Mancos State Park RV & Campground Guide
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Come enjoy fishing, boating, cross-country skiing, hiking, and bird-watching at Mancos State Park, located in the high desert of Southwestern Colorado and framed by the San Juan Mountains. Once home to Ancestral Puebloans and then the Spanish, Mancos officially became a state park in 1987. The weather here is usually sunny and mild for much of the year, although the park does experience four seasons and stays open 24/7 year-round, so you can enjoy both summer and winter activities. Just a short drive away from Mancos State Park is another Colorado gem, Mesa Verde National Park. Visiting both makes for a great long weekend exploring the state's rugged landscapes and cultural sites in the Four Corners region.
Nearby Cities:
Dolores, CO
Cortez, CO
Durango, CO
Silverton, CO
Spring 32-66 F
Summer 44-77 F
Fall 18-47 F
Winter 14-41 F
RV Resorts & Campsites in Mancos State Park
Campground Accommodations
Main Campground
Water hookup: No
Electrical hookup: No
Sewer hookup: No
Wi-Fi: No
Pet-friendly: Yes
Max RV length: 40 feet
Other amenities: Vault toilets, drinking water, firewood available for purchase, fire pits, picnic tables at sites, dump station
West Campground
Water hookup: No
Electrical hookup: No
Sewer hookup: No
Wi-Fi: No
Pet-friendly: Yes
Max RV length: 24 feet
Other amenities: Toilets, firewood available for purchase, fire pits, picnic tables at sites, dump station
Bayfield Riverside RV Park
Bayfield Riverside RV Park is a Good Sam campground that is located in Southwest Colorado on the Pine River. It is near Durango and occupies 36 acres of meadows surrounded by woods. The RV sites are right on the river, which is stocked with trout. Visitors will enjoy the quiet beauty and the in-park walking trails.
• Number of sites: 100 pull-through sites
• Rates: $45 - $75 Daily
• Type of hookup: Full hookups
• Electrical Amps: 30 and 50
• Pool/hot tub: No
• Wi-Fi: Yes
• Pet-friendly: Yes
• Showers: Yes
• Recreational Room: Yes
Alpen Rose RV Park
Alpen Rose RV Park is only two miles from the city of Durango and is located in the Animas River Valley. This Good Sam RV park features large sites with plenty of grass and is near hiking trails and hot springs. The scenery is attractive, and there are red rock cliffs on either side of the park. If you have pets, you will love the roomy dog run. There is even a chuck-wagon breakfast.
• Number of sites: 100 pull-through sites
• Rates: $51-$56 Daily
• Type of hookup: Full hookups
• Electrical Amps: 30 and 50
• Pool/hot tub: Yes
• Wi-Fi: Yes
• Pet-friendly: Yes
• Showers: Yes
• Laundry: Yes
• Additional amenities: Game room, playground, dog run, dog walking service
Mesa Verde RV Resort
Mesa Verde RV Resort is minutes away from Mesa Verde National Park, which is a popular park with unique rock formations and ancient ruins. There are plenty of outdoor recreational activities nearby, like hiking trails, rafting, fishing, and off-roading. The park is a Good Sam RV park and offers convenient amenities at convenient rates, and visitors will enjoy the pool, hot tubs, and the communal sitting area.
• Number of sites: 54 pull-through sites
• Rates: $36.95 - $46.95 Daily
• Type of hookup: Full hookups
• Electrical Amps: 30 and 50
• Pool/hot tub: One pool, two hot tubs
• Wi-Fi: Yes
• Pet-friendly: Yes
• Showers: Yes
• Laundry: Yes
• Additional amenities: Game room, playground, camp store
Westerly RV Park
Westerly RV Park is only five miles from downtown Durango. You can see wonderful views of the red rock cliffs here in the Animas River Valley. Trimble Spa and Natural Hot Springs is close by and offers hot water pools and an Olympic-sized pool. Dalton Ranch Golf Club is just across the street, and they offer discounted green fees for visitors from Westerly RV Park.
