Navajo State Park
State Park in Arboles, CO
Hours:
Park: Daily, 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Office: Daily, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mar.- Nov.; Mon. through Fri., 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec.-Feb.
Entrance Fees:
Daily Vehicle Pass: $10
Individual Daily Pass: $4
Animals Permitted:
- Leashed Dogs
- Service Animals
- Horses
Park Address:
1526 County Rd 982
Arboles, CO 81121
United States
Navajo State Park
State Park in Arboles, CO
Hours:
Park: Daily, 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Office: Daily, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mar.- Nov.; Mon. through Fri., 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec.-Feb.
Entrance Fees:
Daily Vehicle Pass: $10
Individual Daily Pass: $4
Animals Permitted:
- Leashed Dogs
- Service Animals
- Horses
Park Address:
1526 County Rd 982
Arboles, CO 81121
United States
Navigate to:
A wide-angle-lens view of the reservoir with an expansive sky
Welcome to Navajo State Park
Nestled just outside the town of Arboles, 35 miles southwest of Pagosa Springs and 45 miles southeast of Durango, Navajo State Park is a haven for recreation, history, wildlife and the captivating beauty of southwest Colorado. Often hailed as Colorado's answer to Lake Powell, Navajo Reservoir stretches 20 miles south into New Mexico. Boasting 15,000 surface acres, the reservoir attracts year-round water enthusiasts, from sailors and houseboaters to power boaters, as well as anglers and campers.
5,088
acres
142
campsites
15,000
surface-acre reservoir
9
miles of trails
Accessing the Park
Directions
From Highway 160
Take US Hwy 160 west from Pagosa Springs for about 17 miles, then turn south onto CO Hwy 151 for about 18 miles to Arboles. Turn left again onto County Road 982 and drive two miles to the park.
The Navajo Visitor Center is located by the park entrance on the northeast side of the park.
Hours for Visitor Center/Office: Daily, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. March through November; Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. December through February
The boat ramp is located within the main entrance of the park. As you pass the Visitor Center, take a right at the stop sign and the entrance to the boat ramp and aquatic nuisance species (ANS) station will be on the left side.
The Marina Store, which is open seasonally, is located at the top of the boat ramp overlooking the lake.
For more information and hours for Navajo‘s boat ramps, mandatory boat inspections, and marina (including its store and dock), see the Park Highlights page.
For more statewide boating information visit the CPW Statewide Boating page.
Closures
There are no closures at this time.
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
A watchable wildlife viewing area, migratory birds, mule deer, river otters, bald eagles, a host of plant species and interesting geological elements await the nature explorer at Navajo State Park.
Bird, plant and wildlife guides may be available at the park book store. You can also use Navajo 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
- Great-tailed grackle
- Red-tailed hawk
- Western tanager
- Say's phoebe
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
- Mule deer
- Gray fox
- Striped skunk
- Cottontail rabbit
Learn How to Coexist
View a short video and tips on watching wildlife safely and find important information on crossing paths with wildlife.
Reptiles and Amphibians You Might Find
- Common sagebrush lizard
- Plateau fence lizard
- Plateau striped whiptail
YOU Can Help!
The park is lacking vital data on amphibian and reptile populations. By logging your reptile and amphibian observations into Navajo State Park's iNaturalist app, you'll help us collect data that's essential for protecting and preserving the Park's natural resources.
Geology at This Park
Uplands within the park are characterized by flat-topped mesas and gently rolling hills, occasionally cut by steep-sided canyons. The uplands are tertiary sedimentary rocks deposited during Eocene times, which are represented by sandstones and conglomerates of the San Jose and Blanco Basin formations and Telluride conglomerate. Quaternary surficial deposits are present along both rivers as alluvium, terrace gravels and alluvial fan deposits.
Habitats and Plants at This Park
Park uplands are dominated by pinyon-juniper woodland, sagebrush shrubland and western slope grassland communities. Short-statured pinyon pine and Utah juniper trees with an understory of shrubs and grasses comprise the pinyon-juniper woodland community, occupying dry slopes, hills and mesa tops. Common understory plant species include Gambel oak, big sagebrush, Indian ricegrass, western wheatgrass, galleta and blue grama.
Western slope grasslands support the sod-forming blue grama, galleta and western wheatgrass, and the bunchgrasses Indian ricegrass, needle-and-thread grass and Junegrass. Wetland, riparian and aquatic plant communities have become established around the reservoir, in the San Juan and Piedra River valleys above the reservoir and on ground water seeps.
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History
The Ancient Puebloans inhabited the region that is now Navajo State Park until a severe drought forced their departure around 1050 CE. Subsequently, the Ute and Navajo tribes settled in the area during the fourteenth century.
During the early 1880s, the Dominguez-Escalante Expedition, consisting of 10 explorers, ventured into the region to establish a route from New Mexico to California for the Spaniards. In the same era, the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad laid tracks, becoming a crucial economic asset until 1967.
In 1962, the construction of the Navajo Dam aimed to provide irrigation water for the Navajo Indian Reservation. Today, the region remains pristine and sparsely populated, with Navajo State Park standing out as a prime destination for water recreation. Offering around 15,000 surface water acres, the park provides abundant opportunities for recreational activities.
Follow in historic footsteps; walk along the former railroad tracks and see abandoned railroad buildings, or even follow the 1776 Dominguez-Escalante Expedition.