Ridgway State Park
State Park in Ridgway, CO
Hours:
Park: Daily, 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Office: Daily, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Entrance Fees:
Daily Vehicle Pass: $10
Individual Daily Pass: $4
Animals Permitted:
- Leashed Dogs
- Service Animals
- Horses
Park Address:
28555 Highway 550
Ridgway, CO 81432
United States
Ridgway State Park
State Park in Ridgway, CO
Hours:
Park: Daily, 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Office: Daily, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Entrance Fees:
Daily Vehicle Pass: $10
Individual Daily Pass: $4
Animals Permitted:
- Leashed Dogs
- Service Animals
- Horses
Park Address:
28555 Highway 550
Ridgway, CO 81432
United States
Navigate to:
The reservoir with swim beach, boats and slide
Welcome to Ridgway State Park
Just 15 miles from Ouray, Ridgway invites visitors to the "Switzerland of America." Nestled at the foot of the stunning San Juan Mountains, Ridgway State Park is a year-round haven for outdoor recreation. Extending nearly five miles into the Uncompahgre River Valley, the park attracts boaters, anglers and swimmers. With sought-after campgrounds, a picturesque reservoir, inviting picnic spots, playground areas, extensive trails and a rich array of wildlife, Ridgway provides year-round activities for outdoor enthusiasts of all kinds.
3,301
acres
363
campsites
50
picnic sites
15.6
miles of trails
Directions
Accessing the Park
Take US Hwy 550 south of Montrose for 22 miles to the park entrance, on the right (west) side of the road.
The Ridgway Visitor Center and Bookstore is located on the east side of the reservoir off US Hwy 550 by the Elk Ridge Campground and the marina.
Hours: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily.
The boat ramp is located on the east side of the reservoir by the Elk Ridge Campground.
Hours: 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Closed October 1 through April 1.
Fees and Passes
Pass |
Description |
Duration |
Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Daily Vehicle Pass |
Single vehicle and its occupants |
1 Day |
$10 |
|
Individual Daily Pass |
For individual entry on foot, bicycle, horseback, etc. |
1 Day |
$4 |
|
DMV vehicle registration renewal option for Colorado residents |
1 Year |
$29 |
|
|
Annual Vehicle Pass (Affixed) |
Pass for a single vehicle and its occupants |
1 Year |
$80 |
|
Family Annual Pass (Hang Tag) |
Members of the same household |
1 Year |
$120 |
|
Aspen Leaf Annual Pass |
Visitors 64+ |
1 Year |
$70 |
|
Centennial Pass |
Income-eligible Colorado residents |
1 Year |
$14 |
|
Columbine Pass |
Colorado residents with disabilities |
1 Year |
$14 |
|
Veterans License Plate |
DMV vehicle registration renewal option for military veterans (disabled veterans or purple heart plates) |
Lifetime |
Free |
|
Independence Lifetime Pass |
Veterans with disabilities |
Lifetime |
Free |
|
Blue Spruce Pass |
First responders with disabilities |
Lifetime |
$10 |
Nature and Wildlife
Ridgway State Park offers excellent opportunities to observe wildlife. Except for bird watching, wildlife viewing is generally best at dawn or dusk and during the off season. Visitors are encouraged to note their wildlife sightings in and around the park on a list displayed at the Visitor Center entrance.
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
- American Dipper
- Red-naped Sapsucker
- Red-tailed Hawk
- Black-chinned Hummingbird
Mammals You Might Find
- Yellow-bellied Marmot
- Cottontail Rabbit
- Mule Deer
- Red Fox
Reptiles and Amphibians You Might Find
- Plateau Fence Lizard
- Western Terrestrial Garter Snake
- Plateau Striped Whiptail
- Collared Lizard
Geology at This Park
The Northern San Juan Mountains, a haven for geologists, boast a rich history of mineral mining, yielding gold, silver, copper, lead and zinc over the past 130 years. The region's rock formations, some dating back over 1.5 billion years to Precambrian times, reveal a geological tapestry. Just 30 miles north, the Black Canyon of the Gunnison impresses with its 2,300-foot-deep gorge, cut through hard schist, gneiss and granite formations, reaching nearly twice the height of the Empire State Building at Painted Wall.
Moving to the south, the San Juan Mountains near Ridgway State Park tell a tale of fire and ice. Volcanic eruptions, more than 35 million years ago, deposited a thick layer of igneous rock. As the ice ages unfolded around 5 million years ago, colossal glaciers sculpted the landscape, carving awe-inspiring valleys and peaks, including the majestic Mount Sneffels. Within Ridgway State Park, geological treasures predate the volcanic era, featuring Upper Jurassic sandstones, Lower Cretaceous sedimentary rocks, and deposits of Upper Cretaceous Mancos shale. The park also showcases the Morrison Formation, a world-renowned dinosaur-bone-bearing geological formation, capturing a snapshot of life from 145–155 million years ago.
Habitats and Plants at This Park
Park uplands are dominated by montane shrub communities comprised of mountain big sagebrush, mountain snowberry, serviceberry, Gambel oak, antelope bitterbrush, chokecherry and rabbitbrush. Common understory plants include wild buckwheat, American vetch, lupine, aspen peavine and Hood’s phlox. Above the park, lodgepole pine, subalpine fir, Colorado blue spruce and aspen are the dominant forest trees.
Diverse wetland and riparian plant communities have become established around the reservoir, along the Yampa River and its tributary drainages. A large wetland creation project has been constructed along the river, providing interpretive opportunities.
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History
After the mining boom in the 1880s, settlers flocked to the Uncompahgre River Valley. Farmers and ranchers recognized the importance of reliable summer irrigation, and the 5.8-mile Gunnison Tunnel was constructed in 1909 to divert water from the Gunnison River.
In the 1940s, plans emerged to store spring and summer snowmelt for future irrigation in the upper Uncompahgre River. Simultaneously, efforts were underway to control the flow of the vast Colorado River and its tributaries. In 1956, the Colorado River Storage Project, one of the most complex and extensive river developments in the world, became a reality.
The Dallas Creek Project, leading to the creation of Ridgway Reservoir, received authorization in 1968, with the dam's completion by the US Bureau of Reclamation in 1987. After the dam's completion, the US Bureau of Reclamation continued its involvement as studies indicated the need for a water-based recreation facility south of Montrose. Federal funding continued for eight years and paid for all recreational development in the park.
Today, partners in the project are the US Bureau of Reclamation, the Tri-County Water Conservancy District, which manages water distribution, and Colorado Parks and Wildlife, which manages the recreation facilities.