado`s portion of the Santa Fe Trail. This historic trade route saw its heaviest use between 1820 and 1880, but in spring or early summer, the keen observer can still pick out wagon tracks in the prairie grasses even today.

Top of the Rockies Scenic and Historic Byway (Leadville)

With altitudes seldom dipping below 9, 000 feet, this byway is worthy of its name. It crosses 10, 424-foot Tennesse Pass en route to the historic mining town of Leadville, the highest incorporated community in the U.S.

Rio Grande National Forest (Monte Vista)

For the outdoor enthusiast, the Rio Grande National Forest has recreation and adventure opportunities for the heartiest of souls, or enjoy the backcountry from the Cumbres & Toltec Narrow Gauge Railroad which runs from Antonio, Colorado across the Forest to Chama, New Mexico. Whether walking, driving or riding, the Rio Grande has something for everyone.

Black Canyon Of The Gunnison National Park (Gunnison)

The Black Canyon of the Gunnison's unique and spectacular landscape was formed slowly by the action of water and rock scouring down through hard Proterozoic crystalline rock. No other canyon in North America combines the narrow opening, sheer walls, and startling depths offered by the Black Canyon of the Gunnison.

Shadow Mountain Lake (Granby)

Shadow Mountain Dam and Reservoir, Colorado-Big Thompson Project, are on the Colorado River below its confluence with the Grand Lake outlet. Developments include 1 campground with 80 campsites and 2 boat-launch ramps. Good access exists. Total water surface available for recreation is approximately 1, 346 surface acres and 8 miles of shoreline. Primary recreational activities are camping, fishing, and power boating. Primary sport fish are bown trout, rainbow trout, and salmon.

Pike-San Isabel National Forests; Comanche and Cimarron National Grasslands (Pueblo)

Located in central Colorado, lies Pike and San Isabel National Forests. Hike the Colorado trail through Waterton Canyon, enjoy the gold-medal waters of the South Platte River, or "bag a peak" in the Collegiate Mountain Range, famous for its 14, 000 foot peaks. Hundreds of nmiles of off-highway vehicle trails will challenge any rider. Sightseers can explore the forest on self-guided car tours. Photography and wildlife-watching are popular activities.

Colorado National Monument (Fruita)

Established May 24, 1911, and on 20, 453.

Yucca House National Monument (Mesa Verde)

Yucca House National Monument is a large, unexcavated Ancestral Puebloan surface site. Yucca House is located in Southwest Colorado between the towns of Towaoc and Cortez. Currently, there are no facilities or fees at Yucca House.

Bonny Reservoir (Idalia)

Bonny Dam and Reservoir are on the South Fork of the Republican River near Hale, Colorado just west of the Kansas border in Yuma County. Reservoir open 24 hours. Fair access roads. Available species include walleye, crappie, wipers (white bass/striped bass hybrids), white bass, northern pike, fresh waterdrum, large and smallmouth bass, bullheads, bluegill, and channel catfish. Reservoir has approximately 2, 095 surface acres. Fishing season is year-round.

Crawford Reservoir (Grand Junction)

Crawford Reservoir was created by Crawford Dam which crosses Iron Creek, a tributary of the Smith Fork of the Gunnison River. The reservoir is part of the Smith Fork Project.Recreation at Crawford Reservoir is managed by the Colorado Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation under agreement with the Bureau of Reclamation, Western Colorado Area Office - Northern Division, Grand Junction, Colorado. The park can be reached at 970-921-5721, crawford@csn.

East Portal Reservoir (Estes Park)

East Portal Reservoir is a feature of the Colorado - Big Thompson Project. One concession campground for overnight camping accommodates 90 campsites. A day-use picnic area is located nearby. Water surface available for recreation is 2 acres. No boating allowed. The reservoir is not managed as a fishery, but an occasional rainbow trout is caught in this regulatory reservoir. The site has a trailhead, which provides access to Rocky Mountain National Park.

Fruitgrowers Reservoir (Grand Junction)

Fruitgrowers Reservoir was created by Fruitgrowers Dam which crosses Alfalfa Run. Alfalfa Runs natural flow is augmented by diversions from Surface and Dry Creeks. The reservoir is the main feature of the Fruitgrowers Dam Project. Visitation is estimated at roughly 500 people per year. There are about 5 miles of shoreline, 4 of which are open to recreation. No water contact activities are allowed. Average elevation is about 5, 400 feet above sea level.

