Page Content





​ COVID-19 Response

Recent Updates - 8/17/2020 10:15 a.m.

Big Game License Refunds - Under the Director’s Disaster Relief authority, Colorado Parks and Wildlife will allow big-game license holders requesting a COVID-19 related refund to receive both a monetary refund and preference point restoration (with limitations). See details about COVID-19 Big Game License Refunds below.



Statewide Mask Requirements - Governor Polis has issued Executive Order D 2020-164, extending the required use of non-medical facial coverings/masks in public indoor spaces statewide for all individuals aged 11 or older, effective August 14. Read more about the Statewide Mask Requirements below.



Below are some frequently asked questions we have been receiving from the public.



Colorado Parks and Wildlife reminds anglers, hunters, and all other outdoor recreationists that it is your responsibility to research and understand the specific guidance, ordinances, and restrictions in place for any planned local recreation - know before you go.







Park Pass Replacement, Exchanges and Voucher Redemption



Replacement requests will no longer be accepted by mail. Pass Voucher Redemption: For pass voucher redemption, customers may either visit any CPW park or office or use this google form, as no physical documentation is required to be mailed to us.

Replacement Passes: If a customer needs a replacement for their annual pass, they must visit a CPW office or park for a replacement pass. Temporary, Iron Ranger, Backup and Replacement Passes: If a customer needs to exchange their Temporary Pass, Iron Ranger Receipt, green Backup Pass, or Dog Off-Leash Pass, they must visit a CPW office or park for any exchanges.



State Park Camping Updates



Are parks and campgrounds open?



Yes, parks, park offices, and campgrounds (including cabins and yurts) are open, and group camping locations are open for groups of 25 or fewer. The check-in time for all yurt and cabin reservations is now 4:00 p.m.

Please follow all directions and precautions required by Governor Polis's Safer at Home and in the Vast, Great Outdoors Order.

We ask visitors to state parks to remain flexible in their travel plans as we work with counties and local public health orders to keep parks and amenities open safely and cooperatively. For commonly asked questions, please review our Camping FAQ.

Which campground facilities open for use?

Open Facilities

Colorado Parks and Wildlife group picnic areas for groups of 25 or fewer

Camper services buildings

Designated swim areas Please follow all directions and precautions required by Governor Polis's Safer at Home and in the Vast, Great Outdoors Order.

Closed Facilities

Playgrounds at Colorado's state parks remain closed until further notice. Are masks required to visit a park?

all individuals aged 11 or older, effective August 14. The order is in effect for 30 days, and applies to all Colorado Parks and Wildlife offices, visitor centers, classes and organized events occurring indoors. Yes. Governor Polis has issued Executive Order D 2020-164 , extending the required use of non-medical facial coverings/masks in public indoor spaces statewide for

How are camping reservations affected?



All customers with reservations that are affected by COVID-19 travel or state or county health orders are being offered the opportunity to change their reservation at no additional cost through December 31, 2020. To change your reservation, please visit

To change your reservation, please visit cpwshop.com , log into your account, confirm your information, then click on "My Reservations." From there you will be able to change your reservation to another date. You can also call 1-800-244-5613 to change your reservation (please note that call wait times can exceed one hour due to volume).





Reservation cancellations will be subject to a $6 cancellation fee.

Due to the volume of camping changes and cancellations, while most refunds will take significantly less time, some refunds may take up to 90 days to process.



Are CPW Offices and Visitor Centers Open?



Colorado Parks and Wildlife visitor centers, service centers and CPW offices are open with limited access to the public.

The CPW location at 1313 Sherman Street remains closed to customers at this time.

Individual location hours may vary, please call for hours before visiting your nearest office or park. Restrictions and closures remain subject to change.

Front desk areas and staffed drive-up windows will open to customers with social distancing and safety at the forefront.

Customers will have access to front desk areas for questions and license, pass and registration purchases and retail purchases; displays and other areas of congregation may be restricted.

