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get outdoors
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joe rowell park
Joe Rowell is the largest park in Dolores and right along the Dolores River. Stop by and enjoy a walk along The River Trail, get in some fishing along the water's edge and under the bridge. Then have a picnic and play some disc golf.
2020: A brand-new playground! The Dolores Community Playground is an amazing area for kids of all ages.
There are softball fields and soccer fields and lots of green to enjoy.
Stop by the many events and festivals held here throughout the year, like the Dolores River Festival, Escalante Days Softball Tournament, Cyclocross, and AKC Dog Agility Trials.
To reserve Joe Rowell Park for your special event, visit https://townofdolores.colorado.gov/ for an application.
Joe Rowell
Flanders
flanders park
Located right behind Town Hall, Flanders Park is our central gathering square and host of events like Escalante Days and Harvest Fest. A great place to relax and enjoy lunch on a beautiful day.
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From June through October, Flanders Park hosts the Dolores Farmers Market every Wednesday from 4-7pm.
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To reserve Flanders Park for your special event, visit townofdolores.com for an application.
Riverside
riverside park
Riverside Park is a great place to fish and watch the river, enjoy some lunch and relax.
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There is river entry for kayaks, rafts and inner tubes. A good place to cool off in the water too.
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Many people that want a short float down the Dolores choose to put in at Riverside Park, then get out at the Beach across from Joe Rowell about 1.5 miles away, or at the mouth of McPhee Reservoir another half-mile further.
Beach
the beach
A locals hangout, the Beach has easy access for swimming and fishing, and many boaters and inner tubers use the beach as their finish point for their trips on the upper Dolores.
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Note: Does not have any amenities, bring your own chairs, blankets, tables etc.
Directions: From Railroad Avenue, turn south onto 4th street and go over the 4th street bridge. The road will turn abruptly to the right and you'll see a parking area a quarter mile down on the right side.
MCPHEE RESERVOIR
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McPhee Reservoir offers a wide variety of experiences. With over 50 miles of shoreline, McPhee is the largest reservoir on the San Juan National Forest and the 2nd largest in Colorado. This means there are plenty of opportunities for water lovers to enjoy a variety of water sports, including boating, water skiing, sailing, canoeing, kayaking, fishing, paddleboarding and swimming.
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Whether you fish from the bank or by boat, you are sure to catch something with the wide variety of warm and cold water species McPhee has to offer, including Rainbow Trout, Kokanee Salmon, Bass and Panfish.
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Note: ANS inspection required for motorized or trailered watercraft, Open May - Nov
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McPhee has 2 large recreation areas: McPhee and House Creek. Both have developed boat ramps, fish cleaning stations and campground facilities. There are several areas around the lake accessible only by boat, that offer a back-country experience as well as day-use areas that are accessible by vehicle.
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Sage Hen Trail is a 13-mile loop around the NW sector of the lake for hiking, biking and horseback. Access is off Road X, look for the 2nd red diamond gate sign on the left past the cattle corral.
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Below the Dam is catch & release fishing at Lone Dome Recreation Area, a 12-mile stretch from McPhee Dam to Bradfield Bridge. Artificial flies and lures only. Open Apr-Nov.
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McPhee Recreation Entrance: From Dolores, head south on Hwy 145, then just outside of town turn right onto Hwy 184 (Gopher Gas Station is on the corner). Drive 4 miles and you will see the entrance to the McPhee Recreation Complex.
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House Creek Entrance: In Dolores, turn onto 11th Street (GST Liquors in on corner), and head north. It will turn into Road 31, also known as the Dolores-Norwood Road or FS 526. Stay on this road for 7.5 miles, then watch for signs for House Creek Campground. Turn left onto FS 528 and drive for 5.7 miles till the road ends at House Creek.
McPhee
the dolores river
Dolores River
The Dolores River is a tributary of the Colorado River, approximately 241 miles long and is divided into the Upper and Lower Dolores River, with the dividing line being the Dam at McPhee Reservoir.
The Upper Dolores starts at Lizard Head Pass and makes it's way Southwest through Rico and down to the Town of Dolores where it flows into McPhee Reservoir.
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The River then heads north and becomes the Lower Dolores after the McPhee Dam, where the river is controlled through releases. If the releases are large enough, then boating is permitted on the Lower Dolores during certain times of the year, typically around April-May-June depending on snowpack and how quickly the reservoir fills. The Dolores River then flows into the Colorado River about 30 miles north of Moab, UT near Dewey Bridge.
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Permits are required from the Moab BLM office for boaters wishing to make the run from Gateway, CO into Utah and to the confluence with the Colorado River near Dewey Bridge.
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boggy draw trail system
Boggy Draw is a premier location for singletrack biking, hiking, horseback and trail running for all levels. This is an extensive system of loops with 50+ miles of groomed trails.
The Boggy Draw Loop is the original trail and hence the main thoroughfare for the whole trail system. It is also the easiest and smoothest trail in the system. The Mavericks Loop is slightly shorter than Boggy Draw, but also has slightly more elevation change. Italian Canyon Loop is a true intermediate level trail at 10 miles with some nice challenging hills and technical descents. Bean Canyon Loop is even more technical, and longer at 14.6 miles, and thus more popular with expert level cyclists.
Directions: From Dolores, turn onto 11th street (at GST Liquors) and drive to the top of the mesa. You will see signs for Boggy Draw after about two miles at county road W. Take a right here and continue one mile to the National Forest boundary where you will see more signs and a parking lot for the Boggy Draw trailheads.
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Note: The loops come in on each other at several junctions, so best practice is to take a pic of the map at the parking lot before heading out.
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For more information visit the Hiking | Biking | Horseback page.
Boggy Draw
Narraguinnep
Narraguinnep reservoir
Narraguinnep is a warm-water lake and known for its sport fish, including walleye, pike, rainbow trout, northern pike, smallmouth bass, catfish, yellow perch, black crappie and bluegill. During the winter, this is a great place for ice fishing too.
You can go swimming off the ramp. Non-motorized and non-trailered watercraft are allowed on the reservoir like kayaks and paddleboards.
Note: Motorized and trailered watercraft are now prohibited.
Directions: From Dolores, head south on Hwy 145, then just outside of town turn right onto Hwy 184 (Gopher Gas Station is on the corner). Drive 6 miles and you will see Narraguinnep on the right, 2 miles after McPhee Reservoir.
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