Best Things to Do at Ridgway State Park in Colorado
Explore the best things to do at the incredible Ridgway State Park in Colorado!
Located near the northern end of the famed Million Dollar Highway, Ridgway State Park offers up 3 different camping areas and miles of hiking trails, all centered around a large reservoir.
Whether you’re a local or a first time visitor, you’ll find plenty of outdoor activities here to keep you busy.
During our recent trip to Ridgway State Park, we explored every nook and cranny, and I’m sharing my best tips on what to do and see below.
The tipi outside of the Ridgway State Park visitors center with the Rocky Mountains behind
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Where is Ridgway State Park?
This beautiful property is just one of Colorado’s incredible state parks, and it is located along Highway 550 just south of Montrose.
On a map of Colorado, Ridgway is located in the southwestern section of the state, and is also close to the ski slopes of Telluride, Ouray and the beautiful Cascade Falls hike, and the northern end of the famed Million Dollar Highway.
The actual town of Ridgway is a few miles south of the state park, and it offers up some basic amenities like 2 gas stations, an Ace Hardware store, a post office, restaurants, and other cute shops.
A bit further out is Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, which is truly a hidden gem among Colorado’s NPS sites. Spending one day at Black Canyon of the Gunnison is plenty of time to get an overview of the park, and it makes for a great day trip from Ridgway State Park.
Ridgway State Park is situated so that it’s easy to get to any of these places—and more!—while you’re enjoying your visit here.
Ridgway State Park: An Overview
Before we get into what to do in this state park, it’s important to get a layout of the place.
While some state parks are relatively compact, Ridgway sprawls across 3200 acres and has 3 separate entrances.
If you’re traveling from Montrose to Ridgway State Park, you’ll be heading south on Highway 550.
When approaching from this direction, you’ll get to the Pa-Co-Chu-Puk entrance first. It’s the smallest of the 3 areas of the park, and it has 1 campground.
The next entrance is to the Dutch Charlie section of the park, which is the main area of the park. You’ll find the visitors center here, as well as 2 campgrounds, the marina, and one of the swimming areas.
The southernmost entrance is Dallas Creek, which also offers up the most dramatic views of both the Ridgway Reservoir at the heart of the park and the Rocky Mountains further south. There’s no camping here, but you will have the best access to the reservoir.
The beautiful sunset over some of the campers at Ridgway State Park
NOTE: There are entrance stations at all three locations, and you’ll need to pay the daily entrance fee to access all of the amenities below. However, one entrance ticket will get you into all 3 sections, so you can bounce between all of the areas during your visit.
If you’re staying at the campgrounds at Ridgway, you’ll need to pay the daily entrance fee in addition to your nightly camping costs. This entrance fee is paid in person when you arrive at the entrance station, and not when you book your campsite online.
Another benefit to Ridgway State Park is that is open year round, unlike many of the other area campgrounds.
What to Do in Ridgway State Park
Below, I’m sharing all of our favorite things at Ridgway State Park. For each of the entries, I’ve noted where in the park the activity is, so that you can focus your time accordingly.
And, since I’m a family outdoor travel blog, I’ve also indicated recommended ages and abilities for each of the activities.
Many of these activities are free with admission to the park, which makes Ridgway State Park an excellent, low cost add-on to your time in this part of Colorado. Where there is a fee associated with the activity, I have included a rough estimate of cost.
NOTE: The park is located at 7,000 feet above sea level, which can cause visitors from lower lying areas to be prone to headaches, fatigue and nausea.
Don’t let altitude sickness ruin your vacation! Drink more water than you think you need, take breaks when you feel winded, and keep your blood sugar up with regular healthy snacks. If that doesn’t help, consider using a portable oxygen canister for temporary relief.
Explore the visitors center.
Location in park: Dutch Charlie
Recommended ages: all ages
Cost: free
PIN ME!
The visitors center is always a good place to start any visit to a state or national park, and the one inside Ridgway State Park is no exception.
Here, you can talk with the friendly, knowledgeable rangers, pick up a hiking guide, Junior Ranger booklet or Young Explorers backpack, or learn about the park’s wildlife. For more on these programs, see below.
When you first walk in, you’ll enter right next to the ranger’s offices. Walk up to the window to speak with whomever is on duty. Or, you can grab one of the many brochures, coloring sheets, or free guides near the ranger area.
