STATE & NATION TRAVEL · alerts
Flooding cuts Navajo State Park access and closes Colorado wildlife areas
By Staff Writer · Published November 4, 2026
Visitors can reach Navajo State Park only from the west through Arboles, while Piedra River access, Sambrito Wetlands and five state wildlife areas remain closed.
Official announcement: Colorado Parks and Wildlife · November 2, 2026
Source: Colorado Parks and Wildlife November 2 southwest Colorado flooding release
Severe flooding has narrowed access to Navajo State Park and closed several Colorado Parks and Wildlife properties across southwest Colorado. The agency says the park can be reached only on Highway 151 from the west through Allison and Arboles; Highway 151 north toward Chimney Rock is cut off, all Piedra River access is closed, and Sambrito Wetlands is temporarily closed.
Navajo State Park remains partly open, but the visitor center will not open on Mondays or Tuesdays for the time being. The boat ramp and aquatic nuisance species inspection station are closed for the season. CPW says several campsites remain available to assist residents affected by evacuations, so ordinary recreation plans should not assume normal campground availability.
The November 2 release also lists closures at Devil Creek, Higel, Hot Creek, Rio Grande and Shriver-Wright state wildlife areas. CPW strongly discourages travel into nine game management units in the affected region and directs travelers to current state highway and national-forest notices because closures and workarounds can change as assessments continue.
Flood impacts extend beyond road access. CPW reported power, internet and phone outages at its Durango and Navajo offices, damage at the Durango Fish Hatchery and possible contamination in floodwater after sewage-treatment failures. The agency advises avoiding contact with floodwater and washing exposed skin with soap and water.
What Travelers Need to Know
Approach Navajo State Park only from the west through Allison and Arboles unless Colorado Parks and Wildlife posts a new route. Do not use Highway 151 from Chimney Rock or plan to enter through a Piedra River access point while the closures remain posted.
Check COtrip and the official park closure page immediately before departure. Phone service at the park and Durango office may be unavailable, and a navigation app can continue suggesting a road that CPW has described as cut off.
Avoid Sambrito Wetlands and the five listed state wildlife areas until CPW removes their closure notices. Do not enter floodwater; the agency reports possible contamination and advises soap-and-water washing after contact.
Confirm camping availability before treating a reservation as ordinary leisure inventory. CPW is using some open sites to assist residents affected by evacuations, the visitor center has reduced days, and the boat ramp and inspection station are closed for the season.
About the Location
Navajo State Park is outside Arboles in southwest Colorado. Pagosa Springs is roughly 35 miles to the northeast, while Durango is about 45 miles to the northwest. The Colorado park surrounds the northern end of Navajo Reservoir, a large San Juan River basin impoundment that continues south into New Mexico; this announcement concerns Colorado roads and properties, not a separate New Mexico closure.
The park's 5,088 acres include campgrounds, trails, wildlife habitat and access to the reservoir for boating and fishing. Its location at the San Juan and Piedra river system makes the park a recreation hub, but also places its roads, wetlands and river access directly in the landscape affected by the November flooding.