Regulations
Mancos State Park is maintained for your use and enjoyment. In the
interest of safety and the preservation of the park, we ask that you:
1. Place trash in receptacles provided.
2. K
eep your vehicle on designated roads and parking lots.
3. Keep your pets on a leash no longer than six feet.
4. Build fires only in grills provided.
5. Camp only in designated sites.
6. R
eport any vandalism or littering to a Colorado
Parks and Wildlife ranger.
7. H
onor park quiet hours, 10 p.m. to 6 a.m., for the
comfort of all campers.
8. Recognize only 3.2 alcohol is permitted.
9. Observe the campsite capacity limit of 6 people
and 2 vehicles.
10. No swimming is allowed.
C O L O R A D O PA R K S & W I L D L I F E
Mancos
State Park
S
cenic Mancos State Park is located only 12 miles
from historic Mesa Verde National Park in
southwest Colorado. Situated at an elevation
of 7,800 feet on the San Juan Skyway Scenic Byway,
Mancos State Park is surrounded by the majestic San
Juan mountain range. The area has more than 300 land
acres and Jackson Gulch Reservoir, lying within the park,
provides 216 surface acres of water for recreation.
Jackson Gulch Dam in Mancos State Park was
constructed in 1948 by the Bureau of Reclamation. It
supplies the drinking and irrigation water for Mesa Verde
and the surrounding rural Mancos Valley area.
ENJOY YOUR STATE PARKS
There is a beautiful campground here, nestled within
a mature ponderosa pine forest. Wakeless boating and
excellent year-round fishing await the recreationist
looking for a relaxing day. Picnickers and hikers will find
sites and trails sure to please.
Passes & Permits
In addition to Mesa Verde, visitors to the area have the
opportunity to view prehistoric Anasazi Indian ruins
at the Anasazi Heritage Center, located in Dolores,
approximately 20 miles northwest of Mancos. The
Durango-Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad in nearby
Durango offers the visitor a scenic trip through remote
wilderness areas of the San Juan National Forest.
Durango is 27 miles east of Mancos.
All vehicles entering the park, year-around, are required
to display a current Colorado State Parks Pass on the auto
windshield. A daily park pass is valid from the day purchased
until noon the following day. An annual park pass is valid at any
Colorado state park. For annual pass holders who own another
car, a multiple pass is available for an additional fee. Passes are
available at main park entrances and self-service dispensers.
Colorado residents 64 and older qualify for a special Aspen Leaf
annual park pass, available at a discounted rate. This allows
admission to all state parks every day.
Mancos State Park is managed by Colorado Parks
& Wildlife in cooperation with the U.S. Bureau of
Reclamation and the Mancos Water Conservancy District.
Colorado disabled veterans displaying Colorado Disabled
Veteran (DV) license plates are admitted free without a pass.
In addition to a parks pass, campers are required to purchase
and display a camping permit at their campsite.
The pleasant climate and many diversions make Mancos
a not-to-be-missed stop on your next trip through
southwestern Colorado.
Mancos State Park
Boaters must observe the Colorado boating statutes and
regulations, which are available in brochure form at
the park entrance. Life jackets must be worn by boaters
under the age of 13. Only wakeless boating is permitted at
Mancos. No water-skiing or swimming is allowed.
Boating
c/o Lone Mesa State Park
PO Box 1047 • 1321 Railroad Ave.
Dolores, CO 81323 • (970) 882-2213
Summer Season Only: (970) 533-7065
E-mail: mancos.park@state.co.us
Picnicking
In addition to a covered group shelter, Mancos State Park
has ten picnic sites with grills.
Fishing
cpw.state.co.us
Funded in part by Great Outdoors Colorado
through Colorado Lottery proceeds.
CPW_RMMC_3/17
Rainbow trout have been stocked
by Colorado Parks & Wildlife
for excellent year-round fishing.
Fishing licenses available at the park
entrance when open.
cpw.state.co.us
Camping & Dump Station
Mancos State Park has 32 campsites, most located on
the south side of the reservoir in a mature ponderosa
pine forest. There are vault toilets and drinking water
but no electrical hookups. Along the northwest side of
the reservoir, there are nine campsites, primarily for tent
campers, with restrooms but no drinking water nearby.
Check-out time is noon. A dump station is located at
the exit leaving the campground. Firewood may be
purchased at the park.
Mancos State Park also has two cabin-like yurts available for
rent year-round. A yurt is reminiscent of a nomadic portable
tent used by the Mongolian people of Siberia. They are
circular tents made of vinyl-impregnated canvas surrounding
a wooden lattice wall and ceiling. Yurts are heated for cold
nights. For camping or yurt information and reservations
call in Denver, (303) 470-1144, outside the Denver metro area,
1-800-678-2267 or online at cpw.state.co.us.
Hiking & Nature Trails
A five-mile trail system weaves through Mancos State
Park, meeting Chicken Creek Trail which connects with
a network of trails on U.S. Forest Service land. The trails
are for hiking, horseback riding and mountain bikes.
Mancos State Park has a trailhead connected to the
Durango to Denver Colorado Trail.
Winter Recreation
Cold weather enthusiasts can cross-country ski, ice fish
and go snowshoeing and at Mancos State Park. Cozy yurts
are available to rent and several campsites are available.
Wildlife
Deer, elk, small game animals, waterfowl, migrating bald
eagles, other raptors and hummingbirds are among the
many species of wildlife seen at Mancos.
Community Facilities
Gas and groceries can be obtained in Mancos, five
miles from the park.
Wakeless
Park Boundary
Trail
Yurts
Watchable Wildlife Kiosk
Wakeless Boating Only
Trailhead
Sail Boating
Restroom
Picnic Area
Park Entrance
Group Picnic Shelter
Fishing
Dump Station
Drinking Water
Camping
Boat Ramp
Amphitheater
LEGEND
Closed
Area
5
7
2
4
6
Vista
Quarry
Horseshoe
Mountain Lion
Vista
Vista
10
9
8
23
11
12
18
17
21
22
19
20
24
15
13
16
14
Vista
Quarry
Lakeview Ridge
Chicken Creek
Chicken Creek
Trailhead End
Trails
Chicken Creek
Nature Trail
33
Site 24 is an accessible campsite
1
24A
Black Bear
Mule Deer
29 30
32
Main Campground
27
Trailhead Start
3
25
26
28
31
West Campground
Name
Mancos State Park
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