The visitors center at Ridgway State Park has one of the best selections of guides and pamphlets that I’ve ever come across at a state park. It’s easy to see that the Colorado state parks system takes their job as facilitator and guide very seriously.
Past the ranger area, you’ll find a small selection of t-shirts, hoodies, and other park themed gear. Over the fireplace are several taxidermied examples of the types of animals that live in and around the park.
There are also clean bathrooms here if you need to make a pit stop before heading out onto a trail.
Outside of the visitors center and to the left is a large tipi, which is a nod to the Uncompahgre Ute people native to this area. With its location in a field with the Rockies behind it, the tipi makes for one of the prettiest places in the park to take photos.
Go swimming at the beach.
Location in park: Dutch Charlie
Recommended ages: all ages (with supervision)
Cost: free
The swimming beach near the marina store in the Dutch Charlie section of the park
Nothing excites my kids on a trip like the promise of swimming after a long day of driving. For this reason, we are always on the lookout for a pool, pond, river, or lake at the places where we camp.
The Ridgway Reservoir is an incredible resource for families like mine, who will go out of their way to find a swimming hole.
While the reservoir is excellent for a variety of water-based activities, Ridgway has one spot set aside just for swimmers.
The swim beach is located in front of the marina store with plenty of parking nearby. The beach itself has clean sand, while the swimming area is clearly roped off with bright buoys.
The reservoir does have changing water levels throughout the year, but the swim buoys are adjusted accordingly so that the swimming area remains safe.
There is a gentle slope into the water in the swimming area, so that younger kids can splash around near the water’s edge, while older kids can jump around a bit more in the deeper end. The swim area tops out around 7 feet the depth, and you’re not allowed in the water where the reservoir gets very deep.
For families with special needs, the park offers a floating swim chair at no cost. Ask at the marina office for help getting it into the water.
While there’s water access elsewhere in the park, this is the only dedicated space for swimming. This is done to keep the swimmers as safe as possible and to keep them away from the fishing, motor boats, paddleboards and canoes in use elsewhere.
Paddleboard around the reservoir.
Location in park: Dutch Charlie
Recommended ages: 6 and up
Cost: $45 per hour to rent
The author and the Camping Kiddos paddle boarding in the Ridgway Reservoir
We stayed at Ridgway State Park as part of a longer 8-week road trip from South Carolina to Great Sand Dunes National Park and the Utah Mighty 5 up to Glacier National Park and beyond.
I knew that, wherever we were staying in this part of Colorado on our trip, I needed to make it extra special since my daughter’s birthday fell along those dates. Her one request for her birthday was to go paddleboarding.
When I found out that Ridgway State Park had both a reservoir for recreational use and reasonably priced paddleboard rentals, it was an easy choice to book our week-long stay here.
We ended up renting 2 paddleboards: one for the birthday girl, and one for me and my 7-year-old son. The paddleboards are $45 an hour, and they come with life jackets and a short safety briefing.
You rent the paddleboards in the marina office, which is down Marina Road from the visitors center in the Dutch Charlie section. From there, it’s a short walk down the beach to the kayak and paddleboard launching area next to the swim beach.
The walk between the marina and the launching area is sloped downward, which helps as you’re going to the water. The walk back is a bit tougher since you’re going uphill while carrying your paddleboard. There is a pathway covered in rubber matting, so at least you’re not having to walk in the sand itself.
The paddleboards are quite sturdy and made for an excellent experience for us. We’ve been paddleboarding before, but it had been enough of a time lapse that my daughter and I were both a little rusty. However, the paddleboards we rented here had us up on our feet and zooming around the marina area in no time.
I carried my son on the front of my board without any trouble. The water in the reservoir is clear near the shore, though it deepens quickly as you move away from the sides. (If you’re looking for THE clearest lake water for paddleboarding, I’d recommend Lake McDonald in Glacier National Park, which was also a blast.)
If you’re traveling with someone with special needs who’d like to try out paddle boarding, ask at the marina store for the handicap-accessible paddle board!
Ultimately, paddleboarding at Ridgway was one of the highlights of our time in Colorado. It’s highly recommended!
Take to the water.
Location in park: Dutch Charlie, Dallas Creek
Recommended ages: all ages
Cost: variable
Don’t forget to pick up your life jacket at the free life jacket exchange near the Dallas Creek entrance.
If you’d like other ways to explore the reservoir than swimming, you can go boating, water skiing, canoeing, or kayaking.
