Celebrate smart: Stay safe this July 4th weekend

Five kayakers wearing lifejackets on water with trees in the background
Statewide

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Bridget O'Rourke
Statewide Public Information Officer
720-219-2919
[email protected]
Five kayakers wearing lifejackets on water with trees in the background
Photo credits: Colorado Parks and Wildlife/Wayne Lewis
DENVER—Coloradans and out-of-state visitors play an integral role in keeping our state parks clean, living in harmony with wildlife, and making the outdoors safer to explore. 

Below are a few safety tips on how to have fun and be safe this holiday weekend.  

Know Before You Go  Boating and Water Safety
Life jackets save lives. The majority of water-related deaths in Colorado occur because people do not wear a life jacket. CPW officers are actively writing tickets for boaters and paddlers who are not wearing a life jacket. Tickets cost over $100.
  • Wear a life jacket​. 
  • Find a CPW life jacket loaner station to borrow a lifejacket
  • Protect your​self from the dangers of cold water shock. Regardless of your age or experience level, cold water can quickly create a drowning emergency.
  • Paddleboards and kayaks are considered vessels, and life jacket requirements apply. 
  • Heavy rain or wind can rapidly raise water levels without warning. Check river flows at https://dwr.state.co.us/Tools/Stations.
  • Only boat or paddle in conditions you are comfortable and confident paddling in.
  • Boat and raft with a buddy and avoid floating alone, especially during high flows.
  • “Clean, drain and dry” your boat and gear. Find a CPW Gear and Watercraft Cleaning Station to decontaminate your boat, wet equipment, waders and boots.
  • Alcohol impairs judgment, balance, vision and reaction time on the water, which can increase fatigue and the dangers of cold-water immersion. A general rule to remember is that one drink on land is equivalent to three drinks on the water.
Be Careful with Fire
Drought conditions can impact whether campfires are allowed or restricted this weekend.
  • Download the free Colorado Trail Explorer (COTREX) mobile app for active fire alerts, including wildfires and prescribed burns in covered areas.
  • Check fire restrictions or bans at www.coemergency.com.
  • Use designated campfire areas when allowed and available. 
  • Drown out the fires with water until you can touch the embers.
  • Never leave a campfire unattended. 
Keep Wildlife Wild
Wildlife can get aggressive if they aren’t given enough space or approached by humans. Cow elk and moose become incredibly protective of their calves while they are immobile newborns. For more information on Colorado state parks, visit cpw.state.co.us.

Join us in keeping Colorado, Colorado. Get a $29 Keep Colorado Wild Pass with your next vehicle registration and give back to our state parks and search and rescue volunteers. 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.