Jackson Gulch Reservoir (Durango)

Recreation at Jackson Gulch Reservoir (Mancos State Park) is managed by the Colorado Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation under agreement with the Bureau of Reclamation, Western Colorado Area Office - Southern Division, Durango, Colorado. The park can be reached at 970-883-2208 or e mail navajo@csn.net.Jackson Gulch Dam was completed in 1950 and is the principal feature of the Mancos Project in southwestern Colorado.

McPhee Reservoir (Durango)

McPhee Reservoir was completed in 1985 and is the principal feature of the Dolores Project in southwestern Colorado. The Dolores Project is a participating project authorized with the Colorado River Storage Project. The reservoir has a maximum surface area of 4, 470 acres and is located on the Dolores River in the San Juan National Forest north of Cortez, Colorado. The Lone Dome Recreation Area is located below McPhee Dam and includes over 10 miles of public access to the Dolores River.

Paonia Reservoir (Grand Junction)

Paonia Dam and Reservoir is part of the Paonia Project. Recreation at Paonia Reservoir is managed by the Colorado Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation under agreement with the Bureau of Reclamation. The park can be reached at 970-921-5721 or e mail crawford.park@state.co.us. The reservoir is located in the shadow of Colorado majestic Ragged Mountains. The parks natural beauty is a perfect setting for nature lovers and photographers.

Ridgway Reservoir (Grand Junction)

Recreation at Ridgway Dam and Reservoir, Dallas Creek Project, is managed by the Colorado Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation under agreement with the Bureau of Reclamation. The park can be reached at 970-626-5822; e mail ridgway.park@state.co.us. The reservoir offers a variety of activities on its 1, 000 surface-acres. Rainbow trout are stocked annually in the reservoir. Camping experiences vary from 25 walk-in tent sites to 187 sites with electrical hook-ups, and 81 full hook-up campsites.

Rifle Gap Reservoir (Grand Junction)

Recreation at Rifle Gap Dam and Reservoir, Silt Project, is managed by the Colorado Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation under agreement with the Bureau of Reclamation. The clear water at Rifle Gap Reservoir is excellent for scuba diving. Other water activities include boating, fishing, swimming, waterskiing, and windsurfing. Fishing enthusiasts can select from rainbow and German brown trout, walleye, perch, and smallmouth and largemouth bass.

Taylor Park Reservoir (Grand Junction)

Taylor Park Dam and reservoir are major features of the Uncomphagre Project. Recreation management at Taylor Park Reservoir is under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Forest Service, Gunnison National Forest, 970-641-0471 or call 1-800-280 CAMP for camping reservations. Available fish species include rainbown, brown and cutthroat trout, mackinaw, kokanee, and northern pike.

Vallecito Reservoir (Durango)

Vallecito Dam and Reservoir was completed in 1941 and is the principal feature of the Pine River Project in southwest Colorado. Located on the Pine River in the San Juan National Forest, about 18 miles northeast of Durango, Colorado, the reservoir has a maximum surface area of 2, 720 acres. An additional 961 acres of lands are available for recreation.

Green Mountain Reservoir (Silverthorne)

The dam is on the western slope 13 miles southeast of Kremmling, Colorado, on the Blue River, a tributary of the Colorado. Recreational developments include 6 campgrounds, 208 campsites, and 2 boat-launch facilities. Good access. One swim beach. Water surface for fishing is approximately 2, 125 acres. Fishing is the primary recreational activity, followed by power boating and camping. Primary sport fish available are brown trout, rainbow trout, and salmon.

Horsetooth Reservoir (Loveland)

Horsetooth Reservoir, Colorado-Big Thompson Project, furnishes the main water supply for the Poudre Valley. The reservoir is 6.5 miles long, and is formed by four large earthfill dams. Horsetooth Dam closes the northern end of the valley, and Soldier Canyon, Dixon Canyon, and Spring Canyon Dams close the natural outlets eroded through the hogback ridge.Developments include 4 campgrounds, 111 campsites, and 7 boat-launch ramps. A concession-operated public marina is located at the Inlet Bay area.

