At Home in Nature - The History of Colorado's State Parks
The story of how Colorado's state parks came to be, featuring breathtaking photography and the voices of the staff and stewards of these magnificent public lands. The book delves into the rich history of Colorado's state parks, from their inception to the present day, and is a must-read for anyone interested in the state's natural and cultural heritage.
At Home in Nature - The History of Colorado's State Parks
The story of how Colorado's state parks came to be, featuring breathtaking photography and the voices of the staff and stewards of these magnificent public lands. The book delves into the rich history of Colorado's state parks, from their inception to the present day, and is a must-read for anyone interested in the state's natural and cultural heritage.
Rock ridges with trees at Eldorado Canyon State Park. ©Dustin Doskocil
Colorado State Parks
With more than 4,000 campsites and 58 cabins and yurts located throughout the state, Colorado State Parks’ affordable accommodations offer something for everyone. From the outdoor enthusiast to the family looking for a relaxing weekend, the perfect escape is only a click or phone call away.
Special Edition
Colorado Outdoors Magazine's Annual Fishing Guide
The Colorado Outdoors Fishing Guide is a special annual edition of Colorado Outdoors magazine. View the contents.
Visit a Park
Looking for an adventure or a relaxing weekend? Plan your escape to a Colorado State Park.
Colorado’s state parks are as diverse as the state itself, and they offer something for everyone. Enjoy a family picnic, cast a line in the water, take a hike, ride a horse, try snowshoeing or discover geocaching.
Purchase a Park Pass
All state parks require an entry pass. You can purchase a pass online, at all park visitor centers and CPW offices, and at any authorized sales agent.
Find out moreUpcoming Events
Aug
29
Lunch With A Bear
Friday, Aug 29
Aug
29
Lunch With A Bear
Friday, Aug 29
Aug
29
Beach and Shore Clean-Up
Friday, Aug 29
Chatfield State Park
Come out to our big beach and shore clean up day at the park before Labor Day Weekend! We will be focusing on picking up trash...
Aug
29
Beach and Shore Clean-Up
Friday, Aug 29
Chatfield State Park
Come out to our big beach and shore clean up day at the park before Labor Day Weekend! We will be focusing on picking up trash...
Aug
29
Wildlife Viewing Hike
Friday, Aug 29
Mueller State Park
Learn best practices for viewing wildlife safely as you quietly hike through the forest for a chance to see animals.
Aug
29
Wildlife Viewing Hike
Friday, Aug 29
Mueller State Park
Learn best practices for viewing wildlife safely as you quietly hike through the forest for a chance to see animals.
Aug
29
Lunch With A Bear
Friday, Aug 29
Aug
29
Lunch With A Bear
Friday, Aug 29
Aug
29
Beach and Shore Clean-Up
Friday, Aug 29
Chatfield State Park
Come out to our big beach and shore clean up day at the park before Labor Day Weekend! We will be focusing on picking up trash...
Aug
29
Beach and Shore Clean-Up
Friday, Aug 29
Chatfield State Park
Come out to our big beach and shore clean up day at the park before Labor Day Weekend! We will be focusing on picking up trash...
Aug
29
Wildlife Viewing Hike
Friday, Aug 29
Mueller State Park
Learn best practices for viewing wildlife safely as you quietly hike through the forest for a chance to see animals.
Aug
29
Wildlife Viewing Hike
Friday, Aug 29
Mueller State Park
Learn best practices for viewing wildlife safely as you quietly hike through the forest for a chance to see animals.
Stay Overnight
Camping
Go camping at one of 30 different Colorado parks.
Cabins
Stay at one of 41 cabins available at 6 Colorado State Parks.
Yurts
Stay at one of 12 yurts available at 6 Colorado State Parks.
Park Visitors Experiencing Disabilities
CPW parks offer accessible campsites, park passes, track-chairs, paved walkways, and accessible fishing piers to visitors experiencing disabilities. You can request Sign Language Interpretation, Assistive Listening Equipment or other ADA accommodation services.