You’re welcome to bring your own equipment and then launch them at the marina in Dutch Charlie or off the shore of Dallas Creek, or you can rent equipment from the park.
For a great day on the water, rent one of the park’s pontoon boats for a half or full day. There’s also an overnight upcharge if you’re planning to play on the reservoir for multiple days.
The park’s rental pedalboats are fun (but also a big workout!). They rent by the hour, but you can get a discount if you pay upfront for a half or full day.
Bring a picnic.
Location in park: Dutch Charlie, Dallas Creek, Pa-Co-Chu-Puk
Recommended ages: all ages
Cost: free
The group picnic shelter at the back of the Pa-Co-Chu-Puk campground
With 87 picnic shelters, there’s always an open table somewhere in Ridgway State Park!
The Secret Spot is located a short ways down the Twin Fawn trail if you’re walking away from the beach parking area towards the Elk Ridge campground. It’s harder to get to than the other picnic areas in the park, so you’re almost guaranteed to have it to yourself.
The picnic shelters on Shoreline Road near the swimming beach have the prettiest views and include roofs in case of an errant rain cloud.
Dallas Creek has a picnic area to the left of the entrance station with views of the reservoir on that side of the park.
You don’t need to reserve any of these picnic tables: just show up and spread out your sandwiches and snacks in between boating, swimming, and hiking experiences.
Become a Junior Ranger.
Location in park: Dutch Charlie
Recommended ages: 5 and up
Cost: free
If you’ve spent any time at all on this website, you’ll know that I love a Junior Ranger program. As a former English professor, I am always looking for new ways for my kids (and me!) to learn about the world around us.
The Junior Ranger programs at the US National Parks are one of our go-to activities, so I get very excited when the state parks we visit have followed suit.
Ridgway State Park has its own Junior Ranger program that’s free and available to any kid—or kid at heart—who’d like to turn their time at the park into learning fun.
Pick up one of the booklets at the visitors center. The booklets should be sitting out on the counter near the other handouts and sheets. If you don’t see them, ask at the ranger counter, and they’ll get one for you quickly.
Then, take the booklet around with you as you explore various areas of the park, filling in the required activities. When you’re done, head back to the visitors center to return your book and have the ranger on duty look through your work.
If the ranger thinks you’ve completed it properly, you’ll get sworn in and will receive a themed badge.
Be a young naturalist.
Location in park: Dutch Charlie
Recommended ages: 7 and up
Cost: free
Ridgway State Park goes all out for kids visiting their parks. Besides the Junior Ranger program mentioned above, they also have the Young Naturalists program, which encourages kids to get familiar with wildlife, outdoor skills, and plant identification.
If you’d like to participate, you can head over to the visitors center and ask the ranger on duty for the Young Naturalist backpack.
Inside the backpacks are illustrated field guides, maps of Ridgway State Park, flashcards of local wildlife and plant species, worksheets on outdoor safety, a compass, and so much more.
My kids had a blast with this program, and they eagerly unpacked the bags to see everything included. They spent hours at and around our campsite trying to identify trees, grasses, bugs, and animals they could find.
They also loved examining different bugs and plants with the included magnifying glass.
I love how versatile these packs are, as you can use them in various ways throughout the park. You can rent them by the day, but they must be returned no later than 4 PM, when the visitors center closes.
Go fishing.
Location in park: Dutch Charlie, Dallas Creek, Pa-Co-Chu-Puk
Recommended ages: 5 and up
Cost: variable
If you like fishing, you can’t do much better than Ridgway State Park.
There are multiple fishing areas in the reservoir, stocked ponds, and the Uncompahgre River.
In the Dutch Charlie area, there is a great fishing pier that’s accessible to all, even those visitors who use wheelchairs or other walking aids. This pier is off of the main parking area near the marina.
Or, you can shore fish in the Dutch Charlie area away from the swim beach and kayak launch.
In the Dallas Creek area, you can shore fish anywhere along the reservoir’s edge.
In the Pa-Co-Chu-Puk area, there are 2 stocked fishing ponds between Loop G of the Pa-Co-Chu-Puk campground and the parking for the hike-in tent campers. You can also fish in the Uncompaghre River via one of the many river trails near the group picnic area.
While the Uncompaghre River fishing is catch-and-release only, you can keep any of your catch in the other areas (within state regulations, of course).
You can bring your own equipment, or borrow gear from the park.
