Mancos State Park
State Park in Mancos, CO
Hours:
Park: Daily, 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Visitor Center: Mon. - Sun. 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Call 970-533-7065 to make an appointment. Limited staff available.
Entrance Fees:
Daily Vehicle Pass: $10
Individual Daily Pass: $4
Animals Permitted:
- Leashed Dogs
- Service Animals
- Horses
Park Address:
42545 Road N
Mancos, CO 81328
United States
Mancos State Park
State Park in Mancos, CO
Hours:
Park: Daily, 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Visitor Center: Mon. - Sun. 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Call 970-533-7065 to make an appointment. Limited staff available.
Entrance Fees:
Daily Vehicle Pass: $10
Individual Daily Pass: $4
Animals Permitted:
- Leashed Dogs
- Service Animals
- Horses
Park Address:
42545 Road N
Mancos, CO 81328
United States
Navigate to:
Scenic view of the waters and mountains surrounding Mancos State Park
Welcome to Mancos State Park
Mancos State Park in southwestern Colorado is an ideal destination for outdoor enthusiasts and travelers year-round. Many visitors choose Mancos as their camping base while exploring nearby attractions like Mesa Verde National Park, the San Juan Skyway, public lands and Durango.
553
acres
32
campsites
10
picnic sites
5.2
miles of trails
Accessing the Park
Directions
From Mancos
Turn north on Highway 184 for a quarter mile. Take County Road 42 east approximately four miles to County Road N. County Road 42 is paved for approximately one mile, then becomes a well-maintained gravel road for the remaining three miles to County Road N. Turn left on County Road N and follow it into the park.
The Mancos Visitor Center is located on the south side of Jackson Gulch Reservoir off County Road N.
Hours: Monday through Sunday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Call 970-533-7065 to make an appointment. Limited staff is available. All Holidays - Closed.
Please note we may not be available at all times. Please leave a voicemail if we are unavailable, and we will be happy to return your call.
When the Visitor Center is closed, a self-service station at the park entrance is available for daily park passes. Park information, other area public lands information, boat, snowmobile and off-highway vehicle registrations, as well as hunting and fishing licenses, are available nearby at Navajo State Park or the CPW Area 15 Office, 151 E 16th St, Durango.
The concrete boat ramp is located on the southeast side of the reservoir.
For more information on boat ramps and boating at Mancos State Park visit the Park Highlights page. For more statewide boating information visit the CPW Statewide Boating page.
Closures
Vehicle Traffic
West side of the park is closed to all vehicle traffic from November 1-March 31. Foot traffic is still allowed. Dogs must be on leash at all times.
Boat Ramp
The boat ramp is closed for the season due to low water levels in the reservoir. Trailer-launched boats will not be allowed to launch. Hand-launched watercraft may still be launched from the boat ramp area.
Normally, the boat ramp is entirely closed from mid-October until May (or when the ice leaves the lake).
Find more information about boat ramps and the reservoir on the Park Highlights page.
Fees and Passes
Pass |
Description |
Duration |
Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Daily Vehicle Pass |
Single vehicle and its occupants |
1 Day |
$10-$12 |
|
Individual Daily Pass |
For individual entry on foot, bicycle, horseback, etc at select parks |
1 Day |
$4 |
|
DMV vehicle registration renewal option for Colorado residents |
12 Months |
$29 |
|
|
Annual Vehicle Pass (Affixed) |
Pass for a single vehicle and its occupants |
12 Months |
$80 |
|
Family Annual Pass (Hang Tag) |
Members of the same household |
12 Months |
$120 |
|
Aspen Leaf Annual Pass |
Colorado residents 64+ |
12 Months |
$70 |
|
Centennial Pass |
Income-eligible Colorado residents |
12 Months |
$14 |
|
Columbine Pass |
Colorado residents with disabilities |
12 Months |
$14 |
|
Veterans License Plate |
DMV vehicle registration renewal option for military veterans (disabled veterans or purple heart plates) |
Lifetime |
Free |
|
Independence Lifetime Pass |
Colorado resident veterans with disabilities |
Lifetime |
Free |
|
Blue Spruce Pass |
Colorado resident first responders with disabilities |
Lifetime |
$10 |
Nature and Wildlife
Mancos State Park provides visitors with excellent wildlife viewing opportunities. From the tufted-eared Abert’s squirrels to mule deer and broad-tailed hummingbirds and turkey vultures, animals of all sizes can be found in the park.
Bird, plant and wildlife guides may be available at the park book store. You can also use Mancos State Park's iNaturalist app observations for Android and iPhone. iNaturalist is a free online social network and citizen science platform that allows users to record and share observations of biodiversity. By uploading photos or sounds of wild organisms, you can get help identifying species from a global community of naturalists and even an automated identification tool. Using iNaturalist helps you learn about local nature, connect with other enthusiasts, and most importantly, contribute valuable scientific data to biodiversity research and conservation efforts worldwide.
Be on the Lookout for Birds
Can you spot all the resident and visiting bird species? Download the Bird List Brochure (PDF).
Birds You Might Find
- Yellow-rumped warbler
- Western wood-pewee
- Bald eagle
- Hermit thrush
Birding Tips
- Always view birds and other wildlife from a safe distance.
- Use binoculars or a spotting scope for a closer view.
- Protect young by avoiding nests or dens.
- Help protect birds by using your senses to find them, not recorded calls.
- To see more birds, keep voices and other sounds low.
- Protect plants and wildlife by staying on trails and respecting closures.
- Keep dogs leashed and under control at all times.
- For the best viewing experience, leave pets at home.
- Human food can hurt wildlife - please keep their diets wild.
- Take nothing but pictures - leave what you find for others to enjoy.
Mammals You Might Find
- Red fox
- Long-tailed weasel
- Porcupine
- Abert's squirrel
Learn How to Coexist
View a short video and tips on watching wildlife safely and find important information on crossing paths with wildlife.
Geology at This Park
Mancos is located in the southwest plateau region and includes a 216-acre reservoir in Jackson Gulch, fed by the West Mancos River. The park showcases geologic formations like Jurassic-age Brushy Basin Member of the Morrison Formation sandstones in Chicken Creek and Jackson Gulch. The Morrison Formation is bordered by Burro Canyon Formation sandstones and conglomerates. The eastern part of the park is covered by Quaternary alluvial and eolian deposits from Pleistocene to recent times.
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History
Ancestral Puebloans were the earliest inhabitants of what is now Mancos State Park, residing in the Four Corners area from 1 CE to 1300. This region sustained a larger population a thousand years ago compared to today.
From the 1600s to the 1800s, the Spaniards entered the area, attempting to establish a route from the declining Santa Fe empire to the Spanish presidio in Monterey, California. The town of Mancos derives its name from a Spaniard who was injured near the Rio de los Mancos, meaning "river of the cripple" in Spanish.
Subsequently, gold and silver were discovered 50 miles northeast of Silverton, leading to a thriving economy focused on ranching, farming and lumber operations. Post-World War II, the economic focus in the area shifted toward tourism and recreational development.
In 1948, the Federal Bureau of Reclamation completed the Jackson Gulch Dam, which supplied drinking water for Mesa Verde and surrounding areas.
Mancos became part of the Colorado State Parks system in 1987. Near the beautiful San Juan Skyway and surrounded by the majestic San Juan mountain range, Mancos State Park is southwest Colorado's go-to spot for fishing.