For customers planning to purchase CPW products, including licenses, park passes or vehicle registrations can visit CPWshop.com or call 800-244-5613.

Availability of Alternate Service of Process is available while CPW offices are closed and many staff work remotely. Please review this Alternate Service of Process guidance provided by the Department of Natural Resources for these needs during current office closures.



Are masks required to visit a CPW office or visitor center?



Yes. Governor Polis has issued Executive Order D 2020-164, extending the required use of non-medical facial coverings/masks in public indoor spaces statewide for all individuals aged 11 or older, effective August 14. The order is in effect for 30 days, and applies to all Colorado Parks and Wildlife offices, visitor centers, classes and organized events occurring indoors.



How will I know if events and classes have been canceled?

Hunter education and interpretive programming have resumed for groups of 10 or fewer indoors, and 25 or fewer outdoors.

We will utilize the Colorado Parks and Wildlife website, emails to registered attendees, and our social media accounts to update the public of current class or event closures and cancellations.

The 2020 Partners in the Outdoors Conference continues virtually - please enjoy our partner presentations online!



Volunteers



CPW Volunteers should review our Guidance on Volunteer Activities and contact staff supervisors with questions or concerns.



Purchase Licenses, Park Passes, and Vehicle Registrations Online

OHV registration renewal is available online at CPWshop.com. If you are having trouble registering your OHV online, please visit the Registrations Information page for detailed renewal instructions.

For customers planning to purchase CPW products, including licenses, park passes or vehicle registrations, please consider using CPWshop.com or calling 800-244-5613 instead of visiting an office.

I haven't received my license or permit by mail - what do I do?



Our license vendor is experiencing significant delays in the fulfillment of CPW products due to “shelter in place” orders related to COVID-19 and are currently backlogged in printing and mailing CPW products.

CPW is allowing customers to use a TAN (Temporary Authorization Number) for proof of privilege for most of our products at this time. This includes small game, combination small game and fishing, waterfowl stamps, fishing, habitat stamps, annual passes and OHV permits.

We have also temporarily extended the timeframe for which a TAN is valid from 14 days to 45 days.



Am I still allowed to fish and/or hunt?



Colorado counties, municipalities, and land management agencies continue to update their COVID-19 guidance including travel restrictions, road closures, and access limitations on a regular basis. Colorado Parks and Wildlife reminds anglers, hunters, and all other outdoor recreationists that it is your responsibility to research and understand the specific guidance, ordinances and restrictions in place for any planned local recreation - know before you go.



CPW, along with the Governor's office, CDPHE and the CDC encourages people to take the local and state stay-at-home orders seriously, and limit travel wherever possible, even for approved recreation activities.





All hunters and anglers must have a valid license, and a valid park pass if recreating in state parks. Hunters and anglers should also check with their local municipal land managers, National Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, or US Fish and Wildlife Service office for specific closures and allowed recreation activities. Please respect any posted closures.



Big Game License Refunds



Under the Director’s Disaster Relief authority, Colorado Parks and Wildlife will allow big-game license holders requesting a COVID-19 related refund to receive both a monetary refund and preference point restoration (to the pre-drawing level) if the request is received as postmarked at least 15 days before the start of the respective season. Please also note the reason and circumstances surrounding your request on this PDF application form.

We are not applying this policy retroactively to refunds that have already been processed. The $15 processing fee will also still apply and will be deducted from the refund amount. Qualifying licenses and application fees continue to be non-refundable. No additional points for this year will be added at this time.



Big Game Hunting Information

At this time, there are no planned changes to the big game applications or draw processes, but because there may be unanticipated disruptions, please check back frequently for updates.



Is boating allowed in State Parks during the Safer at Home order?



Yes. Boating is allowed in State Parks during the Safer at Home order.



Please go boating in your local area and do not travel to go boating.

Boaters need to comply with all CDPHE requirements to stop the spread of COVID-19 and CPW's Aquatic Nuisance Species regulations to stop the spread of zebra or quagga mussels and other invasive species.



