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SWA · Park County
Spinney Mountain State Wildlife Area, a guide for Colorado hunters
State wildlife area in Park County, about 1,937 acres.
Photo: Suzie Tremmel (CC BY 2.0)
Getting to Spinney Mountain State Wildlife Area
Parking, trailheads and gates near Spinney Mountain State Wildlife Area
- Parking areaParking · 1.9 mi from the centreDirections
Parking, trailhead and gate locations come from OpenStreetMap contributors. Roads into public land can be gated or seasonal; check with the managing agency before you go.
Spinney Mountain SWA: licenses, dates and restrictions
Anyone 16 or older on Spinney Mountain SWA needs a valid Colorado hunting or fishing license or a State Wildlife Area Pass, unless the property rules below say otherwise. Stay on open roads in a vehicle and use only authorized camp spots. Portable blinds and tree stands are the only kind allowed, and not earlier than 30 days before the season. Firearms and bows may not be discharged in parking lots, camps or picnic grounds.
From the agency source, CPW SWA finder; checked November 5, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Spinney Mountain State Wildlife Area
Spinney Mountain SWA at a glance
Measured by the CPW SWA page, Spinney Mountain SWA runs to 1,937 acres. Sorted by acreage, Spinney Mountain SWA sits at number 66 of the 224 state wildlife areas in this guide. Counting Spinney Mountain SWA, Park County has 11 state wildlife areas. On the CPW map it sits in Area 1 (Northeast Region) and the Lake George district. The office named for Spinney Mountain SWA is Area CPW Office, Denver; the number is 303-291-7227. Hunting, per the printed 2026 brochure: waterfowl, pronghorn. Fishing here: cold-water stream. Other uses on record: wildlife viewing. Plan to sleep somewhere else, since camping is not listed.
You can pursue, by the agency list: Pronghorn, Waterfowl.
Activities on the CPW page: Hunting, Fishing.
From the agency page, 2026 Recreation Lands brochure, p. 26 (Colorado Parks and Wildlife); retrieved 2026-11-04, checked November 5, 2026.
2026-27 seasons in the units of Spinney Mountain SWA
For Spinney Mountain SWA the season list holds 4 lines across its GMUs. Limited licenses only for big game on Spinney Mountain SWA. Rows that need private land (2) stay off this table. 37 rows for species the agency does not list here are not shown.
| Game | Weapon | Sex | Type | First day | Last day | GMUs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pronghorn | Archery | buck | Limited draw | Aug 15, 2026 | Sep 20, 2026 | 58, 581 |
| Pronghorn | Archery | doe | Limited draw | Sep 1, 2026 | Sep 20, 2026 | 58, 581 |
| Pronghorn | Rifle | buck | Limited draw | Oct 3, 2026 | Oct 11, 2026 | 58, 581 |
| Pronghorn | Rifle | doe | Limited draw | Oct 3, 2026 | Oct 11, 2026 | 58, 581 |
Small game and bird seasons for the listed species
| Game | Season | Where | Opens | Closes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ducks and coots | Season (split) | Mountain zone | Oct 3, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 |
| Dark geese | South Park season | Chaffee, Custer, Fremont, | Oct 3, 2026 | Jan 15, 2027 |
Season rows and hunt codes from the 2026 Colorado Big Game brochure, the 2026 Small Game and Waterfowl brochure, the Turkey brochure and the Mountain Lion brochure; property access dates still apply; checked November 5, 2026.
GMU rules that reach Spinney Mountain SWA
GMU overlay for Spinney Mountain SWA (2 units): GMU 58, GMU 581.
