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Parvin Lake State Wildlife Area: where and how to hunt
State wildlife area in Larimer County covering 180 acres.
Photo: mark byzewski (CC BY 2.0)
Getting to Parvin Lake State Wildlife Area
Facts on file for Parvin Lake SWA
By the count in the CPW SWA page, there are 180 acres at Parvin Lake SWA. Of 224 state wildlife areas listed here, Parvin Lake SWA ranks 184th for size. Hunters in Larimer County can choose from 13 state wildlife areas; this is one. Wildlife officers for Parvin Lake SWA work out of Area 4, Northeast Region; district: Red Feather/Livermore. The CPW page sends questions to the Area CPW Office, Fort Collins office, 970-472-4300. The printed guide lists waterfowl for hunters on Parvin Lake SWA. For a fishing break the brochure lists cold-water lake. Recreation listed besides hunting: hiking, wildlife viewing. CPW does not list camping among the amenities for Parvin Lake SWA.
On the game list: Waterfowl.
CPW lists these uses: Hunting, Fishing, Hiking and Walking, Nature Viewing Facilities Restrooms.
From the agency page, 2026 Recreation Lands brochure, p. 22 (Colorado Parks and Wildlife); retrieved 2026-11-04, checked November 5, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Parvin Lake State Wildlife Area
Parvin Lake SWA game management units
Parvin Lake SWA lies in 1 game management unit: GMU 191.
Point restriction for bulls: GMU 191. Selected rifle elk hunt codes in GMU 191 require a free CWD test of harvested elk. Mountain lion harvest-limit group 4 covers these units.
The 2024 GMU harvest tables below are unit totals, not counts for Parvin Lake SWA; GMU 191 had the largest figure, 594 deer.
| Unit | Game | 2024 harvest | Hunters | Success |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GMU 191 | Elk | 22 | 601 | 4% |
| GMU 191 | Deer | 594 | 1,389 | 43% |
| GMU 191 | Pronghorn | 21 | 60 | 36% |
| GMU 191 | Black bear | 4 | – | – |
GMU overlay from the CPW Big Game GMU layer; unit rules from the 2026 Big Game brochure; 2024 elk harvest by GMU, 2024 deer harvest by GMU, 2024 pronghorn harvest by GMU, 2024 bear harvest by GMU; checked November 5, 2026.
Before you walk onto Parvin Lake SWA
Bring a current Colorado hunting or fishing license, or the State Wildlife Area Pass, if you are 16 or over; that is the standing SWA entry rule. Drive only on roads open to motor vehicles and camp only where CPW authorizes it. Only portable stands or blinds may go up, no sooner than 30 days ahead of the season. Parking areas, campgrounds and picnic spots are no-shoot zones for guns and bows.
CPW restrictions, as lettered on the page:
- Vessel use prohibited, except the launching and use of float tubes for fishing.
- Anglers must enter on foot through gate at check station, and must check in and check out at station when open.
From the agency source, CPW SWA finder; checked November 5, 2026.
Dates that apply to the listed game on Parvin Lake SWA
The agency lists no big game for Parvin Lake SWA, so the big game rows of its GMUs are left off; the seasons below match the game it does list.
| Species | Hunt | Zone | Begins | Ends |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ducks and coots | Season (split) | Mountain zone | Oct 3, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 |
| Ducks and coots | Season (split) | Northeast zone | Oct 17, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 |
| Dark geese | Season | except zone | Nov 2, 2026 | Feb 14, 2027 |
Season rows from the 2026 Small Game and Waterfowl brochure; property rules still apply; checked November 5, 2026.
What lies near Parvin Lake SWA on the map
The list below starts with West Lake SWA (Larimer County), under a mile away to the northwest. Six neighbours, by kind: 3 trust land parcels, 2 SWAs and 1 national forest. Off limits to hunting close by: Bellaire Lake State Wildlife Area (CPW lists no hunting), Watson Lake State Wildlife Area (CPW lists no hunting) and Storm Mountain Access Road (CPW lists no hunting).
| Place | Type | Acres | County | Straight line | Which way |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Lake SWA (Larimer County) | SWA | 38 | Larimer | under a mile | northwest |
| Dowdy Lake SWA | SWA | 120 | Larimer | under a mile | north |
| Manhattan Creek STL | State trust land | 320 | Larimer | 3 miles | southwest |
| Arrowhead STL | State trust land | 200 | Larimer | 7 miles | southwest |
| Steven's Gulch STL | State trust land | 480 | Larimer | 9 miles | southeast |
| Roosevelt National Forest | National forest | 814,417 | Larimer | 10 miles | southwest |
Point: CPW Managed Properties (public access only) layer, CPWAdminData (1 polygon) (polygon centroid). Straight-line distances. Closed places from lands.json closed rows. Statewide public land map.
Route and map files for Parvin Lake SWA
Getting there (CPW): From Red Feather Lakes, go 2 miles E on Red Feather Lakes Road
The pin sits at 40.7845, -105.5575.
Directions from the 2026 Colorado State Recreation Lands brochure; map files from the CPW property page; point from CPW Managed Properties (public access only) layer, CPWAdminData (1 polygon) (polygon centroid); checked November 5, 2026.
