Colorado Porch

Tag

CPW

46 Porch Notes tagged “CPW,” from counties across Colorado.

Outdoors and wildfire - Fremont County

On the Arkansas through Fremont County, the river has its own managers and rules

The stretch of the Arkansas River around Cañon City and the Royal Gorge is part of a state-managed recreation area, so launches, fees, and safety rules are set by an official agency rather than left open.

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Outdoors and wildfire - Jackson County

State Forest State Park sits in North Park, and a pass gets you in

State Forest State Park east of Walden is run by Colorado Parks and Wildlife, and like other state parks it needs an entrance pass to drive in.

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Outdoors and wildfire - Chaffee County

The Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area runs right through Chaffee County

The stretch of the Arkansas River through Salida and Buena Vista is a managed state recreation area run jointly by Colorado Parks and Wildlife and federal agencies, with its own access points and rules.

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Water and land - Chaffee County

The Arkansas through Chaffee County is Gold Medal trout water

A long stretch of the Arkansas River through Chaffee County is designated Gold Medal Water for trout, and fishing rules and access come through Colorado Parks and Wildlife.

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Outdoors and wildfire - Ouray County

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

Ridgway State Park sits along the Uncompahgre River just north of Ridgway with a reservoir, campgrounds, and trails, and like other Colorado state parks it has its own pass and rules.

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Outdoors and wildfire - Grand County

Around Granby and the Fraser, the fishing rules change water by water

Grand County has many rivers, lakes, and reservoirs, and the fishing rules can differ from one stretch of water to the next.

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Outdoors and wildfire - Gilpin County

Golden Gate Canyon State Park is a Gilpin County doorstep, not just a destination

Golden Gate Canyon State Park straddles the Gilpin and Jefferson County line and is close to southern Gilpin County, with state-park access rules.

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Outdoors and wildfire - Lincoln County

Hugo State Wildlife Area is for hunting and fishing, not a city park

The Hugo State Wildlife Area south of Hugo is managed by Colorado Parks and Wildlife, and visitors 16 or older need a license or a pass to be there.

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Outdoors and wildfire - Moffat County

Moffat County draws hunters, but the rules change by unit

Northwest Colorado is well known for elk and other big game, and Colorado Parks and Wildlife sets the seasons, units, and license rules that change from year to year.

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Outdoors and wildfire - Phillips County

Phillips County hunting often means private land through Walk-In Access

Much of the bird hunting in Phillips County happens on private fields opened to the public through Colorado's Walk-In Access program, not on public land.

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Outdoors and wildfire - Kiowa County

Queens State Wildlife Area near Eads is for hunting and fishing, with its own pass rules

Queens State Wildlife Area and its Great Plains reservoirs in Kiowa County are managed by Colorado Parks and Wildlife, and visitors generally need a license or a State Wildlife Area pass.

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Outdoors and wildfire - Rio Blanco County

Rio Blanco County sits in White River elk country

The White River valley supports a major Colorado elk herd, which shapes hunting seasons, fall driving, and even fences and crops on local ranches.

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Outdoors and wildfire - Douglas County

Castlewood Canyon is a state park, with state-park rules

Castlewood Canyon State Park near Franktown is managed by Colorado Parks and Wildlife, so it follows state-park access, pass, and seasonal trail rules.

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Outdoors and wildfire - Clear Creek County

Fishing rules in Clear Creek country change by the water

Fishing along Clear Creek and nearby state wildlife areas follows state rules that can differ by stretch of water, so it pays to check before you cast.

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Outdoors and wildfire - Baca County

Two Buttes is a State Wildlife Area, not a state park

Two Buttes Reservoir near Baca County is a Colorado State Wildlife Area, which means access depends on a license or pass and conditions can change with the water.

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Outdoors and wildfire - Hinsdale County

Fishing rules around Lake City change from one water to the next

The Lake Fork of the Gunnison, Lake San Cristobal, and the small creeks near Lake City can each carry their own fishing rules, so check by water.

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Outdoors and wildfire - Alamosa County

Fishing the Rio Grande: the rules change by stretch

The Rio Grande running through the San Luis Valley is a well-known trout fishery, but the bag limits, gear rules, and which fish you keep depend on the specific stretch you are standing on.

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Outdoors and wildfire - Pueblo County

At Lake Pueblo, boats get checked for aquatic hitchhikers

Lake Pueblo State Park requires boat inspections to keep aquatic nuisance species out, so trailered boaters should plan for that step before launching.

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Outdoors and wildfire - Dolores County

Forest, state wildlife areas, and a pass: knowing whose land you're on near Dolores County

The high country of eastern Dolores County is national forest, with some lakes and reservoirs that are state wildlife areas needing a simple access pass or license.

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Water and land - Moffat County

Yampa River State Park is a string of river access points

Yampa River State Park is not one block of land but a chain of boat launches and river sites strung along the Yampa across Moffat and Routt counties, each with its own access.

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Outdoors and wildfire - Chaffee County

Fishing rules change from one Chaffee County water to the next

Beyond the main Arkansas River, Chaffee County's creeks, high lakes, and the South Arkansas can each carry their own fishing rules, so check the specific water before you cast.

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Outdoors and wildfire - Chaffee County

Give moose room in Chaffee County's willows and high country

Moose live in the willow flats and high basins around Chaffee County, and they deserve more distance than they look like they need, especially around dogs.

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Outdoors and wildfire - Baca County

Hunting the Comanche Grassland means knowing two sets of rules

Hunting on the Comanche National Grassland in Baca County follows Colorado Parks and Wildlife license rules plus Forest Service land rules, and nearby private land needs permission.