Free state park access for Southern Ute Indian Tribe and Ute Mountain Ute Tribe Members
Governor Jared Polis signed HB 25-1163 on May 29, giving members of the Southern Ute Indian Tribe and Ute Mountain Ute Tribe free access to Colorado’s 43 state parks beginning August 5, 2025.
The bill allows enrolled members of the Southern Ute Indian Tribe and the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe to enter state parks managed by CPW without paying an entrance fee when they present a current tribal identification card with an intact photo.
The Southern Ute Indian Tribe and Ute Mountain Ute Tribe have deep cultural, spiritual, ancestral, and historical ties to the majority of the land within Colorado, including much of the land that is now designated as state parks. They have served as stewards of these lands and the cultural and natural resources provided by them since time immemorial.
The state has long recognized the unique political status of the Southern Ute Indian Tribe and the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, their special governmental relationship with the state, and the importance of establishing and maintaining a cooperative relationship with the Tribes and the Ute people.
Colorado State Parks
Weddings and Special Events
Celebrate Together: State Parks offer lovely backdrops for outdoor family or company gatherings, weddings, receptions, and pictures. 9 Colorado parks offer overlooks, group picnic areas, amphitheaters, or designated scenic areas for your special event.
Colorado's Ultimate Road Trip
Colorado Parks and Wildlife Passport
Colorado has some amazing places to visit. Now, you can add visiting all state parks and 15 fish hatcheries to your personal bucket list using the CPW Passport.
Visit a state park or hatchery and ask for your free passport, while supplies last.
Staff will stamp your passport in the visitor centers and stamps are sometimes located at the fee collection station(s). Go out and discover as many as you can! Challenge yourself to collect ALL the stamps.
Use #COParksPassport to share your adventures. Log your memories in the CPW Passport while traveling the state.
If you collect all state park stamps, your prize is an all star patch. If you collect all 15 hatcheries, your prize is a mug. Once you've collected all your passport stamps, fill in the required contact information and have a Colorado Parks and Wildlife employee certify/sign page 58 of the passport. Then, email a clear and legible photo of the certified page 58 to [email protected] and your prize will be sent to you.
Park Brochures and eNews
Your Full Guide to State Parks
The Guide to State Parks gives you an overview of each of Colorado's State Parks including locations and what activities and amenities are offered.
Download the BrochureGuía De Los Parques Naturales
¡Dondequiera que vaya en Colorado, se encuentra un parque estatal esperándole para darle la bienvenida!
Descargue una versión PDFRequest a Park Brochure
You can download specific park brochures from each park homepage, or you can request a 3-page Quick Guide paper copy be sent to you.
Request a BrochureSignup for State Park eNews
CPW publishes weekly newsletters, with each edition focused on topics including Colorado's state parks, fishing, hunting, trails and recreation, and conservation. Choose the topics that are most important to you.
Sign Up
DISCOVER, EXPLORE AND ENJOY
A Quick Guide to Colorado’s State Parks
Hike a mountain. Ride a trail. Toss up a tent. Throw a line in a stream. Raft a rapid. Ski, paddle or sail on blue water. Or just kick back and enjoy the view. There’s something for everyone, of every age, at Colorado’s state parks.
Scattered across the state, from prairies to peaks and suburbs to forests, the parks beckon with outdoor fun year-round. Most have options for overnights. And they’re especially family- and kid-friendly.
So come discover Colorado’s state parks. They’re waiting for you!
Managing State Parks
State Park Management Plans serve as an overarching management guide for each park by outlining short- and long-term visitor, recreation, resource, and infrastructure management visions for the park. It charts the management priorities and specific management directions for current and future park staff. State Park Management Plans:
- Guide management of existing natural and cultural resources
- Provide a framework for monitoring and maintaining state park resources
- Identify park enhancement opportunities, including possible facility upgrades, new park facilities, restoration and rehabilitation projects, and other important management initiatives, and
Keep Colorado Wild Pass — Opens more than state park gates
Explore every corner of Colorado’s state parks while giving back to search and rescue volunteers when you get a $29 Keep Colorado Wild Pass with your vehicle registration. The pass also helps fund state parks and recreation, the Colorado Avalanche Information Center, wildlife conservation and outdoor education opportunities.