Forum Discussion

Thom02099's avatar
Thom02099
Explorer II
Mar 28, 2020

Colorado State Parks closure

Colorado State Parks and Wildlife, as of 03.27.20, has closed all state parks campgrounds until further notice. Prior to that date, the campgrounds were to continue to be open, however, that changed with the order from the Governor for a statewide closure. Source - H E R E . Oddly, the state parks themselves remain open.

Hoping this will be resolved by the end of April. First trip of the season scheduled for Golden Gate Canyon SP the first weekend in May.
If, however, I have to change it, I'll change it. I have the entire season planned out and reserved. If it means cancelling, then so be it.
  • I was confused as to the why when NM closed overnight camping at their state parks but kept them open for day use. Made no sense to me.
  • I don't understand this "no camping" policy either;
    Here in the NE, PA and NJ closed their parks to camping but not day use.

    I go to state/county parks every day for mountain biking and since the
    closure, there have been 2 or 3 times MORE people in the parks. I live next
    to a county park and the trails are packed with people.

    Normally outside the summer season, the campgrounds have maybe 10 spots
    occupied out of 170? sites.

    I don't get it. Keep the campgrounds open and the bathrooms closed.....
  • Most Colorado State Parks are associated with a a lake that allows recreational boating. At least for now, the boat ramps are staying open.

    I don't think that it makes any sense to close to camping for many of the reasons already stated. But, as a boat owner, I'm glad they are not closing completely.

    As far as the bathroom, some of the individual park Facebook sites state that they are still open as well. Makes even less sense.......
  • BB_TX wrote:
    Closing the campgrounds will greatly reduce people traveling to and from the parks and going into towns for supplies. Far fewer people will be traveling to the parks if they can use them for day use only. Traveling spreads disease from one area to another, one group of people to another. Who in turn spread it to other areas. That’s how all this started.
    That's apparently the thinking, but I saw just the opposite happening.

    I was kicked out of a CA campground, while the day use and restrooms remained open. I was camped well away from others, and self-contained. There were few other campers, and if more arrived the host could have spaced them out. The hosts were allowed to stay. This is snowbird migration season - especially Canadians -and we really need a safe place to layover.

    On a nice day there were between 50 and a hundred day-use visitors, using the bathrooms, congregating as usual. There was even a wedding party.

    It's closing the campground that makes people do more traveling. It did me, or I'd still be there.

About Campground 101

Recommendations, reviews, and the inside scoop from fellow travelers.14,716 PostsLatest Activity: Oct 15, 2013