State parks across the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Southwest Region are ready to welcome motorized boaters back to reservoirs.
At many of the region’s parks, drought conditions and a historically low snowpack mean the boating season will be better early in the spring and summer. Those wanting to maximize the season shouldn’t wait until the Fourth of July to get the boat out this year.
Water levels often determine boat ramp opening and closing dates for state parks. While water levels may rapidly decrease at some of the Southwest Region’s parks, Sweitzer Lake remains full year-round, while Navajo and Ridgway provide much larger reservoirs with more open water to enjoy for boating despite lower levels.
Navajo State Park became the first in the Southwest Region to open its boat ramp in 2026. The boat ramp opened March 13 and is open on weekends only, Friday through Sunday, through April 12. Beginning April 14, the ramp will be open daily from 8am to 4pm.
“Our water level will be low this year on the Colorado side,” said Navajo State Park Manager Jon Meats. “We did benefit from heavy fall rain in 2025, so our visitors on the Colorado side of the reservoir will still enjoy a quality experience when setting out on the water. But that fall flooding also introduced more debris, so we need all boaters to be aware and exercise extra caution as water levels fluctuate.”
Cold water danger
While spring temperatures recently soared as high as 80 degrees at some Southwest Region parks, CPW reminds the public that water temperatures remain as cold as 40 degrees and can present immediate danger, especially to those not wearing a proper personal flotation device. Wearing a life jacket will keep your head above water and support your body should your swimming ability fail or you become unconscious.
“It can be deceiving when we start getting warm-weather days and it’s nice outside, but everyone recreat- ing on the water should be aware the water is still really cold and remains cold until at least mid-summer here in Colorado,” said Sweitzer Lake Park Manager Scott Rist. “Having the proper gear and a life jacket on is imperative for anyone recreating on the water.”
Windy conditions can exacerbate danger on the water for paddlers. Getting blown off course can happen quickly, and returning to shore can be difficult going into a headwind or when facing waves. That can lead to paddlers expending a lot of energy to navigate and maintain balance.
When a paddler loses balance and goes into the water, it can also be easy to become separated from a kayak or paddleboard.
“There are several cellphone apps that will tell you hourly wind predictions,” Rist said. “Knowing when conditions are going to change can be the difference between life and death. The user has a responsibility to know before you go.”
All boats are required to have one Coast Guard-approved life jacket for each person on board. All persons under the age of 13 years old must have them on at all times when on a watercraft. Life jackets can save lives when they fit properly and are worn when recreating on the water.
Boaters are also encouraged to take a boating safety course with CPW to learn navigation safety and what to do in case of an accident.
Aquatic nuisance species inspections
Before launching in Colorado waters, boaters will need to ensure their boat is registered, purchase an aquatic nuisance species (ANS) stamp and follow all ANS inspection requirements.
“We always want to remind everyone to make sure their boats are clean, drained and dry,” said Ridgway State Park Senior Ranger Derek MacLachlan.
Visitors are encouraged to check each state park’s page on the CPW website for the latest updates on ramp hours and conditions through- out the season. Only hand-launched or human powered vessels are allowed outside of ANS inspection hours.