3.69154 reviewsSelect a month, then check for open campsites
Price
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Booking
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Year-round
Cell
No Service
Pets
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Select a month, then check for open campsites
Price
Varies
Booking
Reservable
Sites
Varies
Season
Year-round
Cell
No Service
Pets
No Pets
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Learn more about alerts →Ruth B. Kirby Gilchrist Blue Springs State Park Campground
29.8276, -82.6812
Snorkelers and swimmers who can handle 72°F water will get the most out of this place; the spring run is short enough for a casual paddle and on-site rentals mean you don't have to haul gear. Weekday visits in March or April hit the sweet spot before summer humidity and mosquitoe
A bumpy dirt access road greets you before you even park, campsites read as dated and bare-bones, and weekend crowds compress everyone into a small area in ways that have produced more than the usual share of tense interactions between visitors, if a low-friction, easygoing atmos
Context for the broader area surrounding Ruth B. Kirby Gilchrist Blue Springs State Park Campground, sourced from the federal Recreation.gov rec-area record.
Recreation at <A HREF="http://www.usbr.gov/projects/Facility.jsp?fac_Name=Ridgway+Dam">Ridgway Dam</a> and Reservoir, <A HREF="http://www.usbr.gov/projects/Project.jsp?proj_Name=Dallas Creek Project">Dallas Creek Project</a>, is managed by the Colorado Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation under agreement with the Bureau of Reclamation. The reservoir offers a variety of activities on its 1,000 surface-acres. Rainbow trout are stocked annually in the reservoir. Camping experiences vary from 25 walk-in tent sites to 187 sites with electrical hook-ups, and 81 full hook-up campsites. Ridgway State Park is at the base of the spectacular San Juan Mountains in southwestern Colorado. Ridgway Reservoir is a year-round outdoor recreation paradise attracting boaters, anglers and swimmers. All recreation sites have easy bicycle access. Natural surface trails pass through the pinyon/juniper forests and onto mesas offering lovely views of the surrounding mountain peaks. Wildlife includes deer, marmots, magpies, waterfowl, squirrels, chipmunks and occasionally osprey and black bears are seen in the area. Winter brings elk and bald eagles into the park. Hunting is permitted at certains of the year in designated areas. Check with park office for specific closures and regulations. The visitor center contains displays on local wildlife and a bookstore.
Take U.S. Highway 550 south of Montrose, Colorado for 22 miles to Ridgway State Park entrance.
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Spring (March through May) offers the best balance: daytime highs in the mid-60s to mid-80s °F, nights in the 50s and 60s, and the 72°F spring water feels refreshing rather than shocking. Humidity and biting insects are lower than summer, bird activity peaks, and vegetation is fresh. Summer brings higher crowds, heat, and mosquitoes, especially near the river and wetlands. Weekends fill quickly year-round, so reserve early. Cooler months (late fall and winter) thin the crowds and suit hiking or viewing the clear water, though fewer people swim then. Weekdays outside major holidays are the quietest times to visit.
Peak season with warm days. Most facilities open. Reserve ahead.
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