Paonia State Park

Name: Paonia State Park
Address: Crawford, CO, 81415, United States
Telephone: 970-921-5721

State Park in Crawford, CO

Hours:

Park: Daily, 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Entrance Fees:

Daily Vehicle Pass: $10-$15
Individual Daily Pass: $4

Animals Permitted:

Leashed Dogs
Service Animals
Horses

Park Address:

P O Box 147
Crawford, CO 81415
United States

Contact:

970-921-5721

Paonia State Park

State Park in Crawford, CO

Hours:

Park: Daily, 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Entrance Fees:

Daily Vehicle Pass: $10-$15
Individual Daily Pass: $4

Animals Permitted:

Leashed Dogs
Service Animals
Horses

Park Address:

P O Box 147
Crawford, CO 81415
United States

Contact:

970-921-5721

Navigate to:

Gunnison County: Stage 2 Fire Ban -

Fire restrictions are in effective until further notice, including Paonia State Park. Learn more about current conditions by visiting the Closures & Conditions tab or by visiting https://Westslopefireinfo.com .

Paonia State Park

Welcome to Paonia State Park

Nestled at an elevation of 6,500 feet beneath the majestic Ragged Mountains, Paonia offers a picturesque alpine escape for camping, picnicking and outdoor photography. With the Gunnison National Forest enveloping Paonia State Park, visitors can immerse themselves in spectacular mountain scenery. Whether you're here for a day of sightseeing, picnicking or for an overnight camping experience, the park invites you to savor the beauty of the surroundings and make the most of your visit.

1,857

acres

334

surface-acre reservoir

picnic areas

campsites

Accessing the Park

Directions

The park is located approximately 16 miles northeast of the town of Paonia on State Highway 133.

From Glenwood Springs
From Glenwood Springs, take Colorado Highway 82 south to Carbondale, then south and southwest on Colorado Highway 133 for 46 miles to the park. Anthracite Campground is located on County Road 12, Kebler Pass Road.

Visitor Center

Paonia State Park does not have an office or a Visitor Center. The Visitor Center at Crawford State Park also serves Paonia State Park.

The Crawford Visitor Center is located on the east side of the park.

Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily.

Boat Ramp

The boat ramp is on the north end of the reservoir on County Road 2.

For more information on Paonia ‘s boat ramp and mandatory boat inspections, see the Park Highlights page. For more statewide boating information visit the CPW Statewide Boating page.

Directions Park Brochure

Conditions & Closures

Conditions

Fire Restrictions in Effect - The following restrictions are enacted due to historic drought and dry conditions.

The Following Activities are prohibited:

All personal uses of fireworks
Building, maintaining, attending or using a fire, campfire, or stove fire. This includes charcoal grills and barbecues, coal and wood burning stoves and sheepherder’s stoves and includes use in developed camping and picnic grounds. (Note: Use of charcoal grills, hibachis and coal or wood-burning stoves is always prohibited on federal land.
Smoking (cigarettes, cigars, etc.), except within an enclosed vehicle, building or trailer.
Welding or operating an acetylene or other torch with open flame.
Possessing or using either standard or off-road motor vehicles off established roads, motorized trails or established parking areas, except when parking in an area devoid or vegetation within 10 feet of the vehicle.
Explosive targets. This includes, but is not limited to, fuses or blasting caps, fireworks, rockets, exploding targets, and tracers or incendiary devices.
Agricultural burns.
Operating a chainsaw unless it utilizes an approved spark-arresting device (as described in the “Combustion Engines” section), a chemical pressurized fire extinguisher (8 oz. capacity by weight or larger and kept with the operator) and a round point shovel with an overall length of at least 35 inches readily
Operating or using any internal combustion engine(e.g. chainsaw, generator, ATV), unless it utilizes a spark-arresting device that is properly installed, maintained and in effective working order meeting either: Department of Agriculture, Forest Service Standard 5100-1a; or Appropriate Society of automotive Engineers (SAE) recommended practice J335(b) and J350(a) available for use.

The Following Activities remain permitted:

Devices using pressurized liquid or gas (stoves, grills or lanterns) that include shut-off valves are allowed when used in an area at least three feet or more from flammable material such as grasses or pine needles.

Please be advised that penalties for violating the fire ban include: Class-2 petty offense with fines ranging from $100 to $500 depending on the number of offenses. If a fire causes damage to another individual’s property, additional criminal charges may apply.

For current Fire Restrictions in the Western Slope please visit https://Westslopefireinfo.com .

GMUG fire restrictions: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r02/gmug
BLM fire restrictions: https://www.blm.gov/programs/public-safety-and-fire/fire-and-aviation/regional-information/colorado/southwest-district
White River National Forest: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r02/whiteriver
Curecanti National Recreation Area: https://www.nps.gov/cure/index.htm

Closures

There are no closures at this time.

Fees and Passes

Pass	Description	Duration	Cost
Daily Vehicle Pass	Single vehicle and its occupants with Colorado license plate	1 Day	$10-$12
Daily Vehicle Pass	Single vehicle and its occupants with out-of-state license plate	1 Day	$15-$17
Individual Daily Pass	For individual entry on foot, bicycle, horseback, etc at select parks	1 Day	$4
Keep Colorado Wild Pass	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

Purchase a Park Pass Online Find a CPW Location Find an Authorized Sales Agent

Nature and Wildlife

The park's higher elevations are covered with a mix of conifer and aspen forests, along with Gambel oak shrublands. Trees such as ponderosa pine, Rocky Mountain juniper, Douglas fir, Colorado blue spruce, Rocky Mountain maple and aspen are prevalent in these areas. The diverse habitats attract a variety of migratory and resident birds, including raptors, waterfowl and shorebirds. The park serves as a common winter range for large animals, and it's common to spot mule deer and elk. You may encounter other mammals like cottontail rabbits, marmots, raccoons, skunks, coyotes and ground squirrels.

Bird, plant and wildlife guides may be available at the Crawford park book store. You can also use Paonia 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

Birds You Might Find

Turkey vulture
Gray catbird
Black-billed magpie
Green-tailed towhee

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

Mammals You Might Find

Elk
Golden-mantled ground squirrel
Marmot
Striped skunk

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

Reptiles and Amphibians You Might Find

Prairie rattlesnake

YOU Can Help!

The park is lacking vital data on amphibian and reptile populations. By logging your reptile and amphibian observations into Paonia State Park's iNaturalist app, you'll help us collect data that's essential for protecting and preserving the Park's natural resources.

Geology

Geology at This Park

Nestled in a narrow canyon between the Ruby Range, Raggeds Wilderness and Grand Mesa, Paonia boasts a 334-acre reservoir primarily fed by Muddy Creek flows. The park showcases two significant geologic formations, Mesa Verde and Fort Union, dating back to the Cretaceous and Paleocene periods. In the canyon, you might spot fossilized palm fronds and imprints of willow and elm leaves in the boulders.

Habitats and Plants

Habitats and Plants at This Park

Twinberry honeysuckle
Yellow rabbitbrush
Ponderosa pine
Gambel oak

See More Paonia Nature and Wildlife

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History

The reservoir dam was constructed in 1960, and the area has been administered by Colorado Parks and Wildlife since 1965.