Vega State Park

Welcome to Colorado's beautiful Vega State Park, nestled at an elevation of 8,000 feet above sea leval at the edge of the Grand Mesa National Forest.

Park History: The land that is now Vega State Park was once the shoreline of an inland sea during the Paleozolic Era many millions of years ago. The fossils of some of the ancient sea creatures can still be found inside the park today. Some of the first known Europeans to enter this region were Spanish explorers who came in 1776, the year the United States was born. These Spanish explorers, Dominguez and Escalante named this area Las Vegas, which is Spanish for "The Meadows." Thus there is a place in Nevada, New Mexico, and Colorado that has been named Las Vegas.

The first permanent settlers arrived in the 1880's but by the mid 1920's the population in the region declined. It was in 1957 when the growing demand for water led to the construction of the Vega Reservoir by the Bureau of Reclamation. A decade later in 1967 the State of Colorado made a deal with the Bureau of Reclamation to manage the area for recreational purposes. Thus Vega State Park was established.

Flora and Fauna: The forests, meadows, and wetlands of Vega State Park help protect the home of numerous plant and animal species. Some of the plants that grow inside the park boundaries include aspens, gambel oaks, and canarygrass. Some of the wild animals that can be found here include mule deer, ground squirrels, foxes, coyotes, rabbits, and squirrels. Please treat their home with respect.

For the lover of the outdoors Vega State Park boasts over 100 campsites, numerous aquatic opportunities, and much more. Come on out and explore!

To contact the office please call 970-487-3407.