• Number of sites: 26 pull-through sites
• Rates: $37-$45 Daily
• Type of hookup: Full hookups
• Electrical Amps: 30 and 50
• Pool/hot tub: No
• Wi-Fi: Yes
• Pet-friendly: Yes
• Showers: No
• Restrooms: No
• Laundry: Yes
• Additional Amenities: Dog run
What to Do at
Mancos State Park
You can take a motorized boat, a kayak, or a canoe out on Jackson Gulch Reservoir. You can also go fishing out on the lake, even in the winter. Other activities for which you can take advantage of winter conditions include snow tubing and sledding near the boat ramp, snowshoeing on the park's trails, and cross-country skiing. Take your horse or mountain bike out for a ride on the park's trails. Mancos also has 5.5 miles of hiking trails. Grab a bird list at the visitor center and try and spot a few of the species that call the park home.
Inside Mancos State Park
Mancos State Park has many activities to experience whether you are staying overnight or are there just for the day. There are plenty of single-track biking trails that are great for mountain biking. These biking and hiking trails connect to many U.S. Forest trails and the Denver-to-Durango Colorado Trail. The park is a favorite among bird watchers, and anglers enjoy fishing in all seasons, with ice-fishing being particularly popular. Jackson Gulch offers lots of wakeless boating opportunities, like kayaking, sailing, and riding in motorized boats.
Fishing
Fish on the Jackson Gulch Reservoir for species like yellow perch and trout. You can also ice fish here during the winter. Note that you must have a valid fishing license, which you can get at the visitor center.
Nature Watching
You can see everything from bald eagles to indigo buntings at the park. Other birds you could see include turkey vultures and hummingbirds as well as Canada geese and mallards.
Flora and Fauna
The park's elevation means that much of the plant life consists of montane coniferous forest, with ponderosa pines, Douglas firs, and Rocky Mountain juniper. The park's southeastern section features grasslands, where you can see golden-aster and Arizona fescue. See both larger animals like mule deer and black bears and smaller critters like porcupines and weasels. You can also see foxes and coyotes. Mancos State Park also has mountain lions and bobcats, although these big cats avoid humans, so you will probably not spot one during your visit.
Hiking
The park has a few hiking trails where you can get out and stretch your legs. The moderate 1.9-mile Black Bear Trail connects with some other trails in the park, and the Mule Deer Trail, which is also 1.9 miles long, takes you on a path around parts of Jackson Gulch.
Boating
Launch your boat from the ramp at Jackson Gulch. Take a sailboat or your motorized boat out on the wakeless lake, or paddle your canoe or kayak. You must have a valid registration for your boat from your home state, and you also must have an ANS stamp, which costs $25 for a motorboat or sailboat from Colorado or $50 for boats from other states. Also, you should note that the boat ramp closes around mid-October for the winter.
Biking
The park's hiking trails are also fine for mountain bikes. The Mule Deer, Black Bear, and Mountain Lion trails provide mountain bike access.
How to Get to
Mancos State Park
Directions from Durango: Get on US-160 in Durango and head west for 27 miles to the town of Mancos. Once in Mancos, head north on CO-184 for one-quarter of a mile, and then get on County Road 42 and head east for 4 miles to County Road N. Make a left onto County Road N and take this straight into the park. Note that the last 3 miles of County Road 42 consist of well-maintained gravel.
Entering Mancos State Park
A daily vehicle pass costs $10 for all vehicles. There's a small parking lot by the visitor center.
Mancos State Park Daily Vehicle Pass : $10.0
No matter the season, you'll have plenty of opportunities to enjoy the great outdoors at Mancos State Park.
Frequently Asked Questions About Mancos State Park
If you prefer activities like skiing or ice fishing, visit Mancos State Park in the winter. Come in the summer for hiking, biking, and boating. The park has mild and sunny daytime weather for much of the year, although winters can get cold, with temperatures dropping well below freezing at night.
Animals you can see in the park all year long include mule deer, squirrels, coyotes, and wild turkeys. You could see black bears in the warmer months before they hibernate for the winter.
The park has 32 campsites spread across two campgrounds, the Main Campground and the West Campground. The West Campground has tent sites and closes in the winter. The lower loop of the Main Campground closes during the winter.
You do have to reserve a camping spot, except during the winter. A basic campsite costs $22 per night during the peak season of June through August and $18 per night during the offseason of September through May.
You can bring your dog to Mancos State Park, but you must keep your dog on a leash of no more than 6 feet at all times. You cannot take your dog out on the lake.