Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW)• Wildlife • State Parks • Outdoor Recreation • Conservation
The mission of Colorado Parks and Wildlife is to perpetuate the wildlife resources of the state, to provide a quality state parks system, and to provide enjoyable and sustainable outdoor recreation opportunities that educate and inspire current and future generations to serve as active stewards of Colorado's natural resources.
06/06/2026
It’s FREE fishing weekend! 🎣
On June 6-7, 2026, anyone can fish for free! The fishing license and Habitat Stamp requirements are waived for the weekend, so grab a rod and get out there!
Learn more and plan your adventure: https://cpw.info/4vyzhgm
06/05/2026
Frantz Lake has got family-friendly fishing for all four seasons 🎣
If you’re after a laid-back day on the water that is fun for the whole family, check out Frantz Lake. This roughly 20-acre lake offers up nice trout fishing year-round, and it’s just outside of downtown Salida, making it perfect for a weekend adventure.
This State Wildlife Area offers ample shade, an ADA-accessible fishing pier and there’s no shortage of dirt/gravel bank to fish from. As part of our Quality Waters lineup, this lake is managed specifically for trout fishing, but offers a chance to catch largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, cutbow trout and channel catfish.
No matter the type of adventure you’re after, our Quality Waters were made for anglers like you. These locations offer top-tier fishing experiences for a wide variety of species and all kinds of angling abilities, thanks to the hard work of our fisheries biologists.
Learn more and start planning your adventure today: https://cpw.info/3RMbTgB
06/04/2026
Grant is sitting perfectly still, staring out into the forest with wide eyes. Just over his shoulder, Bob lets out a series of yelps –– and the big boss tom gobbles back. The bird is strutting his way through the forest, so close you can feel the thundering gobbles in your chest.
It only needs to take a couple more steps…
Turkey season has come to an end in Colorado, but that won’t stop us from talking turkey 🦃
In the latest episode of our Colorado Outdoors podcast, follow along in the field as Grant tries to harvest his first turkey with the help of some passionate volunteers, our staff and lots of determination.
Hear what it's like to go on a spring turkey hunt for yourself and experience a Colorado tradition. Listen anywhere podcasts are available or directly here: https://cpw.info/4x8O1nC
06/03/2026
Velvet antlers are here 🦌
The growing antlers of an elk are covered in velvet, a fuzzy, blood-rich skin that supplies oxygen & nutrients. In late summer, when the antlers are full size, elk will scrape the velvet off, revealing hardened antlers ready for sparring during fall mating.
06/02/2026
Step aside summer book club, we’re introducing the summer magazine club 🛋️
Up first on our reading list? The latest issue of Colorado Outdoors!
In this edition, find great stories about some of Colorado’s small but mighty native fish, insights for chasing trout from treeline to town, and cracking down on some big game crimes. There are stories for everyone in this issue, so find a comfy spot to sit and join us for our summer reading club.
Grab a copy for yourself today: https://cpw.info/4vq8Mtj
06/01/2026
FREE FISHING WEEKEND COMING UP 🎣
On June 6-7, 2026, anyone can fish for free, and the fishing license and Habitat Stamp requirements are waived: https://cpw.info/4u6rbdn
05/30/2026
This hike is the cherry on top of a perfect weekend 🥾
Cherry Creek Falls at Castlewood Canyon State Park is a smooth and mellow cruise with great scenery sprinkled throughout. This little trail is only 1015 feet long and has 16 feet of elevation gain, but connects to a larger network of trails in the park. This short and sweet treat is best done in late spring or early summer so you can catch the falls at their fullest, and park and its greenest.
Find more details and plan your adventure today with our COTREX app: https://cpw.info/43Aezk1
05/29/2026
New duck blind alert 🦆
Thanks to our friends at the Northern Colorado chapter of Delta Waterfowl, we just installed two brand new pit blinds at Elliott State Wildlife Area for waterfowl hunters. These new pits, purchased and supplied by the chapter, are replacing some of the old concrete pits that have been a mainstay of the property for years.
These new blinds will be open to hunters this fall, and are an exciting addition to one of the Eastern Plains’ premier waterfowl hunting spots.
Here’s a sneak peek at what to expect from these blinds.
Spring means one thing in Colorado –– young wildlife will be out and about.
Between now and mid-June is when a lot of Colorado’s wildlife welcomes the next generation of their species, and it’s important we give them space to do so properly. Leaving young wildlife alone is the best way to ensure their safety and health. By keeping people out of the equation, wildlife stays wild.
If you find a young animal that appears to be “abandoned” chances are the mother is nearby keeping a close eye on its young. Young wildlife doesn’t need help being fed, watered or touched –– in many cases this can cause true abandonment by the mother, or make the animals sick.
Over the next couple months there will be plenty of fawns, calves, cubs, kits, fledgings and more –– and none of them need our help growing up. For those keeping track, the young wildlife in the list above are young deer, elk or moose, bears, foxes, birds and more, in that order.
Video Description: Two bear cubs swim across the Yampa River and meet their sow on the far bank before scampering up a steep, rocky hillside.
Video courtesy of C. Preston.
05/26/2026
Here’s a swift fact for you 🦊
Colorado’s swift foxes are highly dependent on their dens, which they use all year long (and for their entire lives). Their dens provide shelter from weather, predators and space for raising their young, in addition to a bit of a general living space. Most other foxes only use their dens seasonally, but the swift fox has a different approach to calling somewhere home.