2 weeks Ago By Leah Fraser
As summer approaches, nature enthusiasts gearing up to visit Eldorado Canyon State Park should mark their calendars and be ready to make their entry reservations. Starting May 1, the park will resume its timed entry reservation system on Saturdays, Sundays, and summer holidays, a move to better manage the influx of visitors and avoid overcrowding. The reservation system will remain in place through October 1, according to Colorado Parks and Wildlife.
Reservations are set to open 30 days in advance exclusively through CPW's online portal, cpwshop.com, and can't be made directly at the park entrance or visitor center. This year, the park also offers a limited number of spots to be reserved 24 hours in advance, for those spontaneous weekend warriors.
Weekday visitors get to breathe a sigh of relief as reservations won't be necessary from Monday to Friday.Planning is key for a stress-free visit, with two-hour entry windows available from 5:30 a.m.
to 5:30 p.m. But don't think about hogging all the slots, there's a limit of one daily reservation per vehicle, and a cap of four reservations per month for each visitor.
The early bird might just catch that worm since parking spaces at Eldorado are as coveted as seats at a U2 concert. Eldorado’s popularity, combined with finite parking spots, prompts the park to prod guests to plan far in advance.For those preferring not to worry about parking, the park encourages taking the free Eldo Shuttle, which begins service on Memorial Day weekend.
Catch the shuttle on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays from 8 a.m. until 7 p.
m., sans a reservation. A valid park pass is still required to catch this ride into nature's playground.
Remember, a daily entrance fee of $10 is charged unless visitors present an annual or a $29 Keep Colorado Wild pass, the latter needing to be linked to the passholder’s CPW shop account to waive the reservation fee.Technology might let you down in Eldorado Canyon, known for spotty cell service. The park's advice? Print or screenshot your timed entry reservation confirmation, a digital snafu won't be a valid excuse to bypass park staff when you arrive.
So if you're planning to soak in the sublime beauty of Eldorado, make sure you're prepared, both with your reservation and a hard copy in hand..