Are Watercraft Inspection and Decontamination Stations open and staffed during the Safer at Home order?



Yes, Watercraft Inspection and Decontamination Stations to prevent the spread of aquatic nuisance species in State Parks are open and staffed during the Safer at Home order.



Other jurisdictions may or may not be open to boating at this time.

See the statewide reservoir opening dates and hours of operations.

Be sure to call ahead and verify this information before going boating.



Statewide Mask Requirements



8/17/2020: Governor Polis has issued Executive Order D 2020-164, extending the required use of non-medical facial coverings/masks in public indoor spaces statewide for all individuals aged 11 or older, effective August 14. The order is in effect for 30 days, and applies to all Colorado Parks and Wildlife offices, visitor centers, classes and organized events occurring indoors.



To protect workers, customers, and the community, no business serving the public in a Public Indoor Space may provide service to a customer or allow a customer to enter or move within that Public Indoor Space, unless the customer is wearing a face covering. Any individual who knowingly enters or remains in a Public Indoor Space in violation of the terms of this Executive Order may be subject to civil or criminal penalties, per the order.



How are you minimizing customer risk of exposure?



Our goal is to minimize the effects of COVID-19 on your recreation experiences in Colorado.



We are working closely with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE), local health departments, and the office of Governor Polis and will follow their advice and protocols on any future measures.



All CPW offices are regularly disinfecting common workspaces, phones and door handles according to CDC and CDPHE guidelines.

guidelines. Staff are washing their hands frequently and are being asked to stay home, or go home, if sick.



We are also asking visitors to utilize kiosks for self-check ins where possible to keep traffic lower in visitor centers at this time.



How often do you clean facilities like restrooms, yurts and cabins?

Restrooms are cleaned according to CDC and CDPHE guidelines daily or more often, and we closely monitor the level of park use in case we need to increase our cleaning schedule. Parks may adjust arrival and departure times or processes for yurts and cabins in order to effectively clean and sanitize between guests. Please check specific park pages for updates.



A Note from the Colorado Department of Natural Resources

In order to reduce the spread of COVID-19 (Coronavirus), the Department of Natural Resources is doing its part through social distancing in the workplace.

Beginning on March 17, many of DNR's employees will work from home. However, the DNR and its agencies will remain open for business to serve the people of Colorado, and are available through phone and email. Please be patient and flexible as we adjust to this unprecedented circumstance, and know that we will respond to customers as soon as possible. See current COVID-19 updates.







What can I do to help minimize COVID-19 exposure or risk?

Remember that public places are only as clean as the last person who used them, and it’s all of our responsibility to keep them clean.

Follow the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment recommendations. It’s important for everyone to follow the recommendations from CDPHE for easy, everyday actions to protect yourself and those around you.



It’s important for everyone to follow the recommendations from CDPHE for easy, everyday actions to protect yourself and those around you. Stay home if you feel sick. If you are scheduled for an activity with CPW, but feel sick or are at risk of getting sick, please cancel or reschedule your plans until you are well. Your community and the places you love are relying on your help by staying home if you are unwell.

If you are scheduled for an activity with CPW, but feel sick or are at risk of getting sick, please cancel or reschedule your plans until you are well. Your community and the places you love are relying on your help by staying home if you are unwell. Play it safe and be respectful outside. While using this opportunity to spend time outdoors, please do so safely and responsibly. Our first responders and search and rescue teams are all facing these challenges along with us. Please Avoid high-risk or remote activities, as accidents stemming from these types of activities may require extensive resources. Colorado Search and Rescue teams are prepared and ready to respond but could become overloaded if the number of calls increases and the number of available responders decreases.

You can also stay informed with reliable, up-to-date information by regularly visiting the CDPHE and CDC websites for the latest on what you can do to ensure we all do our part to help keep our communities safer.





Back to the Top ^