Water Activities
Water Activities
Colorado Waters
Colorado state parks and lands offer many ways to enjoy the water, from boating and fishing to paddleboarding, rafting and swimming on rivers, lakes, reservoirs and ponds. Check what’s available and the current conditions where you plan to visit before you go.
- Boat Ramps
- Equipment Rentals
- Marinas
Play on the Water
Required Gear
Paddle boards must be marked with the owner's name and address. Paddle boarders must have and should wear a life jacket and carry a sound-producing device (whistle, horn, air horn)
Clean Your Gear
Invasive species of plants and wildlife harm Colorado's land and water, negatively impacting the state’s economy, recreation, property values and public health. Invasive wildlife spread by hitchhiking on watercraft, trailers, vehicles, tires, boots, waders, equipment, gear, firewood and even dogs!
- Keep your distance from storm drains and new bodies of water while cleaning all equipment.
- Remove all visible plant material, animals, and mud from the board, fin, and associated plugs.
- Clean all other equipment that was used including paddles, lifejackets, and leashes.
- Carry your paddleboard to a dry location and place it on its side to drain.
- Sponge or towel any areas where water has been unable to drain.
- Inflatable paddleboards should be left inflated until dry.
- When fully dry, place the air valve down when deflating to prevent water from getting inside the paddleboard.
Required Gear
Rafts, kayaks and canoes must be marked with the owner's name and address and be double-chambered -- a raft must have at least two places for inflation. When on the water, users have to have and should wear a life jacket and carry a sound-producing device (whistle, horn, air horn).
Clean Your Gear: Rafting, Kayaking and Canoeing
- Clean straps, gear, paddles, floats, ropes, anchors, dip nets, and trailer before leaving the water.
- Dry everything completely between each use and before storing.
- Wear quick-dry footwear or bring a second pair of footwear with you when portaging between bodies of water.
Clean Your Gear: Kayaks and Canoes
Clean Your Gear: Inflatable Watercraft
Visitors Seeking a River Guide and River Outfitters Wanting to Guide
River rafting is an exciting outdoor adventure for people of all experience levels.
Many people use a river outfitter to enjoy a scenic float or exhilarating whitewater rafting adventure. Look up a river rafting or fishing outfitter, photographer or shuttle service in the Outfitter List.
All river outfitters operating in Colorado are required to first obtain a river outfitter license from Colorado Parks & Wildlife. Visit the River Outfitter Licensing Page to learn more.
Required Gear
An orange or red flag (minimum 12-inch square) must be used to signal when a skier goes down. The flag must remain up until both the skier and equipment are retrieved.
Clean Your Gear
Invasive species of plants and wildlife harm Colorado's land and water, negatively impacting the state’s economy, recreation, property values and public health. Invasive wildlife spread by hitchhiking on watercraft, trailers, vehicles, tires, boots, waders, equipment, gear, firewood and even dogs! If you find anything that you think is an invasive species on your boat or any equipment, report it to the CPW by calling 303-291-7295 or emailing [email protected].
- Remove all plants, animals, and mud.
- Thoroughly drain and wash everything: boats, trailers, vehicle hitches, and motors. Aquatic plant fragments and animals can hide in mud and survive many days out of water.
Allow sufficient time for boats and equipment to dry completely before launching in other waters.
Be Part of the Solution! Join the CPW volunteer scuba diving team.
Volunteer and recreational scuba divers help Colorado Parks and Wildlife each year by performing scientific scuba dives to monitor aquatic nuisance species and search for new invaders.
Required Gear
Scuba divers must display a warning flag when diving. Divers must stay within a 100-foot radius of the flag. Scuba divers must keep a distance of at least 100 feet from dam outlet structures.
Clean Your Gear
Divers can unintentionally spread freshwater invasive species from one body of water to another on their gear. Some species are invisible to the naked eye and can survive hours to weeks on wet scuba gear or in water inside the equipment. By following these guidelines, you can help prevent the spread of invasive species when you scuba dive.
Clean off any visible plants, animals and mud from wetsuit, dry suit, booties, mask, snorkel, fins, buoyancy compensator (BC), regulator, cylinder, weight belt, boat, motor and trailer before leaving the water.
Drain water from BC, regulators, boots, gloves, snorkel, mask and any other equipment that may hold water before leaving the water.
After Diving
Rinse the inside of your BC with hot water (at least 104° Fahrenheit, but not more than 120° F) or salted water (1/2 cup salt dissolved per one gallon water). Immediately follow a salt wash with a freshwater rinse.
Submerge and wash your suit and other equipment using appropriate cleaning solutions.
Dry your suit and all equipment completely for at least 24 hours before diving in a different water.
Be Part of the Solution! Join the CPW volunteer scuba diving team.
Volunteer and recreational scuba divers help Colorado Parks and Wildlife each year by performing scientific scuba dives to monitor aquatic nuisance species and search for new invaders.
- Rinse the inside of your BC with hot water (at least 104° Fahrenheit, but not more than 120° F) or salted water (1/2 cup salt dissolved per one gallon water). Immediately follow a salt wash with a freshwater rinse.
- Submerge and wash your suit and other equipment using appropriate cleaning solutions.
- Dry your suit and all equipment completely for at least 24 hours before diving in a different water.
Jet Ski Inspections
State Parks and other Colorado reservoirs, lake and rivers may require inspections for jet skis before launching in the water. Inspections help stop the spread of invasive aquatic wildlife.
Clean Your Gear
- Please clean the hull, trailer, intake grate and steering nozzle before leaving the water.
- Run the engine for 5 to 10 seconds to blow out excess water and vegetation from the internal drive before leaving the water.
- Allow sufficient time for equipment to dry completely before launching in other waters.
Clean Your Sailboat
- Clean centerboard, bilge board, wells, rudderpost, trailer and other equipment before leaving the water.
- Drain water from boat, motor, bilge, ballast, bladders, wells, and portable bait containers before leaving the water.
- Allow sufficient time for boats to dry completely before launching in other waters.
Swim Beaches
Cherry Creek State Park
The swimming beach at Cherry Creek is a very popular destination for those looking to escape the summer heat.
Lake Pueblo State Park
The sunny beach at Lake Pueblo offers an escape from the summer heat from Memorial Day until Labor Day.
Boyd Lake Swim Beach
The Boyd Lake State Park swim beach provides cool relief on Colorado's hot summer days. A pavilion at the beach includes rinsing showers, restrooms, a playground, and picnic tables and Fun Foods snack bar where you can purchase food and other items.
Stay Safe on the Water
Keep your time on the water fun and safe by following some simple safety guidelines. Be aware that lifeguards are not on duty at state park beaches.
Life Jackets
You must wear a life jacket/personal floatation device (PFD) that is the correct size for you when engaging in water activities. Check with the park you are planning to visit to see if they offer loaner life jackets.
Water Rules
Be prepared for your day on the water by familiarizing yourself with the guidelines and regulations for your water activity.
Learn the Rules
Handicap Accessible
Water Fun for People Experiencing Disabilities
People experiencing disabilities can enjoy paddle boarding and swimming. During the summer months, Ridgway State Park offers an accessible paddleboard with mounted rings for accessible supports and a MobiChair, a floating beach wheelchair, for accessible swimming and wading at the swim beach.
Upcoming Events
No Results.
There are no results to display at this time.
No Results.
There are no results to display at this time.
Equipment Rentals
Marinas at Colorado State Parks offer a variety of equipment rentals including boats, paddle boards and canoes.