Pinewood Lake (Loveland)

Pinewood Lake is located about 12 miles southwest of Loveland, Colorado. The Lake and Dam are a small part of the Colorado-Big Thompson Project, one of the largest and most complex ever constructed by Reclamation. The Project consists of over 100 structures integrated into a transmountain water diversion system. The Project spreads over approximately 250 miles in Colorado.

Pueblo Reservoir (Pueblo)

Recreation at Pueblo Reservoir is managed by the Colorado State Parks under agreement with the Bureau of Reclamation, Eastern Colorado Area Office, Loveland, Colorado.Pueblo Reservoir was created by Pueblo Dam which crosses the Arkansas River. The reservoir is part of the Fryingpan-Arkansas Project. The 1.7 million annual visitor's recreation activities are accommodated by 6.

Ruedi Reservoir (Glenwood Springs)

Ruedi Dam and Reservoir, features of the Fryingpan Arkansas Project, are on the Fryingpan River about 15 miles east of Basalt, Colorado. Ruedi Dam is a rock and earthfill structure that stands about 285 feet high above streambed and has a crest length of 1, 042 feet. The Reservoir is on the western slope of the Rocky Mountains, where snow-capped mountain peaks reach over 13, 000 feet and the thickly forested slopes provide an exceptionally beautiful background for recreation activities.

Navajo Reservoir - New Mexico (Durango)

Navajo Dam, at an elevation of 6, 085 feet, was completed in 1963 and is the principal storage feature for the Navajo Indian Irrigation Project. The reservoir is one of the four initial units of the Colorado River Storage Project and is located in northwest New Mexico and southwest Colorado, about 34 miles east of Farmington, NM. The reservoir has a maximum surface area of 15, 610 acres and extends 35 miles up the San Juan River, 13 miles up the Pine River, and 4 miles up the Piedra River.

Chatfield Lake (Littleton)

Chatfield Dam, located southwest of Denver on the South Platte River, was the second of three dams built to protect the Denver region from floods. The 1, 479-acre land and the 5, 300 acres surrounding it provide a myriad of recreational opportunities including camping, fishing, and swimming. This lake features a heron and marsh bird observatory and sailboat harbor. Horseback riding and bicycling are available.

Bear Creek Lake (Littleton)

Bear Creek Dam, the last of three dams built to protect the Denver region from floods, is located on the southwest edge of suburban Lakewood at the confluence of Bear Creek and Turkey Creek. This project is known for its diverse bird and waterfowl population and its striking scenic views. This area is managed by the City of Lakewood, CO. (http://www.ci.lakewood.co.us Address: Department of Community Resources, 455 South Allison Parkway, Lakewood, Colorado 80226 303-987-7800.

Dolores River (Durango)

Across western Colorado, the Dolores River runs from the rugged La Plata Mountains through deep-red canyons toward the Colorado River in Utah. The Dolores features outstanding scenic values, wildlife viewing, rare plants, and cultural resources.

Horsethief Canyon State Wildlife Area (Grand Junction)

Recreation at Horsethief Canyon is managed by the Colorado Division of Wildlife under agreement with the Bureau of Reclamation, Western Colorado Area Office - Northern Division, Grand Junction, Colorado. The Division of Wildlife can be reached at 970-858-3200 or e mail bill.somerville@state.co.us. It was acquired and developed to partially replace wildlife habitat values lost as a result of the construction of the Grand Valley Unit of the Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Project.

Arapaho-Roosevelt National Forests-Pawnee National Grassland (Fort Collins)

Located in the Rocky Mountains and foothills of north central Colorado, are the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests and Pawnee National Grassland. Some campgrounds can be found as high as 12, 000'. Trout fishing is very popular and certain locations are catch-and-release and/or artificial flies and lures only. Congress designated the upper stretch of the river west of Poudre Park as the Cache la Poudre Wild and Scenic River because of its outstanding recreation and scenic features.

Garden Park Fossil Area (Ca*on City)

Fossils of well-known species of large dinosaurs have been discovered at this site over the last 120 years. Many of the dinosaur fossils discovered at this site are on exhibit at museums around the country, including the Denver Museum of Natural History, and the Smithsonian Institution's Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C. Fossils of two-legged, plant-eating dinosaurs, dinosaur eggs, and dinosaur tracks have also been discovered in the Garden Park Fossil Area.

