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Flooding that began on November 1 has closed or damaged public land across southwest Colorado, according to a November 2 news release from CPW [1], a toll first picked up by outlets such as Unofficial Networks. The National Weather Service in Grand Junction reported “significant and historic flooding” across the region on Sunday afternoon, November 1 [2]. CPW’s Durango and Navajo State Park offices were closed on Monday, and their phones are down after power, internet and cell service failed [1].
What CPW Says Is Closed or Damaged
| Place | Status reported by CPW |
|---|---|
| Navajo State Park | Piedra River access and Sambrito Wetlands closed; only Highway 151 from Arboles reaches the park; boat ramp closed for the season |
| Durango Fish Hatchery | Catastrophic damage from the Animas River and Junction Creek; staff pumping and sandbagging |
| State wildlife areas | Devil Creek, Higel, Hot Creek, Rio Grande and Shriver-Wright closed; more closures possible |
| Rio Grande and San Juan National Forests | Forests advise delaying travel until damage assessments are done |
CPW gives no reopening dates and says conditions change hourly.
On the gauge at Durango, the U.S. Geological Survey’s provisional data show the Animas River peaking at 13,000 cubic feet per second (cfs) at 10:45 a.m. MST on November 2, then falling to 5,600 cfs by midday on November 3 [3]. That tops the 12,700 cfs of 1949 and the 11,600 cfs of 1970 in the gauge’s annual peak record; only 1911 (25,000 cfs) and 1927 (20,000 cfs) were bigger [4]. CPW calls it the highest since 1911, but the gauge table lists 1927 too, so we use the gauge figures.
What Hunters Can Do Before November 7
CPW strongly discourages travel to game management units 74, 741, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80 and 81, because staff cannot yet assess the damage there [1]. Parts may stay open with restricted access, so hunters may need to hunt elsewhere in their valid unit. Holders of licenses for the listed hunt codes can request a refund and restoration of preference points, but must return the license before their season opens, using CPW’s refund form and writing “SW FLOODING” as the reason [1]. Over-the-counter bull elk hunters are advised to avoid these units for the third rifle season, which starts November 7 [1].
Some rivers were still above flood stage on November 3; the Mancos River was forecast to fall below it that evening [5]. If you are planning a trip there, postpone it. See our guide to finding and treating water for why untreated river water is a bad idea, and our guide to calling for help without a signal for trips where phones are down.
FAQ
Is Navajo State Park Open After the Floods?
Partly. CPW reports that all Piedra River access and the Sambrito Wetlands are closed, and that the park can only be reached by Highway 151 on the west side, from Arboles. The boat ramp and aquatic nuisance species station are closed for the season. No reopening date has been announced.
Can Colorado Hunters Get a Refund for the Flooded Units?
Yes, for the hunt codes CPW lists in its release. Hunters can request a refund and restoration of preference points to pre-draw level by returning the license before the season opens, marking both boxes on the refund form and writing “SW FLOODING” as the reason. Affected hunters are to be notified by email.
Sources
- Colorado Parks and Wildlife, “CPW offices, properties impacted by severe flooding in southwest Colorado,” news release, November 2, 2026, accessed November 3, 2026. cpw.state.co.us https://cpw.state.co.us/news/11022026/cpw-offices-properties-impacted-severe-flooding-southwest-colorado ↩
- National Weather Service Grand Junction, Flood Warning for Archuleta, Dolores, La Plata, Montezuma and San Miguel counties, issued November 1, 2026 at 4:08 p.m. MST, accessed November 3, 2026. api.weather.gov https://api.weather.gov/alerts/urn:oid:2.49.0.1.840.0.616c4025c42723c2fe6d8b10282486a4525dd113.001.1 ↩
- U.S. Geological Survey, Animas River at Durango, CO (09361500), provisional instantaneous streamflow, November 1 to 3, 2026, accessed November 3, 2026. waterservices.usgs.gov https://waterservices.usgs.gov/nwis/iv/?format=json&sites=09361500¶meterCd=00060,00065&period=P5D ↩
- U.S. Geological Survey, Peak streamflow for Colorado, site 09361500 (Animas River at Durango), accessed November 3, 2026. nwis.waterdata.usgs.gov https://nwis.waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/peak?site_no=09361500&agency_cd=USGS&format=html ↩
- National Weather Service Grand Junction, Flood Warning for the Mancos River near Mancos, issued November 3, 2026 at 8:11 a.m. MST, accessed November 3, 2026. api.weather.gov https://api.weather.gov/alerts/urn:oid:2.49.0.1.840.0.bec5c97210097a118313301eb760e6fc2ba05cb1.001.1 ↩
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Articles signed by the editorial team are prepared collectively, from the official texts, standards and studies listed at the end of each article. Every article is dated, and updated when the rules change.
Guillaume Hoarau
