Mancos State Park

Friday June 8, 2012

Friday morning I drove to the town of Mancos, CO - about 9 miles away.  I stopped at Zuma's Natural Foods and picked up some items for a picnic lunch. I walked around town stopping at the Visitors Center, Absolute Bakery (for some gluten free hiker/biker bars-very good) and then to the Library.  I was able to use the libraries internet for free.


The Visitors Center has maps of the Historic Downtown Walking Trail which takes you past 20 buildings built between 1890 and 1913.


The town of Mancos was incorporated in 1894. In 1904, a water system and electric lights were installed and telephone service had begun. In 1905 a new bridge was built across the river.

I was parked at the city park, with no shade, and it was starting to get warmer.  Time to head for the hills and some shade trees.


I drove up to Mancos State Park almost 5 miles North of town. You drive about 1 1/4 miles uphill on a paved road and then the road levels off and becomes a dirt/gravel road for about 3 miles. All of the roads in the park are gravel. I purchased an annual Colorado State Parks Pass. The day use rate is $7 per day, and an annual pass is $70.  I do not need to camp overnight here because it is so close to where I am living.  The camp sites are $16 and have no-hookups. When you pay for a campsite, you also have to pay the day-use fee - so each night of camping is $23.00.


The camp host, manning the pay station, is a full-timer from Delaware. He and his wife have been on the road about 3 years. They do not get full hook-ups at this park.

Day-use area

Jackson Gulch Reservoir is the centerpiece of the park.

I parked the RV alongside the road at a high point (7837') in the park. Although the temps were in the 80's there was a nice constant breeze that kept the RV cool enough for my cat.  I did not have to worry about running the generator or turning on the A/C. 

There were a few walk-in tent sites behind the RV

I did not see anyone camped there today.

LaPlata Mountains in the background

I sat at the day-use area in the West Campground area to read and have my picnic lunch. I did not walk any of the hiking trails shown on the park map but I did walk along the shore of the lake before and after lunch.


This would be a good place to ride my mountain bike when I get it.


I'll have to decide if I want to get a CO fishing license, most of the people in the park were fishing. I know fishing is supposed to be a relaxing sport, but I may be too lazy to set up the pole and stuff and then what do I do with the fish if I catch it. 


I left the park shortly after 4pm, figuring that all of the weekend campers would soon be arriving.


I plan on making some more day trips to this park and to some other Colorado State Parks - the other parks are further away.  I may decide to camp overnight at some of the other parks.