On the Colorado River at Island Acres, the river itself is closed to boats

James M. Robb Colorado River State Park runs in pieces along the river from Fruita east to Island Acres. At Island Acres there is a smart rule worth knowing before you put a boat in.

You can boat on the park’s lakes. Hand-launched, sail, and electric boats are allowed there. But boating on the Colorado River itself from Island Acres is not permitted, because there is a roller dam downstream that is dangerous. A roller dam, sometimes called a low-head dam, creates a churning backflow that can trap and hold a boat or swimmer. From the surface it can look calm and harmless, which is part of why it is so risky.

Why this matters: families float Colorado rivers all summer, and it is easy to assume that any calm stretch is fine to paddle. It is not. The park keeps boating on the still lakes for a reason, and the stocked lakes also draw bald eagles and other wildlife.

If you plan to be on the water here, check the official Colorado Parks and Wildlife page for the Island Acres section to see where boating is and is not allowed.