Celebrate Colorado Public Lands Day at Colorado state parks
Bridget O'Rourke
DENVER – Colorado public lands provide a variety of outdoor spaces that enrich our lives. Colorado Parks and Wildlife, along with several local, state and federal partner agencies, invites you to join us outdoors to celebrate Colorado Public Lands Day on Saturday, May 17. Colorado Public Lands Day is an annual opportunity to celebrate our state’s outdoor heritage, diverse landscapes, and bring people from all Colorado communities together to enjoy our public lands.
In May 2016, Colorado became the first state in the nation to establish a state holiday for our public lands. The third Saturday in May is now recognized as Colorado Public Lands Day, a day to celebrate how our public lands are central to our economy and our quality of life.
The adoption of the holiday was championed by Sen. Kerry Donovan, D-Vail, to encourage Coloradans to learn about and appreciate the abundance of outdoor opportunities and stewardship responsibilities.
Colorado is home to 22 million acres of public lands to explore, including 43 state parks, more than 350 state wildlife areas, 13 National Park Service units, 11 national forests, two national grasslands and a variety of additional local and federal lands and open spaces.
“Our public lands play an essential role in what makes Colorado such a spectacular place to live and visit,” said CPW Deputy Director Heather Disney Dugan. “Spending time in nature is good for us. It helps teach us, inspire us and nourishes our bodies and minds. Colorado Public Lands Day gives all of us a chance to celebrate and recognize the significant contributions that our public lands make to our quality of life.”
In an effort to protect more state lands for the public, CPW is working with federal and local partners in the Colorado Springs area to expand and manage more hiking, fishing and camping on Pikes Peak. This February, CPW acquired 120 acres in Park County to become Colorado’s newest State Wildlife Area. This area is dedicated to conserving wildlife habitat and increasing public lands for hunting and fishing opportunities.
“There is nothing more Colorado than celebrating Colorado Public Lands Day. Our public lands define who we are — enabling endless outdoor opportunities such as camping, mountain biking, hunting, fishing and wildlife watching; and provide the natural resources which are the foundation of our economies,” said Dan Gibbs, Executive Director, Colorado Department of Natural Resources. “As Coloradans we are incredibly fortunate that these lands are available to all. They are a lasting legacy that we can hand down to future generations. I encourage all Coloradans to take advantage of Public Lands Day activities or just get outside and enjoy your public lands.”
Live Life Outside
In honor of Colorado Public Lands Day, CPW is hosting the following events:
- Lathrop State Park - Trail Maintenance and Restoration Training: This skills training is designed for volunteer trail stewards and crew leaders who want to take an active role in maintaining and protecting mountain biking trails in Huerfano and Las Animas Counties.
- Highline Lake State Park - Kids to Parks Day: Junior Ranger Hike: Join us for a Junior Ranger hike and work toward earning your badge.
- Lake Pueblo State Park - Kids to Parks Day at Lake Pueblo: Stop at the Visitor Center to enjoy outdoor games, a scavenger hunt, and nature-inspired arts and crafts. After you join us for activities at the Visitor Center, get out and enjoy the park by taking a hike, hitting the trails for a bike ride or go fishing.
- Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area - Clean Up Green Up & Gear Up For Summer: The purpose of this event is to get the local community of the Upper Arkansas River Valley outside, engaged, and ready for a safe, clean, and fun summer. Participants of Clean Up Green Up will assist in removing trash from the river. Gear Up For Summer will offer booths, swag, and free personal flotation devices (PFDs) to a limited number of participants.
- Cheyenne Mountain State Park - Kids to Parks: Test your skills in archery or cornhole. Learn about wildlife through an educational skins and skulls display. Test your knowledge of Leave No Trace. Learn how to use your smartphone to become a citizen scientist. And so much more!
- Mueller State Park - Fly Fishing Basics: Learn how to fly fish and how it’s different from other styles like bait fishing, trolling, and spinning. Use your new or seasoned skills to try to catch a fish at one of Mueller’s favorite ponds. All fishing supplies will be provided for you.
- North Sterling State Park - Guided Nature Hike: Enjoy a guided six-mile hike with a CPW park ranger and see various waterfowl, predatory birds, various mammals and reptiles along the way.
- Roxborough State Park - Guided Wildflower Hike: This guided hike will take you around the Willow Creek Trail (1.5 miles) with volunteer naturalists Sue Schleuder and Jill Holden, who will help identify the wonderful wildflowers that grow at this time in the park.
Know before you go. Plan your outdoor adventure and find a Colorado state park by using the State Park Finder, A Quick Guide to Colorado State Parks, or the Colorado State Parks Guide (Guía De Los Parques Naturales). Download the free COTREX app to find trailheads and maps.
Join us in keeping Colorado, Colorado. Opt in to buy a $29 Keep Colorado Wild Pass with your next vehicle registration and get access to all Colorado state parks. By purchasing this pass, you also contribute to funding state park projects, local search and rescue teams, and wildlife conservation. Learn more at cpw.info/keepcoloradowild and cpw.info/keepcoloradowildpassspanish.
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.
DISCLAIMER: The Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) website maintains press releases containing historical information that may no longer be accurate. Press releases are dated, which should be noted to determine whether the information provided is current. Please review our current regulations and brochures for up-to-date information.