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Biking
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6/6/2013 |
Most trails located in Mancos State Park are single-track and suitable for mountain bike use. Winter conditions can make trails unsuitable for biking. Mancos trails connect to numerous U.S. Forest trails and the Denver-to-Durango Colorado Trail. http://www.coloradotrail.org/. Nearby mountain bike trails include Phil's World (near Cortez)and Boggy Draw (near Dolores)http://www.singletracks.com/mountain-bike/trails.php See the Trails section for complete trail descriptions in Mancos State Park and Conditions section for current trail conditions.
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Birding
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6/6/2013 |
Bird lists are available from staff at the park during the summer, contact our Dolores office 970-882-2213 at other times of year. There are a wide variety of birds in the park at all times of year.
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Boating
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6/6/2013 |
Jackson Gulch Reservoir (217 acre lake) at Mancos State Park is a great place for hand-powered crafts such as kayaks, canoes and sailboats, and the facility includes a very nice concrete boat ramp for launching virtually any sized craft.
Jackson Gulch is a “wakeless” lake so, boaters cannot create a wake here. The boat ramp is closed for the winter starting in mid-Oct. until the ice leaves the lake in the spring.
Boats must be registered in Colorado, registrations are valid from Jan. 1- Dec. 31. You can register your boat at the park during the summer or the Lone Mesa State Park office in Dolores any time of year, 970-882-2213.
ANS (Aquatic Nuisance Species) inspections are required on all trailered boats before launching. When the park is not staffed inspections can be arranged by appointment by calling the Durango Parks & Wildlife office (970-247-0855) or Lone Mesa State Park office in Dolores (970-882-2213). Please visit the Boating section of our website for more information on ANS and state regulations. The following website also has useful information on ANS: www.100thmeridian.org
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Cabins and Yurts
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6/6/2013 |
Mancos State Park offers two yurts for year-round rental (reservations are required). These yurts have screened doors & windows, ceiling fan, and are heated in the cooler weather. Check out the link to the park's yurt brochure for additional information. For reservations follow the park website links or call: 1-800-678-2267.
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Camping
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6/6/2013 |
Most of Mancos State Park’s 32 campsites sit in the shadow of a mature Ponderosa pine forest on the south side of the reservoir. All campsites have fire rings and picnic tables. There are vault toilets and drinking water but no electrical hookups. A dump station is located at the exit of the main campground. There are no shower facilities in the park. In addition to the campsites, two yurts are available year round at sites 22 and 24 (reservations required 1-800-678-2267). There are nine campsites (closed in winter)on the west side of the lake primarily for tent camping with vault toilets but no water. Several of the campsites in the upper loop of the main campground are kept open through the winter for winter camping. Bundles of firewood are available for purchase in the park during the summer at $5/bundle. We encourage you to purchase this firewood as it is locally collected from fire fuels and forest health treatment on the park and reduces the risk of introducing pests to our area (which often accompany wood brought into the park). See the Mancos Camping Page and Conditions for more information.
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Cross-country Skiing
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6/6/2013 |
When the snow conditions are right there is some great cross-country skiing in the park. Nearby groomed trails are also available at the Chicken Creek ski area (http://www.mancoscolorado.com/ChickenCreek.htm). See Mancos Conditions for snow updates. A nice warm yurt is a great place to serve as a base for your winter explorations.
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Education Programs
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6/6/2013 |
Evening concerts or programs will be offered every Saturday evening from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day. Other educational and interpretive programs such as guided hikes and games are offered Saturday and Sunday. As programs are scheduled they will be posted on the State Park website "Calendar". Click on "Calendar" at the top of the page or on Education then "Calendar" on the information bar on the website to find out more about specific programs, dates and times or call (970)533-7065, in the summer. In other seasons please call our Dolores office at 970-882-2213 for more information. Keep checking back for updates on new and exciting programs!
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Equipment Rental
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6/6/2013 |
Mancos has a canoe, a kayak, and 2 pedal boats available to rent in the summer months. Unfortunately this year the lake level is too low to safely allow boat rentals. If we get a good rainy season we may make these available later this summer. The boats can be rented 1/2 day (<4 hours) for $25 or full day (4 hours or more) for $40. All boats come with PDFs for all occupants, paddles for the canoe & kayak and oars for the rowboat. You must be at least 18 to rent a boat and sign a waiver.
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Fishing
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6/6/2013 |
Colorado Parks and Wildlife stocks rainbow trout during the spring and summer for excellent year-round fishing. Please see Park Conditions for a fishing report. For fishing regulations please click on the "Fishing" link on our website. Yellow perch are also quite plentiful, making for a great experience for kids. There is also great ice fishing when the lake freezes and the ice becomes safe. See our "Conditions" page for icing conditions.
When the entrance station is staffed, during the summer, you may purchase your fishing license at the park.
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Group Picnicking
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6/6/2013 |
The park offers a covered group picnic area with drinking water nearby, barbeque stands, a sand volleyball court, horseshoe pits, and other amenities. The group picnic area can be rented for $30/day (6am - 10pm). A net and volleyball as well as horseshoes are provided by the park. Please call the park office at (970) 533-7065 or the Dolores office at (970) 882-2213 for special group regulations, other recreational equipment, information and reservations.
