Colorado Parks and Wildlife Celebrates Colorado Day with Free Admission to All Colorado State Parks

DENVER – Colorado Parks and Wildlife will celebrate Colorado Day, Monday, Aug. 6, by offering free entrance at all 42 state parks. Colorado Day was created by the state legislature to mark the anniversary of statehood, granted in 1876 by President Ulysses S. Grant. Free entrance at the state parks is an annual Colorado Day tradition. 

                     “Each Colorado Day, we invite everyone to get outdoors at the state parks, enjoy the natural beauty of these places and experience all the recreational activities that the parks have to offer,” said Rick Cables, Colorado Parks and Wildlife Director. “This annual free day gives people who have never visited a state park the chance to experience the great activities in state parks. Colorado Day is also our annual ‘thank-you’ to all our visitors for their support.”

                     Entrance fees are waived for the day but all other fees, including camping and reservations will remain in effect on Aug. 6.

                    The state parks, scattered throughout Colorado, showcase the state's diverse landscapes, including the prairies of the eastern plains at North Sterling State Park, the alpine beauty of the mountains at State Forest State Park near Walden and the unique geological landscapes at Castlewood Canyon State Park. There are also plenty of opportunities to enjoy Colorado's rivers at James M. Robb-Colorado River State Park near Grand Junction and the Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area in Salida. And, there’s plenty of outdoor fun at the reservoirs at Trinidad Lake State Park, Pearl Lake State Park near Steamboat Springs, Lathrop State Park near Walsenburg and Navajo State Park near Durango.

                      There are a huge variety of recreational opportunities at all Colorado state parks. Float your boat or kayak, raft a river and jet-ski. View diverse wildlife and a multitude of bird species. Catch fish, hike, explore by geocaching, ride some of the best OHV trails in the state or go horseback riding. Teach your children to fish, camp or learn about nature. Climb a challenging rock face, fly a kite or ride your bike.

                    Come play all day, enjoy a picnic and stay for the sunset. This Colorado Day, be sure to get out to a state park for a fun-filled day that the whole family can enjoy.

                       Colorado Parks and Wildlife was created by the merger of Colorado State Parks and the Colorado Division of Wildlife, two nationally recognized leaders in conservation, outdoor recreation and wildlife management. Colorado Parks and Wildlife manages 42 state parks, all of Colorado's wildlife, more than 300 state wildlife areas and a host of recreational programs. To learn more about Colorado's state parks, please see: http://parks.state.co.us. To learn more about Colorado's wildlife programs, please see: http://wildlife.state.co.us.