Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) state parks across the Northwest Region are opening for boating, camping and other warm-weather recreation, with most boat ramps, campgrounds and aquatic nuisance species (ANS) inspection stations rolling out new seasonal hours beginning May 1.

Parks in the region include Elkhead Reservoir, Stagecoach, Vega, Steamboat Lake, Pearl Lake, Rifle Gap, Harvey Gap, State Forest, Sylvan Lake, James M. Robb Colorado River and Highline Lake. Each is staggering its boat-ramp opening dates, ANS inspection hours and camping reservation windows.

Elkhead Reservoir State Park

The boat ramp at Elkhead Reservoir, near Craig in the Yampa Valley, opens May 22, marking the start of the motorized boating season. ANS inspection hours beginning May 22 will run from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Stagecoach State Park

Stagecoach State Park, just outside Steamboat Springs, will not allow boats requiring an ANS inspection to launch outside inspection hours. Ramp gates will be locked when no ANS inspector is on duty, and only hand-launched, human-powered vessels may be used during those times.

ANS inspection hours run from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. May 1 through May 22, then expand to 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. beginning May 23. Pinnacle City campground sites are open for reservations now; all other campsites, water, the dump station and flush restrooms open May 15.

Vega State Park

At 8,000 feet on the northeast edge of Grand Mesa National Forest, Vega State Park opened the Island Boat Ramp on May 1. ANS inspections run 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. May 1 through May 22, expand to 7:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. May 23 through September 6, then return to 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. September 7 through October 31. Boats may only launch when the ANS check station is open.

First-come, first-served camping is open through May 14; reservation-only camping begins May 15. Water is currently unavailable at Aspen Grove Campground.

Vega has also opened new, limited-use off-highway vehicle (OHV) routes on park roadways. The Dam Road and Oak Point Campground are now accessible for OHV traffic, allowing riders to travel from County Road 64 to Park Creek Road and reach trails in Grand Mesa National Forest. Early Settler's Campground continues to permit OHV use to access Park Creek Road (Forest Service Road 262).

Steamboat Lake and Pearl Lake state parks

First-come, first-served camping continues through May 22 as conditions allow, with reservation-only camping beginning May 23. Snow and wet ground often limit access early in the season. ANS inspections begin May 1 at the Visitor Center from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and shift to the Marina May 23 from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Rifle Gap and Harvey Gap state parks

Boat ramps are open at both parks; launching is not allowed outside inspection hours. ANS inspection hours run 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. through May 22, expand to 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. May 23 through September 7, then return to 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. September 8 through October 31.

At Harvey Gap, the swim beach parking lot is closed for construction through June. No vehicles or foot traffic are allowed in the area, and parking is not permitted along Harvey Gap Road (County Road 237).

State Forest State Park

Known as the moose viewing capital of Colorado, the 71,000-acre park offers hiking, fishing, OHV riding, backpacking, hunting, horseback riding and camping. First-come, first-served camping continues through May 22 as conditions allow, with reservation-only camping beginning May 23. Cabins are available year-round, and new yurts are managed by Yonder Yurts. North Michigan Reservoir will open to wakeless boating as soon as the ice clears.

Sylvan Lake State Park

Sylvan Lake's high-mountain reservoir is open to hand-powered and electric motor boats. Nine cabins are available year-round, and three yurts can be rented from May 15 to November 15. First-come, first-served camping is available through May 14; reservations are required starting May 15. Self-serve camping permits and daily passes can be purchased at the entrance gate until the campground officially opens.

James M. Robb Colorado River State Park

Stretching from Fruita to Island Acres in five sections — sometimes called the "string of pearls" — the park offers camping, fishing and floating on the Colorado River. Camping reservations are currently available at the Island Acres and Fruita sections.

Boat launches are at Corn Lake, Connected Lakes and Fruita. Visitors are reminded that the Colorado River from the Eagle River to the Colorado-Utah border, as well as Red Rocks Lake at the Fruita section, are considered infested with zebra mussels. River-flow updates are available from the USGS Cameo gauge.

The infestation warning comes after additional adult zebra mussels were discovered in Grand Junction in 2025.

Highline Lake State Park

Highline Lake, near Grand Junction, anchors the Grand Valley with two lakes, lush grass, trails and trees. ANS inspections run 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. through May 22, then expand to 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. May 23 through September 7. Hours from September 8 through October 1 have not yet been determined.

All boats leaving Highline Lake must undergo mandatory decontamination because the lake is considered infested following the 2022 discovery of zebra mussels there. Visitors should expect longer wait times when leaving the lake during peak days.

Reservations and ANS prevention

Campsite reservations can be made at cpwshop.com, where customers can search by park name, location, site type or date.

CPW continues to urge boaters and anglers to clean, drain and dry vessels and gear between uses to prevent the spread of aquatic nuisance species such as zebra mussels. Anglers should keep gear free of mud and plants between every use, even between different stretches of the same river. CPW publishes maps of its gear and watercraft cleaning stations on its website.

Keep Colorado Wild Pass

Colorado's $29 Keep Colorado Wild Pass supports more than 960 species of wildlife and 23 million acres of public lands. More information is available at cpw.info/keepcoloradowildpass.