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Outdoors and wildfire - Gilpin County

Moose and other big animals along Gilpin County's Peak to Peak corridor

Moose have expanded into the high country around Gilpin County's Peak to Peak corridor, and they deserve far more distance and caution than people expect.

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Outdoors and wildfire - Jackson County

North Park is fishing and hunting country, and the rules change by water and unit

The streams and reservoirs of Jackson County draw anglers and hunters, but fishing and hunting rules vary by water and by game management unit, so check the current ones.

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Outdoors and wildfire - Phillips County

A Phillips County state wildlife area is not a park

State wildlife areas in and around Phillips County are managed for hunting and fishing access and now require a license or pass to enter, unlike a public park.

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Water and land - Chaffee County

Boats on Chaffee County waters need a clean check first

Before launching on Colorado waters, motorboats and sailboats need an aquatic nuisance species stamp, and trailered or motorized boats must pass an inspection to keep invasive mussels out.

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Outdoors and wildfire - Alamosa County

San Luis Lakes State Wildlife Area: open water and great birding

San Luis Lakes State Wildlife Area north of Alamosa offers open water and wetlands for excellent waterfowl watching, with a few simple rules to plan around: an access pass, a seasonal nesting closure, and boating limits.

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Outdoors and wildfire - Park County

South Park's reservoirs draw anglers, and fishing rules change by water

Park County's South Park reservoirs in the South Platte basin are a well-known fishing destination, and both the rules and access can differ from one water to the next.

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Outdoors and wildfire - Chaffee County

Spotting Chaffee County's bighorn sheep on the high cliffs

Bighorn sheep live on the rocky slopes and canyons around Chaffee County, and a few simple habits help you enjoy the sight while keeping the animals healthy.

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Outdoors and wildfire - Delta County

Three rivers meet near Delta, and the fishing rules change by water

The Gunnison, Uncompahgre, and North Fork rivers draw anglers to Delta County, but each stretch can have its own rules on species, size, and method.

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Outdoors and wildfire - Montezuma County

The Dolores River State Wildlife Area is not a park

Along the Dolores River, a State Wildlife Area offers fishing, hunting, and wildlife viewing, but it is managed for wildlife and adults need a license or SWA pass to be there.

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Water and land - Hinsdale County

Boating Lake San Cristobal means following Colorado's mussel rules

Lake San Cristobal near Lake City is one of Colorado's larger natural lakes, and boats launched there fall under the state's aquatic nuisance species inspection rules.

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Outdoors and wildfire - Pueblo County

Prairie rattlesnakes live in Pueblo County's grasslands and bluffs

The prairie rattlesnake is common in the lower country around Pueblo, including trails at Lake Pueblo, and a few calm habits keep encounters from becoming dangerous.

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Outdoors and wildfire - Pueblo County

Fishing rules on the Arkansas change as you move toward Pueblo

The Arkansas River above Pueblo includes long stretches of Gold Medal water with special rules, and regulations differ by segment, so anglers should check the rules for the exact reach they fish.

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Outdoors and wildfire - Garfield County

Glenwood Canyon's cliffs are classic bighorn sheep country

The steep walls of Glenwood Canyon in Garfield County are the kind of terrain Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep favor — so it is worth looking up from the trail or pullouts, and keeping your distance if you spot one.

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Outdoors and wildfire - Pueblo County

State Wildlife Areas near Pueblo are not the same as parks

Lake Pueblo SWA and Runyon/Fountain Lakes SWA offer fishing and wildlife recreation near Pueblo, but they require a hunting or fishing license or an SWA pass, not just a parks pass.

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Outdoors and wildfire - Alamosa County

The Rio Grande cutthroat, the valley's native trout

The Rio Grande cutthroat trout is the San Luis Valley's own native trout, and a decades-long recovery effort has kept this homegrown fish swimming in the high streams it has always called home.

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Outdoors and wildfire - Pueblo County

Camping and swimming at Lake Pueblo come with a few real rules

Lake Pueblo State Park's campgrounds take reservations and stay open year-round, and the reservoir is cold-water for much of the year, so a little planning makes a visit safer and smoother.

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Outdoors and wildfire - Hinsdale County

Moose now live in the high country near Lake City

Moose were brought to the upper Rio Grande region that includes Hinsdale County, and these large animals deserve plenty of space and quiet respect.

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Outdoors and wildfire - Saguache County

San Luis Lakes is a State Wildlife Area, not a state park

San Luis Lakes is now a Colorado Parks and Wildlife State Wildlife Area with license or SWA-pass rules for most adult visitors.

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Outdoors and wildfire - Pueblo County

Bald eagles winter along the Arkansas River at Pueblo

Bald eagles gather along the open water of the Arkansas River and Lake Pueblo in winter, making the cold months a good time for respectful eagle watching near the city.

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Water and land - Gilpin County

Fishing the high lakes and creeks above Gilpin County's East Portal

The lakes and streams in the James Peak Wilderness above Gilpin County's East Portal draw hike-in anglers, but fishing them means a license and rules that change by water.

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History and culture - Garfield County

Rifle Falls has a state fish hatchery that raises trout

The Rifle Falls Fish Hatchery near Rifle raises several kinds of trout for stocking, and it is part of how Colorado keeps its rivers and lakes fishable.

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Outdoors and wildfire - Saguache County

The Saguache Creek public land near Moffat is open seasonally

The Saguache Creek state trust land near Moffat is leased to Colorado Parks and Wildlife for seasonal public access with a license requirement.

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Outdoors and wildfire - Denver County

You still need a fishing license at Denver's city lakes

Colorado's fishing license rules apply at Denver's urban lakes and rivers just as they do in the mountains; anyone 16 or older needs a license.

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