DENVER — Colorado Parks and Wildlife is adding reservation-only camping to 15 more state parks in January.
Starting on the first of the new year, those state parks will convert into a reservation-only system, meaning campers will need to have a reservation ahead of time to set up at a site. They can do this anytime online. CPW is also getting rid of its $10 reservation-only camping fee.
This comes in the wake of a successful test of this system at five parks in 2018. Those parks were Cheyenne Mountain, Eleven Mile, Staunton, St. Vrain and Trinidad Lake. The park managers from those parks reported that the pilot program of the system was successful.
The new 15 state parks that will be added to this list in the new year are:
· Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area
· Boyd Lake
· Cherry Creek
· Golden Gate Canyon
· Highline Lake
· Jackson Lake
· John Martin Reservoir
· Lathrop
· Mueller
· North Sterling
· Pearl Lake
· Ridgeway
· State Forest
· Steamboat Lake
· Yampa River
In addition, Lake Pueblo and Chatfield state parks will join the program in April 2019.
To reserve a camping spot, visit www.cpwshop.com/home.page or call 800-244-5613.
CPW said allowing campers to reserve a spot eliminates the gamble in a first-come, first-served area.
Campers who stay in a reservation-only location without a reservation may be cited.