Few People Know There's A Beautiful State Park Hiding In This Tiny Colorado Town
By Christy Articola|Published May 09, 2023
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Christy Articola
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Christy Articola has lived in Colorado since 2013 and considers herself a Centennial State enthusiast and expert through and through. She's based in Denver metro, but over the past decade, she has traveled to every corner, river, village, park, town, and city in the state and continues to explore it deeper and further whenever she can. Christy simply can't get enough of Colorado, and loves sharing all her adventures with you through Only In Your State! She graduated with a degree in journalism from Fordham University and is thrilled to be working as a full time travel writer for this and other sites - she finally found her perfect niche - and is so grateful for that.
There’s a small town in Colorado that you’ve might never have heard of before – it’s called Collbran. It’s about 50 minutes east of Grand Junction; it has a population of under 400 people and it’s at 5,984 feet of elevation. This town may be tiny on population, but it’s big on beauty! Vega State Park is about 20 minutes west of town and it’s wonderful. It’s an excellent place for camping, hiking, boating, and other outdoor recreational activities in this part of the state. You’re going to love Collbran and Vega State Park in Colorado! Read on to learn more.
Collbran is a great little small town on the western side of Colorado. It doesn't have much, but it has everything that residents and visitors need. There's a post office, of course.
Collbran's Vega State Park is a bonus! This 1,823-acre state park is about 20 minutes east of town. It's quite a bit higher than the town of Collbran at 7,696 feet.
The main draw of this state park is its 925-acre reservoir. The dam that created this reservoir was completed in 1962; its water is used to irrigate the Plateau Valley.
This combination of ecosystems means that there is quite a mix of abundant wildlife in the park. Common animals in the park include mule deer, elk, rabbits, squirrels, coyotes, beaver, and chipmunks, but it's also not uncommon to see occasional moose, black bears, bobcats, and wild turkeys as well.
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The damp but sunny environment here also means there are lots of wildflowers. No matter what time you visit in spring or summer, you'll be amazed by all of the colors that you see.
Enjoying the wildflowers is just one of many activities that you can enjoy in Vega State Park. This park is open year-round and in the winter, people love coming here to cross country ski and go ice fishing. In the warmer months, the land around the reservoir is great for hiking, mountain biking, picnicking, and bird watching, and the visitor center offers environmental education programs for people of all ages. The reservoir is also popular with people who enjoy recreational activities on the water like boating, water skiing, jet skiing, and wind surfing, although there is no swimming area in the park. Further, hunting and fishing are allowed at Vega State Park, too.
If you decide that you'd like to stay over at Vega State Park, there are four campgrounds in the park. Some even have electrical and water hookups for RVs.
One of the campgrounds also has a few cabins. They have small refrigerators, propane stoves, and microwaves, plus heat, bunk beds, and seating for up to four guests.
Some of the campsites have fantastic views of the reservoir.
Vega State Park in Colorado is such a hidden gem! This state park is one that not many know about, but it has everything that you’ll want and need to enjoy some time in the great outdoors. Plan a trip soon to check it out yourself! You’re sure to love it.
Looking for more great state parks to visit in Colorado? There are 42 of them! You can learn more about more of them on our state parks in Colorado page!
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