Shooting-light table for Parvin Lake SWA
The sun rises about twenty minutes later at Grand Junction than at Burlington, so use the times worked out for Parvin Lake SWA.
| Date | Season point | Sunrise | Sunset | Big game | Birds and small game |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 15, 2026 | Pronghorn bow opener | 6:12 a.m. | 8:02 p.m. | 5:42 a.m. to 8:32 p.m. | 5:42 a.m. to 8:02 p.m. |
| Sep 2, 2026 | Archery opener | 6:29 a.m. | 7:35 p.m. | 5:59 a.m. to 8:05 p.m. | 5:59 a.m. to 7:35 p.m. |
| Sep 12, 2026 | Muzzleloader opens | 6:39 a.m. | 7:18 p.m. | 6:09 a.m. to 7:48 p.m. | 6:09 a.m. to 7:18 p.m. |
| Oct 17, 2026 | Duck season opens | 7:14 a.m. | 6:20 p.m. | 6:44 a.m. to 6:50 p.m. | 6:44 a.m. to 6:20 p.m. |
| Nov 23, 2026 | Lion season opens | 6:57 a.m. | 4:40 p.m. | 6:27 a.m. to 5:10 p.m. | 6:27 a.m. to 4:40 p.m. |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | 7:22 a.m. | 4:38 p.m. | 6:52 a.m. to 5:08 p.m. | 6:52 a.m. to 4:38 p.m. |
Hours rules from the 2026 Colorado Big Game brochure and the Small Game and Waterfowl brochure; sunrise and sunset worked out for this location with the NOAA solar formula (Mountain Time); checked November 5, 2026. Legal hours for every county.
Where to fuel up and buy ice near Parvin Lake SWA
Gas, groceries and a motel bed: Red Feather Lakes is the nearest, 2 miles away. Fort Collins tops the list for size, 170,924 people. Closest CPW office: Fort Collins, 29 miles.
| Nearest towns | County | Population | Miles | Heading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Red Feather Lakes | Larimer | – | 2 miles | northwest |
| Fort Collins | Larimer | 170,924 | 31 miles | southeast |
| Loveland | Larimer | 81,102 | 36 miles | southeast |
| Walden | Jackson | 557 | 38 miles | west |
| Windsor | Weld | 41,734 | 40 miles | southeast |
Towns from places.json (Census 2024 estimates); CPW offices from the CPW Contact Us page; businesses from services.json listings; straight-line miles. Checked November 5, 2026.
Parvin Lake SWA country in pictures
Parvin Lake State Wildlife Area: the nearest public range, then clubs
Byers Canyon Shooting Range is 59 miles from Parvin Lake State Wildlife Area and is the nearest public range in CPW’s finder. After the public range come the nearest clubs within 30 miles.
From the CPW Shooting Range Finder, ranges’ own pages and directory listings, checked November 5, 2026.
Parvin Lake SWA in brief, question by question
May I use food lures for bear on Parvin Lake SWA?
No. Food-scented sticks are illegal for bear, and knowingly luring bears with food breaks C.R.S. 33-6-131.
Does the orange rule apply on Parvin Lake SWA?
Required for firearm big game; mesh is legal, camouflage orange is not.
Can I pitch a tent on Parvin Lake SWA during the hunt?
Not by the CPW page, which shows no camping.
How early may a rifle hunter shoot on Parvin Lake SWA?
For deer and elk, 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 after sunset; around Larimer County on November 7, 2026 about 6:08 a.m. to 5:23 p.m.
What documents must I carry on Parvin Lake SWA?
Entry rule: hunting license, fishing license or SWA Pass at 16 and over. Check the property restrictions for any exception.
Which official page should I bookmark for Parvin Lake SWA?
Colorado Parks and Wildlife publishes it: official page.
Which county lines does Parvin Lake SWA cross?
Larimer County; the county page lists the nearby ground.
How many acres are listed for Parvin Lake SWA in the agency count?
180 acres on the agency count.
What access limits apply on Parvin Lake SWA?
Per the property rules, anglers must enter on foot through gate at check station, and must check in and check out at station when open.
Which unit should my license be for on Parvin Lake SWA?
GMU 191; GMU lines follow roads and ridges, so check the map near a line.
Are there antler point restrictions on Parvin Lake SWA?
Bulls must meet the antler point rule in GMU 191. If your rifle elk code is selected, test the elk (free) when it comes from GMU 191.
Which seasons matter on Parvin Lake SWA?
Agency sources name waterfowl.
Who looks after wildlife on Parvin Lake SWA?
Reach Area CPW Office in Fort Collins, 970-472-4300.
Which town makes the best base for Parvin Lake SWA?
Red Feather Lakes, about 2 miles away in a straight line.
Parvin Lake SWA: double-check list
Saw poaching on Parvin Lake SWA? CPW's Turn In Poachers program rewards reports that lead to charges with licenses and preference points.
Sources: source 1 · source 2 · source 3 · source 4; seasons from the 2026 Colorado Big Game brochure. Checked November 5, 2026.
Other photos on this page: Frank.Vassen (CC BY 2.0); Birding for Climate (Public domain); Larry Lamsa (CC BY 2.0).