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Southwest Region announces state park boat ramp opening dates

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John Livingston
Southwest Region Public Information Officer
970-759-9590 / [email protected]
@CPW_SW
The boat ramp at Ridgway State Park is pictured in 2017. CPW photo/Dustin Doskocil
RIDGWAY, Colo. – The boat ramp is open for the season at Navajo State Park, and more openings are soon to come at state parks in the Southwest Region of Colorado Parks and Wildlife.

Ridgway State Park will be next to open March 15. The ramp will be open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

CPW reminds the public that Paonia State Park’s boat ramp will be closed on Tuesdays in 2024 for wakeless days. Hand-launched boats will still be permitted.

Before launching in Colorado waters, boaters will need to ensure their boat is registered, purchase an aquatic nuisance species (ANS) stamp and follow all ANS inspection requirements.

“We always want to remind everyone to make sure their boats are clean, drained and dry,” said Ridgway State Park Ranger Derek MacLachlan.

All boats are also required to have one Coast Guard-approved life jacket for each person on board. Life jackets can save lives when they fit properly and are worn when recreating on the water. Boaters are also encouraged to take a boating safety course with CPW to learn navigation safety and what to do in case of an accident.

Opening dates: Boat ramp hours will be limited from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. until late May when hours are extended. For more information about state park boat ramp hours, go to cpw.state.co.us.
The Iron Creek boat ramp is pictured March 11 at Crawford State Park. The boat ramp at Crawford is scheduled to open this season on May 4.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) is an enterprise agency, relying primarily on license sales, state parks fees and registration fees to support its operations, including: 43 state parks and more than 350 wildlife areas covering approximately 900,000 acres, management of fishing and hunting, wildlife watching, camping, motorized and non-motorized trails, boating and outdoor education. CPW's work contributes approximately $6 billion in total economic impact annually throughout Colorado.