If you’re borrowing fishing gear, stop by the visitors center or the marina office to check out your pole and tackle box. They also have options to borrow gear for younger fishermen, too.
Kids can learn the basics of fishing at Ridgway in the annual Huck Finn Days (usually held in the middle of June) at the Pa-Co-Chu-Puk area of the park. Have them dress up at their favorite character from Mark Twain’s beloved novels for extra fun!
During the winter, the park is still open for fishing, and ice fishing is allowed when the park’s conditions are deemed safe. Check with the visitors center before heading out onto the iced over reservoir.
Go camping.
The author’s family at their campsite at Ridgway State Park
Location in park: Dutch Charlie, Pa-Co-Chu-Puk
Recommended ages: all ages
Cost: $28-$40 per night
Stay in the middle of the fun by reserving one of the hundreds of camping sites in Ridgway State Park. There are sites for both RVs and tent campers, and all of the sites are large and private.
There are 3 camping areas: Pa-Co-Chu-Puk Campground in the Pa-Co-Chu-Puk section of the park, Elk Ridge Campground in the Dutch Charlie section, and Dakota Terraces Campground also in the Dutch Charlie section.
We stayed in the Pa-Co-Chu-Puk campground during our time at Ridgway, and it was wonderful. Of the 11 campgrounds we visited on this 8-week road trip, it was one of the prettiest and cleanest—and it definitely had the biggest lots!
Read my full review of the Pa-Co-Chu-Puk campground at Ridgway State Park here.
If you’d like to experience the great outdoors, but would rather go glamping, the park also rents out 3 yurts in the Dakota Terraces campground.
Hike throughout the park.
Location in park: Dutch Charlie, Dallas Creek, Pa-Co-Chu-Puk
Recommended ages: all ages
Cost: free
With 14 miles of hiking trails across the park’s 3 sections, Ridgway State Park has one of the highest concentrations of trails in this area.
These trails are dog friendly and many are also great for biking.
Thanks to the carefully thought out pathways, the trails are all excellent for families or beginning hikers, as there are few trails in the park that are longer than a mile or have more than 300 feet of elevation gain or loss.
Our favorites include:
the beautiful River Walk (0.2 miles) in Pa-Co-Chu-Puk that follows the Uncompaghre River,
the short but fun Dallas Creek Nature Trail that offers up views of the reservoir, and
the Forest Discovery Nature Trail (0.6 miles) next to the visitors center in Dutch Charlie.
Hiking between the park’s sections is a great way to explore the park! The Cookie Tree Trail (0.9 miles) connects Dallas Creek and Dutch Charlie, while the Enchanted Mesa Trail (2.5 miles) connects Dutch Charlie to Pa-Co-Chu-Puk.
Be sure to grab a hiking map from the entrance stations or visitors center.
Also, visitors will special needs or who are wheelchair bound can use one of the park’s 4 all-terrain wheelchairs to access multiple hiking trails. These chairs are offered for free on a first come, first served basis. Ask at the visitors center for more details.
Burn off some steam at the playgrounds.
The play area at Pa-Co-Chu-Puk campground
Location in park: Dutch Charlie, Pa-Co-Chu-Puk
Recommended ages: 2-10
Cost: free
State parks often don’t have one playground—Ridgway State Park has multiple!
My kids loved burning off energy in the evenings or between excursions at the playground near the bath house and laundry in the Pa-Co-Chu-Puk campground.
This play area was fairly small and doesn’t have swings, but it does have a slide, monkey bars, and plenty of places to run around.
There’s another playground on the hill next to the swim beach; this playground is bigger with multiple slides.
My kids were delighted with the huge slide that went down the hill from the playground to the swim beach. There’s a staircase nearby for them to return to the playground and do it all over again.
I will note that the play areas don’t have any shade or tree cover, so keep reapplying that sunscreen.
Final Thoughts on Visiting Ridgway State Park
In short, Ridgway State Park is one of the best state parks that we’ve visited so far!
Everything on the property was meticulously maintained, and the employees were all helpful and clearly proud of their park.
I appreciate that the park has many ways to explore this beautiful part of Colorado, whether that’s on a trail, on a paddleboard, or relaxing by a campfire.
Plus, the property’s thoughtful consideration of the needs of both families and those with special needs means that nearly everyone can find something to do here.
We will be back here the next time we’re visiting this part of Colorado, and our experience here has also made me excited to explore even more of Colorado’s state parks system.
