This March has brought more ideal late-winter, early-spring camping weather than most years along the Front Range and foothills. But while most parks remain open amid the novel coronavirus outbreak, Colorado Parks and Wildlife campgrounds are officially closed until further notice.
CPW made the announcement Thursday morning that all campgrounds in state parks or state wildlife areas are now closed. In addition to the campgrounds, all playgrounds and camping facilities, like yurts and cabins, are no longer open. Trails, boat ramps, marinas and shorelines are still accessible.
Certain places that would limit social distancing, like small fishing piers, may close.
Restrooms will stay open. CPW recommends bringing your own hand sanitizer.
All current campers will be asked to leave immediately. Staff will contact anybody with a reservation to change their plans or give them a refund.
This change comes in the wake of Gov. Jared Polis's statewide stay-at-home order which was issued Wednesday afternoon and put into effect Thursday at 6 a.m. CPW said it also took advice from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention into account when making this decision.
CPW said it is encouraging people to take the stay-at-home order seriously and limit travel time, even for approved recreational reasons.
U.S. Forest Service campgrounds, restrooms, trailheads, cabins and fire lookout rentals, picnic sites and trash facilities are also closed. Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests and Pawnee National Grassland also announced Thursday it would start closing certain recreation sites and campgrounds Thursday.