Aspinall, Wayne N., Unit (Grand Junction)

Recreation at the three reservoirs of the Aspinall Unit is managed by the National Park Service under agreement with the Bureau of Reclamation, Western Colorado Area Office - Northern Division, Grand Junction, Colorado. Formerly, the Curecanti Unit, in 1980 it was renamed the Wayne N. Aspinall Unit in honor of former Congressman Aspinall; a strong supporter of the Colorado River Storage Project.

Kokopelli's Trail (Grand Junction)

Discover one of Colorado's and Utah's premiere mountain bike trails. Stretching 140 miles with elevations that rise to 8, 400 feet, this trail is made up of improved roads, four-wheel-drive roads, and single-track roads. Kokopelli's Trail begins at the Loma boat launch parking lot and ends in Moab, Utah. The trail is named for Kokopelli, the hunchbacked flute player and fertility symbol in the Native American cultures of the Colorado Plateau.

Alamosa National Wildlife Refuge (Alamosa)

Alamosa and Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuges (NWR) are found in the heart of the Colorado's San Luis Valley. Alamosa NWR includes 11, 169 acres of wetlands of various depths and sizes located primarily within the Rio Grande flood plain. The natural wet meadows, river oxbows, and riparian corridors support high wildlife diversity including songbirds, water birds, raptors, deer, beaver, and coyotes.

Arapaho National Wildlife Refuge (Walden)

Arapaho National Wildlife Refuge (NWR), situated at an elevation of 8, 200 feet, is located in an intermountain glacial basin in north-central Colorado. The Refuge was established in 1967 primarily to provide suitable nesting habitat for migratory birds. The Refuge's 24, 804 acres supports diverse wildlife habitats, including sagebrush-grassland uplands, grassland meadows, willow riparian areas, and wetlands.

Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge (Alamosa)

Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge (Commerce City)

In 1986, a communal roost of bald eagles was discovered on an environmental cleanup site managed by the U.S. Army and Shell Oil Company. The discovery of this endangered species at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal led Congress to pass the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge Act in 1992. The Act set aside the 27 square-mile cleanup site as a future urban wildlife refuge when cleanup is completed around 2011.

Alpine Triangle (Gunnison)

The Bureau of Land Management cares for 600, 000 acres of public land in the upper Gunnison River basin in southwest Colorado. Collaborating with a number of public and private partners, we guide the protection, management, and sustainable use of a wide variety of resources. Ecosystems within the GRA range from dry sagebrush steppes at 7, 000 ft.

Anasazi Heritage Center and Canyons of the Ancients National (Dolores)

Located west of Dolores, Colorado, on Colorado Highway 184. This BLM museum interprets the history and culture of the Canyons of the Ancients National Monument, Trail of the Ancients, and the Four Corners region. A pathway from the Center leads to the Dominguez and Escalante Pueblos, two prehistoric dwellings dating to the 1100's A.D.

Gold Belt Recreation Management Area (Canon City)

Travel on a historic, narrow-gauge railroad bed, an old stage road, and a county road on the Gold Belt Scenic Byway. The Byway retraces the historic travel routes connecting Cripple Creek and Victor Mining District, site of the world's largest Gold Rush. Cripple Creek now caters to gamblers and other visitors. The 3 legs of the route, which form a loop, have a total length of about 131 miles.

Arkansas River (Salida)

The Arkansas River is one of the most popular river-rafting spots in the United States. The area also provides some of the best fishing in Colorado. The spectacular scenery is highlighted by the steep, narrow, rocky canyons that provide excellent opportunities to view Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep. There are over 25 developed river-access areas.

San Miguel River Special Management Area (Montrose)

The San Miguel River corridor is a fragile ecosystem containing outstanding riparian, recreational, scenic, and wildlife values. A scenic drive along the corridor provides beautiful views and several access points to the river along the way.

San Juan Skyway (Durango)

The San Juan Skyway snakes through Old West towns like Durango and picturesque Telluride, and Mesa Verde National Park--all in the shadow of impressive 14, 000-foot peaks.

