• Menu
  • Skip to right header navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Uncover Colorado Logo

  • Blog
  • Activities
  • Events
  • Towns
  • Lodging
  • Dining
  • Transport
  • Shop
  • Search
  • Blog
  • Activities
  • Events
  • Towns
  • Lodging
  • Dining
  • Transport
  • Shop
  • Search
Lake Granby Lakeside Campsites Arapaho National Recreation Area Colorado
Campsites by Lake Granby, Arapaho National Recreation Area. Photo: Robert Ray

Colorado National Recreation Areas

FacebookTwitter

Colorado has a couple of national recreation areas that make the perfect playground for water sports. Both are centered around big lakes, with marinas on-site to rent you a watercraft to take to the waves. Read our federal lands blog. View all federal lands.

National Recreation Areas in Colorado

The two national recreation areas are home to the largest bodies of water in the state, Blue Mesa Reservoir and Lake Granby. Both are a haven for water sports, permitting all types of boating and fishing. Each park has more than one marina for boat rentals.

Arapaho National Recreation Area

Arapaho National Recreation Area – Granby

Curecanti National Recreation Area

Curecanti National Recreation Area – Gunnison

Guide to National Recreation Areas in Colorado

Blue Mesa Reservoir Driftwood Curecanti National Recreation Area Colorado
Driftwood by Blue Mesa Reservoir, Curecanti National Recreation Area. Photo: Michael Levine-Clark

National recreation areas are places that are set aside for recreational use and are managed by a variety of different federal agencies. Colorado is home to two national recreation areas located in the Rocky Mountains.

Curecanti National Recreation Area is found just west of the town of Gunnison, Colorado. This federal park surrounds three reservoirs including the Morrow Point Reservoir, the Blue Mesa Reservoir, and the Crystal reservoir. Because of its proximity to water, a plethora of water sport opportunities abound here. Visitors can boat or paddle board in the reservoirs looking for the plants and animals that call this place home. Camping is available both on land and on boat! Curecanti National Recreation Area is also an excellent place to rock climb as well.

Arapaho National Recreation Area contains five reservoirs and is an excellent place to boat and fish. Many Coloradans refer to this collection of five reservoirs as Colorado’s “Great Lakes.” When visitors are not playing in the water they can hike, camp or go for a peaceful horseback ride. In the winter ice fishing and snowmobiling are popular past times.

Passes are required at some of the locations in each of the national recreation areas and can be purchased at the visitor’s center. Some areas in the parks are closed seasonally to accommodate wildlife. Visitors should check to make sure the area they want to visit is open, before venturing out.

Other Federal Lands

Flat Tops Wilderness

Colorado National Wilderness Areas

Colorado National Monument Mesa County

Colorado National Monuments

Pike National Forest Pikes Peak Barr Trail

Colorado National Forests

Pawnee National Grassland Road Weld CO

Colorado National Grasslands

Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge Bison Herd Commerce City CO

Colorado National Wildlife Refuges

McInnis Canyons NCA Colorado River

Colorado National Conservation Areas

Hartman Rocks Trails in Colorado

Colorado BLM Land

Mesa Verde National Park Cliff Dwelling

Colorado National Parks

Primary Sidebar

Join our Colorado travel community

Enter your email below and grab our free locals' guide and monthly what's up designed to help you live your Colorado life and uncover fun things to do. —and never miss out again.

Colorado Activities

  • All Activities
  • All Attractions
  • All Recreation
  • Amusement
  • Archaeological Areas
  • ATV Rentals
  • Biking
  • BLM Land
  • Boating
  • Brewery Tours
  • Camping
  • Casinos
  • Cross Country Skiing
  • Comedy
  • Concerts
  • Distillery Tours
  • Dog Sledding
  • Drive-In Theaters
  • Dude Ranches
  • Escape Rooms
  • Factory Tours
  • Federal Lands
  • Fishing
  • Ghost Towns
  • Go Karts
  • Golfing
  • Hang/Paragliding
  • Hiking
  • Horseback Riding
  • Hot Air Balloons
  • Hot Springs
  • Hunting
  • Ice Climbing
  • Ice Fishing
  • Ice Skating
  • Jeep Rentals
  • Lakes
  • Landmarks
  • Marijuana Tours
  • Mine Tours
  • Miniature Golf
  • Mountains
  • Museums
  • National Conservation Areas
  • National Forests
  • National Grasslands
  • National Monuments
  • National Recreation Areas
  • National Wilderness Areas
  • National Wildlife Refuges
  • Paintball
  • Performing Arts
  • Public Parks
  • Railroads
  • River Tubing
  • Rivers
  • Rock Climbing
  • Rodeos
  • Scenic Drives
  • Shopping
  • Sightseeing Tours
  • Skiing
  • Skydiving
  • Sleigh Rides
  • Snow Tubing
  • Snowbiking
  • Snowmobiling
  • Snowshoeing
  • Speedways
  • Sports Teams
  • State Parks
  • State Wildlife Areas
  • Theatre
  • Waterfalls
  • Whitewater Rafting
  • Wildlife
  • Winery Tours
  • Zip Lines

Footer

Get In Touch

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Write For Us
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Resources
Facebook Instagram Pinterest Twitter

Disclosure: Uncover Colorado is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

Things To Do

  • Travel Blog
  • Colorado Activities
  • Colorado Events
  • Colorado Towns
  • Colorado Hotels
  • Colorado Restaurants
  • Colorado Transportation
  • Made in Colorado

Visit Mile High Happy Hour for Denver neighborhoods' restaurant happy hours.

Winter Activities

  • Camping
  • Cross Country Skiing
  • Federal Lands
  • Hot Springs
  • Ice Skating
  • Skiing and Snowboarding
  • Snow Tubing
  • State Parks

Vacation like a VIP! Leisurely Lifestyle shares life and travel hacks, as well as cheap luxury travel.

Copyright © 2021 · Uncover Colorado - Vacations, Travel & Tourism | Sitemap | Privacy Policy | Disclaimer