Crawford State Park
State Park in Crawford, CO
Hours:
Park: Daily, 5:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Office: Daily, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. as staffing permits
Entrance Fees:
Daily Vehicle Pass: $10
Individual Daily Pass: $4
Animals Permitted:
- Leashed Dogs
- Service Animals
- Horses
Park Address:
40468 Hwy 92
Crawford, CO 81415
United States
Crawford State Park
State Park in Crawford, CO
Hours:
Park: Daily, 5:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Office: Daily, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. as staffing permits
Entrance Fees:
Daily Vehicle Pass: $10
Individual Daily Pass: $4
Animals Permitted:
- Leashed Dogs
- Service Animals
- Horses
Park Address:
40468 Hwy 92
Crawford, CO 81415
United States
Navigate to:
Mountains reflecting off the waters of Crawford State Park
Welcome to Crawford State Park
Crawford State Park is calling all adventurers to the Western Slope! You can camp, fish, do watersports, go hunting and lots more, all surrounded by scenic mountains. The park has 337 acres of land and a 400-acre reservoir. The park's 6,600-foot elevation means the climate is mild at any season. Crawford is the perfect spot to relax and have fun outdoors with amazing views. It's peaceful during the week and at other off-peak times.
400
acre reservoir
220
species of birds
66
campsites
3.2
miles of trails
Accessing the Park
Directions
From Delta, take Colorado Highway 92 east to Hotchkiss. Stay right on 92 where it intersects Colorado Highway 133, and drive 10 miles to Crawford. The park is one mile south of town.
The Crawford Visitor Center and park office is located on the east side of the park. From Crawford, turn right off Highway 92 before you reach the Clear Fork campground.
Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily.
Peninsula Ramp
The east boat ramp is located on the east side of the lake on the peninsula, past the Visitor Center.
Iron Creek Ramp
The southeast boat ramp is located on the southern end of the reservoir next to the Iron Creek Campground.
For more information on Crawford‘s boat ramps and mandatory boat inspections, 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
Beavers, chipmunks, rabbits, skunks and mule deer live in or around the park and can often be seen at the lake shoreline late in the evening. A variety of waterfowl, from western grebes to graceful Canada geese, may also be seen at the park, either stopping off during migrations or nesting.
Bird, plant and wildlife guides are available at the park book store or on Crawford 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 220 bird species? Download the Bird List Brochure (PDF).
Birds You Might Find
- Turkey vulture
- Great blue heron
- Mountain bluebird
- American avocet
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
- White-tailed prairie dog
- American beaver
- Common raccoon
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
The spectacular Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park is only 12 miles from Crawford State Park. A number of famous geological landmarks near Crawford State Park include Needle Rock, Castle Rock and Saddle Mountain.
Habitats and Plants at This Park
Ecologically, park uplands are dominated by pinyon-juniper woodlands, where Utah juniper, pinyon pine, mountain mahogany, Gambel oak, serviceberry, squaw-apple, fendlerbush, mormon-tea, skunkbrush and Spanish bayonet are overstory dominants. Western wheatgrass, junegrass and galleta are common understory grass species in this community.
Deeper soils of upland flats support a sagebrush shrubland community dominated by big sagebrush, rabbitbrush, four-wing saltbush, shadscale, prickly-pear, western wheatgrass, galleta and squirreltail. West Slope grassland occurs in pockets within and bands adjacent to woodland and shrub communities.
The common grasses present include western wheatgrass, galleta and squirreltail. Diverse wetland, riparian and aquatic plant communities are established around the reservoir, within drainages, on ground water seeps and below the dam. Irrigated hay meadows have replaced native plant communities in much of the landscape surrounding the park.
Upcoming Events
History
Within the boundaries of Crawford State Park are 337 land acres and the 400-acre reservoir, which was built in 1963 by the US Bureau of Reclamation. Colorado Parks and Wildlife has administered the area since 1965.