Mancos State Park

About

Mancos State Park, located in Mancos on the Western Slope of Colorado, offers moderate fall hiking trails at an elevation of 7,845 feet. The park provides approximately two hours of hiking time across trails that traverse forest and meadow landscapes. These routes connect to the San Juan Mountains, Jackson Gulch Reservoir, and numerous National Forest trails. The Mancos Spur Trail combines the Chicken Creek, West Mancos, and Sharkstooth trails, linking to the Colorado Trail. The hiking season runs from September through November. Access is available via a parking area near the park address at 42545 Road N. The park is open daily from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m, with a visitor center operating from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Leashed dogs, service animals, and horses are permitted on the trails. Restrooms are available for visitors. The area features wildlife including mule deer, Merriam’s turkey, foxes, coyotes, and Abert's squirrels. Ancestral Puebloans inhabited the region from 1 CE to 1300, and the park contains archaeological sites. A fire ban for unincorporated Montezuma County prohibits wood burning campfires, though charcoal and gas grilling are allowed in designated rings.