Plenty of reasons to visit this Colorado River park

Quite often on my radio show, we will highlight a wildlife area or state park because a current fishing or hunting activity is entering a peak period of activity.

Pete Firmin, from Colorado Parks and Wildlife, joined me on the radio Saturday to talk about a park that is probably neither a fishing nor hunting hotspot right now. There are fishing opportunities at the park, but I would hardly call it a fishing destination. There will be some exceptional waterfowl hunting this fall, but that is still a ways off. There are, however, still many reasons to plan a getaway to this under appreciated area.

James M. Robb Park stretches along the Colorado River from Fruita on the west end to Island Acres on the east end, with three stops in between. This is a park split into five sections. To visit the park, follow the Colorado River west from Debeque Canyon and enjoy five unusually different river- and lake-based outdoor recreation opportunities.

All five park sections are located along the Colorado River and provide river access. Rafters, kayakers, canoeists and tubers can launch river trips at park ramps located at Corn Lake, Connected Lakes and Fruita. Trips from Corn Lake to Connected Lakes or Connected Lakes to Fruita are about 10 miles each. Float times vary with changing conditions but average three to four hours. This section of the Colorado River is considered whitewater with sections of Class II rapids.

Biking and hiking trails abound. Among others, there is a wonderful, 3mile, paved hiking trail that heads west from Corn Lake to the Wildlife Area as well as a 1.5-mile paved trail that heads east of the Corn Lake boat ramp. Connected Lakes has four miles of trails that circle around the lakes on the park, both paved and hard-packed.

The Fruita Section is near several great mountain bike trails, including the North Fruita Desert and Kokopelli Trailhead.

If someone in the family does want to wet a line, the park offers fishing opportunities. There are ponds and small lakes in the park that are stocked spring and fall with catchable rainbow trout in addition to warm-water species like largemouth bass and crappies. There is also fishing available in the Colorado River for catfish, and if you head up river, you’re not far from some excellent river trout fishing.

Hunting will come into its own in the fall when waterfowl season kicks in. The park has five blinds that provide excellent hunting on the ponds and river. James M. Robb State Park is located in the Pacific Flyway and provides a diverse waterfowl hunting opportunity compared to eastern Colorado, which is in the Central Flyway.

The real draw to this park is the opportunity to get outdoors and enjoy a section of the state in which many don’t spend time. Firmin noted that the shoulder seasons tend to be warmer than many other parts of the state. This provides a great opportunity to use the parks 157 campsites as headquarters to enjoy the surrounding area from early spring until late fall.