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:
Hikers on a trail with dense vegetation
Activities and Trails
What to Do at Ridgway
Nestled against the San Juan Mountains and surrounded by the Uncompahgre River Valley, Ridgway is a stunning park. The reservoir offers water activities like boating, fishing, water skiing and swimming. Wildlife enthusiasts can spot deer, eagles, foxes and more. Hikers and bikers have 14 miles of trails to explore, and for campers the park has RV sites, electrical sites, tents-only areas and heated yurts.
- Biking
- Birding
- Boating
- Camping
- Cross-country Skiing
- Education Programs
- Fishing
- Geocaching
- Group Picnicking
- Hiking
- Hunting
- Paddle Boarding
- Playground
- Photography
- Picnicking
- Rock Climbing
- Sailboarding
- Swimming
- Volleyball
- Water Skiing
- Whitewater Rafting
- Wildlife Viewing
- Yurts
Best of Ridgway
The Reservoir
The park's main attraction is the 1,000-surface-acre reservoir where water enthusiasts can boat, fish, paddle board, sail or water ski.
Picnicking
There are 87 picnicking sites located throughout the park, including some near the swim beach and playgrounds. Explore the beauty of Ridgway and retire to a picturesque setting for a picnic. Many picnicking sites are universally accessible and offer the comforts of shelters, restrooms and nearby drinking-water hydrants.
Yurts
Head to Ridgway for amazing expanses of clear skies over incredible mountain views. Yurts are available year-round by reservation only. Ask park staff about upcoming stargazing events, which feature members of the Astronomer Society and instruction on telescope use!
Dutch Charlie Swim Beach
The Dutch Charlie swim beach is open seasonally. Swimming in this area is at your own risk. Dogs are not allowed on the beach or in the beach area. Glass containers, hard-sided paddle craft and fishing are not allowed in the Dutch Charlie swim beach.
Upcoming Events
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ACCESSIBILITY
Activities for Visitors with Disabilities
At Ridgway, visitors with disabilities can wade at the swim beach and boat, fish and paddle board in the reservoir using accessible equipment or assistance available at the park. All restroom and shower buildings are accessible.
Please inquire with the Blue Heron Marina at 970-318-9689 to reserve the mobi-chair, accessible paddle board or with any questions.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife values the right of every visitor to experience our state’s natural beauty. To provide this opportunity to visitors with disabilities, Ridgway State Park offers Action Trackchairs®, which allow visitors with limited mobility to explore designated trails in the park.
We have two year-round Trackchairs that can go on four trails at the park:
- Forest Discovery
- The Overlook
- Mear's Bay
- Wapiti to the Sunset Ridge Overlook
How to Make a Reservation
Reservations can be made in advance for two-hour time blocks. See the Trackchair Availability Calendar below.
Reserve a Trackchair or Mobi-Chair® using the Trackchair/Mobi-Chair Reservation Form.
Boaters with disabilities are urged to board their vessel prior to entering the launch area or use the marina platform with assistance. The marina is located at Mear's Bay Cove in the Dutch Charlie Area on the southwest side of the reservoir. Dutch Charlie can be accessed from Highway 550.
The modern, universally accessible fishing pier is located at Mear's Bay Cove in the Dutch Charlie Area on the southwest side of the reservoir. Dutch Charlie can be accessed from Highway 550.
The park offers Mobi-Chairs for accessible swimming and wading at the swim beach for adults and children with accessibility needs. Mobi-Chair is a high-quality floating beach wheelchair that floats thanks to its wheels and armrests. It can also be used on sand and soft surfaces.
The SOLFiesta handicap-accessible paddleboard is five feet six inches wide and 15 feet six inches long, with rings to mount a variety of accessible supports.
Hiking, Biking and Horseback Riding
Trails
Dallas Creek Nature Trail
1 mile
Marmot Run Trail
1.8 miles
Cookie Tree Trail
0.9 miles
Dallas Creek Nature Trail
1 mile
Marmot Run Trail
1.8 miles
Cookie Tree Trail
0.9 miles
Forest Discover Trail
0.6 miles
Scenic Overlook Trail
0.1 miles
Wapiti Trail
0.6 miles
Sunset Ridge Trail
0.7 miles
Skyline Loop Trails
0.3 miles
Twin Fawn Trail
0.7 miles
Secret Spot Trail
0.2 miles
Pinyon Park Trails
0.6 miles
Mule Deer Meadow
0.5 miles
Porcupine Patch Trail
0.1 miles
Mear's Bay
1.0 miles
Forest Discover Trail
0.6 miles
Scenic Overlook Trail
0.1 miles
Wapiti Trail
0.6 miles
Sunset Ridge Trail
0.7 miles
Skyline Loop Trails
0.3 miles
Twin Fawn Trail
0.7 miles
Secret Spot Trail
0.2 miles
Pinyon Park Trails
0.6 miles
Mule Deer Meadow
0.5 miles
Porcupine Patch Trail
0.1 miles
Mear's Bay
1.0 miles
Enchanted Mesa Trail
2.5 miles
River Walk Trail
0.2 miles
Oak Leaf Trail
1 mile
Enchanted Mesa Trail
2.5 miles
River Walk Trail
0.2 miles
Oak Leaf Trail
1 mile
Borrow Equipment
Forget your gear? Borrow ours! The visitor center, Dallas Creek entrance station, boat ramp and marina office all have gear you can borrow while you're at the park.
Activity Equipment
Visitors can borrow fishing poles and tackle, snowshoes and family activity backpacks equipped with journals, binoculars, magnifiers, guidebooks and magnifying bug boxes from the Visitor Center. Fishing poles and tackle boxes are also available at the marina office.
Life Jackets
Did you forget to bring your life jacket? Loaner life jackets are available at Dallas Creek entrance station, the boat ramp, and the marina office located at the swim beach.
Big Game, Small Game and Waterfowl
Hunting
Due to limited backcountry area and the proximity of recreation facilities, hunting is limited but allowed in certain areas. Hunters should check with the park Visitor Center for maps, specific closures and regulations.
Hunting Boundaries
- Big-game and small-game hunting on the east side of Hwy 550 starts the Tuesday after Labor Day and lasts until December 1 of each year, when the area is closed for big-game winter habitat.
- Big- and small-game hunting along the west shoreline of the reservoir is open October 1 to April 30.
- Waterfowl hunting is permitted on the Dallas Creek shoreline October 1 to April 30.