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Hiking
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6/6/2013 |
Hikers will enjoy the 5.5-mile system of trails at Mancos State Park. Please check the trail conditions page for more information. Mancos trails connect to numerous U.S. Forest trails (http://www.fs.usda.gov/activity/sanjuan/recreation/hiking) and the Denver-to-Durango Colorado Trail (http://www.go-colorado.com/Half-Century-Mountain-Biking-Trail/). See the Mancos Trails page for complete trail descriptions and Mancos Conditions for trail access and weather updates.
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Horseback Riding
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6/6/2013 |
Mancos provides a popular connection to the San Juan National Forest for horseback riders, who will enjoy the trails inside the park as well. Mancos trails connect to numerous U.S. Forest trails (http://www.fs.usda.gov/activity/sanjuan/recreation/hiking or http://www.fs.usda.gov/activity/sanjuan/recreation/horseriding-camping) and the Denver-to-Durango Colorado Trail (http://www.coloradotrail.org/). Other area trails and information for horsemen can be found at http://www.mesaverdehorsemen.com. For complete trail description in the state park please see the "Trails" section. Also, check the Trail Conditions page for more information.
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Hunting
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6/6/2013 |
Although there are no hunting opportunities inside Mancos State Park, the park offers a great basecamp for turkey, deer, elk, and other hunting just outside the park in the San Juan National Forest. Very high quality elk, deer, and bear hunting opportunities are offered by limited drawing at the nearby Lone Mesa State Park as well. Contact the Lone Mesa State Park Office at 970-882-2213.
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Ice Fishing
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6/6/2013 |
In the winter, when the lake freezes and is safe, the ice fishing is popular and rewarding. Both rainbow trout and yellow perch are common catches. See the Conditions Page for updates on ice development and winter weather.
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OHV Riding
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6/6/2013 |
OHVs (Off Highway Vehicles) CANNOT be used anywhere in the park, this includes the county road through the park. Mancos provides a great base camp for trailering machines to the amazing "Aspen Loop" OHV trail and several other nearby National Forest OHV trails (http://www.fs.usda.gov/activity/sanjuan/recreation/ohv). OHVs must be registered in Colorado if they are to be used on public lands, registrations are valid from April 1 - Mar. 31. Non-residents are required to get a non-resident permit for their OHV. OHVs can be registered/permitted at the park during the summer months or the Lone Mesa State Park Office in Dolores at other times of year.
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Picnicking
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6/6/2013 |
In addition to a covered group shelter, Mancos has 10 picnic sites with grills in various locations throughout the park.
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Snowmobiling
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6/6/2013 |
Although there are no snowmobile trails in the park, Mancos State Park is an excellent "staging area" for snowmobiling from the nearby West Mancos Trailhead in the San Juan National Forest (http://www.fs.usda.gov/activity/sanjuan/recreation/wintersports), which is less than two miles from Mancos State Park. The trail gives snowmobilers access to hundreds of miles of trails. Go snowmobiling on the West Mancos Trail and stay in one of the heated yurts at Mancos. For snow conditions please visit the "Conditions" section of the website. Snowmobiles must be registered in Colorado if they are to be used on public lands, registrations are valid from Oct. 1 - Sept. 30. A non-resident snowmobile permit is required in Colorado. Registrations/permits can be purchased at the Lone Mesa State Park Dolores office (970)882-2213.
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Snowshoeing
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6/6/2013 |
The approximately 5.5 miles of non-motorized trails inside the park provide excellent snowshoeing opportunities. The park's trails connect to several miles of Forest Service trails (http://www.fs.usda.gov/activity/sanjuan/recreation/wintersports). Heated yurts and plowed winter campsites are available for base camp. Trail conditions are available on the website.
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Snowtubing
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6/6/2013 |
Given appropriate snow conditions, some tubing and sledding opportunities exist around the park's boat ramp. Or, for a groomed tubing hill and tube rentals, the Hesperus ski area is about 15 minutes away (http://www.go-colorado.com/Hesperus-Ski-Area/).
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Swimming
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6/6/2013 |
Swimming is NOT allowed in the lake.
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Volleyball
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6/6/2013 |
There is a sand volleyball court near the group picnic area, just inside the entrance to the park. Equipment is available for check-out during the summer months (Memorial Day through Labor Day) at the entrance station.
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Wildlife Viewing
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6/6/2013 |
Because Mancos State Park becomes very quiet in the fall, winter and early spring, the park offers excellent wildlife viewing opportunities. Mule dear, Merriams turkey, foxes, coyotes, Abert's squirrels, an occasional elk, and a variety of other wonderful creatures are known to show off at the park. During the summer bear have also been sighted in the park so be sure to follow all precautions posted in the park.
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Winter Activities
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6/6/2013 |
Winter is the undiscovered incredible season at Mancos State Park. The heated yurts and plowed campsites make great base camps for cross country skiing (http://www.mancosvalley.com/Skiing.html), snowshoeing, snowmobiling the nearby San Juan National Forest (http://www.fs.usda.gov/activity/sanjuan/recreation/wintersports)or (www.swcolo.org), alpine skiing or tubing at the quaint family-run Hesperus ski hill (http://www.go-colorado.com/Hesperus-Ski-Area/) or at the Durango Mountain Resort (www.durangomountainresort.com/). Ice fishing at the park can be excellent for yellow perch and rainbow trout. Or, simply wrap up in the yurt with a book in the winter quiet.
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