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Four Seasons at Ridgway State Park & Reservoir

Ridgway State Park – Mike Boese

Ridgway Reservoir is a major recreational resource at the heart of Ridgway State Park, surrounded by an outdoor playground with five square miles to explore and enjoy. With unparalleled scenery, the park is an inviting destination with diverse amenities to keep all ages occupied for an afternoon or several days.

While summer offers a wide range of water sports, fishing is available year round. Visitors can also enjoy nearly 14 miles of developed trails for hiking and biking, along with birding and wildlife viewing opportunities in every season. The park also offers campgrounds, event facilities, a marina, and picnic and playground areas.

Winter camping fees range from $28 to $60 a night for tent, electric RV spots, and yurts. The daily park pass is $9 per vehicle and is separate from the camping fee. Starting January 1, 2023, Colorado residents can opt in for the $29 annual Keep Colorado Wild park pass with their vehicle’s license plate registration through the Department of Motor Vehicles. Out-of-state residents will still need a daily or annual park pass. Keep Colorado Wild pass informa tion: https://cpw.state.co.us/aboutus/ pages/keep-colorado-wild-pass.aspx

In winter, the park is a peaceful, beautiful place to stay when visiting for skiing, ice climbing, snow shoeing, and hot springs. A yurt stay surrounded by snow-covered mountains is simply magical. The RV/yurt area has a heated flush restroom accessible year round. Plus, a walk-in type of camping site is open during the colder months for the very hearty.

The Park Visitor Center is open seven days a week all year except Thanksgiving and Christmas days, and rangers offer various family-friendly programs when conditions allow. The Visitor Center has many items that it lends for free, including fishing poles and tackle, life jackets, and “Family Activity Backpacks” fully equipped with journals, binoculars, magnifiers, guidebooks and magnifying bug boxes, along with suggested activities and fun facts sheets. Snowshoes are lent out in the winter as well. Information: www.cpw.state.co.us/placestogo/parks/ridgway

Amenities in Each Park

Entrance Pa-Co-Chu-Puk, which means “Cow Creek” in the Ute language, is located below the Ridgway Dam. In the winter, this area offers walk-in only campsites, pond and river trout fishing, and access to hiking and biking trails.

Dutch Charlie site is named after a pioneer who ran a boarding house near the present-day swim beach. In the winter, RV, car and yurt camping are open, many trails are accessible, and the Visitors Center with a book store and interpretive displays is open.

Dallas Creek site, furthest south, provides daytime activities and picnic sites throughout the winter. Located at the confluence of the Uncompahgre River and Dallas Creek, it is a perfect place for viewing wildlife and hiking, including a trail that connects the park to the Town of Ridgway.


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How to Enjoy Ridgway Like a Local

Residents and businesses take great pride in our community and surrounding open spaces. We invite visitors to consider ways to minimize impacts and maximize local benefits. Traveling responsibly means educating yourself on outdoor recreation best practices, local ethics and community expectations.
  • Know Before You Go
    Be prepared and be informed about your destination.
  • Stick to the Trails
    Protect our natural land￾scapes by staying on the trails and roads.
  • Trash the Trash
    If you pack it in, pack it out.
  • Leave It as You Find It
    Camp in designated areas only.
  • Be Careful with Fire
    Follow seasonal restrictions, and keep campfires small and manageable.
  • Keep Wildlife Wild
    Leash your dogs, pack out waste, and don’t feed wildlife.
  • Share Our Parks & Trails
    Try out the lesser-known paths and sites, and minimize noise.

Be Prepared for Adventure

The San Juan Mountains are a rugged, steep mountain range rising to just over 14,000 feet. These beautiful public lands offer adventures year round. If you are interested in exploring the San Juans, be prepared for challenging terrain that sometimes requires technical expertise and knowledge of the area.

Come prepared by doing research online to find maps, rules and helpful guidance from public agencies and user-generated websites. Utilize local expertise when you get into town by stopping in at our local gear stores. We highly recommend working with our local guide services that employ experts who can help you achieve your goals for world-class recreation. You can also take a course in: backcountry skiing, avalanche safety, rock climbing, ice climbing, and other valuable outdoor skills.

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