Water enthusiasts get ready, the Island boat ramp at Vega State Park will open May 1
Rachael GonzalesNorthwest Region Public Information Officer
970-773-8587 / [email protected]
COLLBRAN, Colo. - Water enthusiasts get ready, the ice has melted and Island boat ramp at Vega State Park will be open Sunday, May 1.
While there are three boat ramps at Vega Reservoir, due to water levels Island boat ramp is the only one currently in the water and open to launching. Gates at Early Settlers and Oak Point will be locked with no boating access for the foreseeable future.
ANS Boat inspection hours for Island boat ramp:
May 1 - May 26: 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.
May 27 - September 5: 7 a.m. - 8:30 p.m.
September 6 - October 31 (if conditions allow): 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.
As a reminder boats will only be allowed to launch when the ANS inspection station is open. Last year, to prevent boats from launching when ANS inspections are not open, the park installed new gates and one-way spike strips. The spike strips will allow boats to exit the lake after hours at the Island Boat Ramp but will prevent anyone from entering the lake during non-inspection hours.
“We are grateful for the support from our boating community last year, and look forward to the same this year,” said Park Manager James Masek. “This is just one of many important steps we take to protect the waters and keep them open to boating into the future.”
CPW also reminds boaters safety is everyone's responsibility. Before launching, any vessel with a motor or sail must be registered with CPW and registration must be placed in a visible location on the vessel. Colorado law requires all boats to have life jackets easily accessible on board, and children under the age of 13 in a life jacket at all times while on the water. This includes hand-powered vessels such as paddleboards, kayaks, and canoes.
“It only takes one incident to turn a day of fun into one of tragedy,” said Masek. “Park staff will be out patrolling every day to ensure visitors are being smart and following the rules, creating a day filled with fun memories to last a lifetime.”
For more information about required equipment and boating regulations, pick up the latest regulations brochure at your local park visitor center or find the information on the CPW website.
Visit the CPW website to learn more about Vega State Park.
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.