Trail Ridge Road/Beaver Meadow Road (Estes Park)

Trail Ridge and Beaver Meadow Roads connect the towns of Estes Park and Grand Lake as they cross through the Rocky Mountain National Park over a distance of 85 km (53 miles).

Taylor River State Wildlife Area (Grand Junction)

Recreation at Taylor River State Wildlife Area is managed by the Colorado Division of Wildlife under agreement with the Bureau of Reclamation. The Division of Wildlife can be reached at 970-641-7070; e mail dan.brauch@state.co.us. The area provides about 1/2 miles of fishing access along the Taylor River below Taylor Park Dam, which is a feature of the Uncompahgre Project.

Rocky Mountain National Park (Estes Park)

Established on January 26, 1915, Rocky Mountain National Park is a living showcase of the grandeur of the Rocky Mountains. With elevations ranging from 8, 000 feet in the wet, grassy valleys to 14, 259 feet at the weather-ravaged top of Long's Peak, a visitor to the park has opportunities for countless breathtaking experiences and adventures. Elk, mule deer, moose, bighorn sheep, black bears, coyotes, cougars, eagles, hawks and scores of smaller animals delight wildlife-watchers of all ages.

Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site (Eads)

On November 29, 1864, Colonel John M. Chivington led approximately 700 U.S. volunteer soldiers to a village of about 500 Cheyenne and Arapaho people camped along the banks of Big Sandy Creek in southeastern Colorado. Although the Cheyenne and Arapaho people believed they were under the protection of the U.S. Army, Chivington's troops attacked and killed about 150 people, mainly women, children, and the elderly. Ultimately, the massacre was condemmed following three federal investigations.

Canyons of the Ancient National Monument (Dolores)

The Canyons of the Ancients National Monument is located in southwest Colorado. Elevations within the monument range from about 4, 900 feetto about 7, 500 feet above sea level. The outer boundaries of the area encompass approximately 183, 000 acres of land, approximately 164, 000acres of which are in federal ownership and managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).

Colorado Canyons National Conservation Area (Grand Junction)

The Colorado Canyons National Conservation Area contains many nationally significant resources including outstanding scenery, cultural and paleontological values, naturalness, recreation values, wildlife, and geologic and scientific values. The rural lifestyle of Mesa County is also an important value and traditional use of the area by livestock will continue. Trailheads listed below provide opportunities to discover the resources of the NCA.

Two Ponds National Wildlife Refuge (Commerce City)

Two Ponds National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) is located in Arvada, Colorado, a suburb of Denver. It is the smallest urban refuge in the National Wildlife Refuge System. The Refuge consists of nearly 63 acres, with 53 acres of upland habitat and 9 acres of wetlands. Refuge habitat supports 85 different species of birds, of which 10 species nest there. Black-crowned night herons loaf in trees, and muskrats, raccoons and other small mammals and reptiles reside at the Refuge.

Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site (La Junta)

William and Charles Bent, along with Ceran St. Vrain, built the original fort on this site in 1833 to trade with plains Indians and trappers. The adobe fort quickly became the center of the Bent, St.Vrain Company's expanding trade empire that included Fort St.Vrain to the north and Fort Adobe to the south, along with company stores in Mexico at Taos and Santa Fe. The primary trade was with the Southern Cheyenne and Arapaho Indians for buffalo robes.

Curecanti National Recreation Area (Gunnison)

Three reservoirs, named for corresponding dams on the Gunnison River, form the heart of Curecanti National Recreation Area. Panoramic mesas, fjord-like reservoirs, and deep, steep and narrow canyons abound. Blue Mesa Reservoir is Colorado's largest body of water, and is the largest Kokanee Salmon fishery in the United States.

Dinosaur National Monument (Dinosaur)

In his book, The Immense Journey, Loren Eisley wrote, "Once in a lifetime, perhaps, one escapes the actual confines of the flesh. Once in a lifetime, if one is lucky, one so merges with sunlight and air and running water that whole eons, the eons that mountains and deserts know, might pass in a single afternoon without discomfort." This is Echo Park, named by John Wesley Powell in 1869 during his first scientific expedition into the Colorado Plateau.

Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument (Florissant)

"When the mountains are overthrown and the seas uplifted, the universe at Florissant flings itself against a gnat and preserves it."-- Dr. Arthur C. Peale, Hayden Expedition Geologist, 1873. A beautiful mountain valley just west of Pikes Peak holds spectacular remnants of the earth's prehistoric life. Huge petrified redwoods and incredibly detailed fossils of ancient insects and plants reveal a very different Colorado of long ago.

Great Sand Dunes National Monument & Preserve (Mosca)

Nestled in southern Colorado, North America's tallest dunes rise over 750 feet high against the rugged Sangre de Cristo Mountains. The wind shaped dunes glow beneath the rugged backdrop of the mountains. This geologic wonderland, containing 30 square miles of dunes, became a national monument in 1932.

Hovenweep National Monument (Cortez)

Hovenweep National Monument protects five prehistoric, Puebloan-era villages spread over a twenty-mile expanse of mesa tops and canyons along the Utah-Colorado border. Multi-storied towers perched on canyon rims and balanced on boulders lead visitors to marvel at the skill and motivation of their builders. Hovenweep is noted for its solitude and undeveloped, natural character. The Square Tower Group is the primary contact facility with a visitor center, campground and interpretive trail.

Mesa Verde National Park (Mesa Verde)

Mesa Verde, Spanish for "green table", offers an unparalleled opportunity to see and experience a unique cultural and physical landscape. The culture represented at Mesa Verde reflects more than 700 years of history. From approximately A.D. 600 through A.D. 1300 people lived and flourished in communities throughout the area, eventually building elaborate stone villages in the sheltered alcoves of the canyon walls. Today most people call these sheltered villages "cliff dwellings".

Turquoise Lake (Leadville)

Recreation facilities consist of 8 campgrounds, accommodating 300 campsites and 2 boat-launching ramps. Surface available for recreation includes 780 acres. Primary recreation activities include camping and fishing. Fish species available include mackinaw trout, rainbow trout, and brook trout. Facilities closed in winter due to ice and snow, but popular area for ice fishing.Turquoise Lake is a feature of the Fryingpan-Arkansas Project.

Navajo Reservoir - Colorado (Durango)

Navajo Dam was completed in 1963. The reservoir is one of the four initial units of the Colorado River Storage Project, and is located in northwest New Mexico and southwest Colorado, about 34 east of Farmington, New Mexico. The reservoir has a maximum surface area of 15, 610 acres and extends 35 miles up the San Juan River, 13 miles up the Pine River, and 4 miles up the Piedra River.

Grand Mesa-Uncompahgre-Gunnison National Forests (Delta)

Located in Colorado, the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forest, with almost 3, 000, 000 acres, is the third largest National Forest in the contiguous United States, extending into ten Colorado counties. The mostly forested, mountainous lands are located on the western slope of the Colorado Rockies. It is noted for its spectacular scenery and natural features, abundant wildlife and offers a great variety of outdoor recreation opportunities.

San Juan National Forest (Durang)

Welcome to the San Juan National Forest, a region of forested mountains, 14, 000-foot peaks, scenic roads, geological wonders, historic and prehistoric communities, and a narrow-gauge railroad.Within the Pagosa District are many trails that lead into areas of undisturbed wild and natural beauty, in varied terrain. Some lead into areas that are Congressionally designated components of the National Wilderness Preservation System*the Weminuche and South San Juan Wildernesses.

White River National Forest (Glenwood Springs)

Located in the heart of the Colorado Rocky Mountains, approximately two to four hours west of Denver, lies the White River National Forest. The Forest provides an excellent variety of recreation opportunities in all seasons with eleven ski areas, eight designated wildernesses, several National Trails, approximately 70 camp and picnicgrounds, and over one and one-half million acres for general motorized and non-motorized backcountry enjoyment.

NARA's Rocky Mountain Region - Denver (Denver)

Historical ResearchOriginal recordsNARA's Rocky Mountain Region in Denver has more than 47, 000 cubic feet of archival holdings open to the public for research. These holdings date from about 1860 to the 1980s, and include textual records, photographs, maps, and architectural drawings. They were created or received by the Federal courts and over 75 Federal agencies in Colorado, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming.

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