Ridgway State Park is the county's big water-and-trails hub

A few miles north of Ridgway, along US 550, the Uncompahgre River valley widens out around Ridgway Reservoir. Colorado Parks and Wildlife runs this stretch as Ridgway State Park, and it is the main spot in the county for lake recreation, camping, and an easy network of trails.

A few things are worth knowing before a first visit. A state park is not the same as national forest or open BLM ground. It has set entrances, campgrounds you usually reserve ahead, and a daily pass or annual pass to enter. One option many Colorado drivers carry is the Keep Colorado Wild Pass, which can be added when you register a vehicle. Boating brings its own step too: the state inspects boats for aquatic nuisance species before they launch, to keep mussels and other pests out of the water.

The reservoir holds several kinds of trout and other fish, and fishing here follows state rules that can differ by water and by season. The point is not that any of this is hard. It is that the park runs on its own set of rules, and checking them first makes the day smoother.

For current fees, passes, camping reservations, boat-inspection hours, and fishing regulations at Ridgway, check the Colorado Parks and Wildlife page for the park.