With six inches of fresh snow and a solid coat of ice on the lake at Mancos State Park, the area is primed for cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, ice fishing and camping adventures.
With the new snow, the west road and park trails provide snowshoe or cross country ski routes. The ice on Jackson Gulch Reservoir now averages six inches thick, making it an ideal time to try to snag some rainbow trout that were stocked monthly through the summer and fall.
The trout are most common at depths of 15-20 feet and will bite on small ice-fishing jigs. Another option for ice-anglers are the small but tasty yellow perch that reside on the bottom and love nightcrawlers, mealworms and waxworms. There is a four-trout daily bag limit, but no limit on perch. As always, use extreme caution on the ice as conditions are highly variable. For more information on ice safety, contact the park office at 970-533-7065.
Hardy campers will find the upper loop of the main campground open year round. For those seeking solitude with a little more comfort, the park offers two wonderful yurts that provide a cozy refuge from the weather. The yurts sleep six and have electricity and heat. Reservations for the yurts can be made by phone at 1-800-678-2267 or online.
For more information on state parks or to purchase an annual pass online, visit www.parks.state.co.us.