GMU 581 carry the elk antler point restriction. Elk CWD testing GMUs here: GMU 58 (selected rifle hunt codes). Group 8 set the lion harvest limit here.
| Unit | Counties | Rules |
|---|---|---|
| GMU 58 | Park, Fremont, Chaffee | elk CWD testing, lion group 8, spring turkey OTC |
| GMU 581 | Park, Fremont, Teller | elk antler point rule, lion group 8, spring turkey OTC |
GMU totals from 2024 give a sense of the game: GMU 581 produced 292 deer.
| Unit | Species | Harvest | Hunters | Pct success |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GMU 58 | Elk | 288 | 906 | 32% |
| GMU 58 | Deer | 228 | 495 | 46% |
| GMU 58 | Pronghorn | 44 | 88 | 51% |
| GMU 58 | Black bear | 6 | – | – |
| GMU 581 | Elk | 196 | 1,521 | 13% |
| GMU 581 | Deer | 292 | 572 | 51% |
| GMU 581 | Pronghorn | 18 | 36 | 49% |
| GMU 581 | Black bear | 5 | – | – |
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.
Finding Spinney Mountain SWA on the ground
Route, per the brochure: From Hartsel, go 3 miles S on CR 59.
Coordinates used on this page: 39.0047, -105.7155.
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.
Supply towns and CPW help near Spinney Mountain SWA
The handiest town is Hartsel, 5 miles off in a straight line. A bigger stop is Cripple Creek: population 1,122 in 2024. CPW Salida Office is the closest CPW office, about 37 miles.
| Town | County | People (2024) | Distance | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hartsel | Park | – | 5 miles | west |
| Fairplay | Park | 755 | 21 miles | northwest |
| Westcreek | Douglas | – | 31 miles | east |
| Midland | Teller | – | 32 miles | east |
| Cripple Creek | Teller | 1,122 | 34 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.
Spinney Mountain SWA and the land around it
If Spinney Mountain SWA is busy, Spinney STL lies 3 miles to the southeast. Close by you will find 4 trust land parcels, 1 state park and 1 SWA. No hunting at Badger Basin State Trust Land (CPW lists no hunting), Badger Basin State Wildlife Area (CPW lists no hunting) and Knight-Imler State Wildlife Area (Fishing Easement) (CPW lists no hunting).
| Public land | Kind | Acres | County | Distance | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spinney STL | State trust land | 4,674 | Park | 3 miles | southeast |
| Hartsel STL | State trust land | 380 | Park | 3 miles | west |
| Hartsel South STL | State trust land | 1,788 | Park | 3 miles | south |
| Spinney Mountain State Park | State park | 3,990 | Park | 4 miles | east |
| Charlie Meyers SWA | SWA | 1,082 | Park | 7 miles | east |
| Eleven Mile STL | State trust land | 2,887 | Park | 7 miles | east |
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.
Game and terrain near Spinney Mountain SWA
Legal light on Spinney Mountain SWA, opener by opener
Walk-In Access properties open an hour before sunrise and close an hour after sunset, two hours for waterfowl, deer, elk and pronghorn hunters.
| Day | Moment | First sun | Last sun | Rifle hours | Shotgun hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 15, 2026 | Pronghorn bow opener | 6:15 a.m. | 8:00 p.m. | 5:45 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. | 5:45 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. |
| Sep 2, 2026 | Archery opener | 6:32 a.m. | 7:34 p.m. | 6:02 a.m. to 8:04 p.m. | 6:02 a.m. to 7:34 p.m. |
| Sep 12, 2026 | Muzzleloader opens | 6:40 a.m. | 7:18 p.m. | 6:10 a.m. to 7:48 p.m. | 6:10 a.m. to 7:18 p.m. |
| Oct 3, 2026 | Duck season opens | 6:59 a.m. | 6:44 p.m. | 6:29 a.m. to 7:14 p.m. | 6:29 a.m. to 6:44 p.m. |
| Oct 24, 2026 | Second rifle opens | 7:21 a.m. | 6:13 p.m. | 6:51 a.m. to 6:43 p.m. | 6:51 a.m. to 6:13 p.m. |
| Nov 23, 2026 | Lion season opens | 6:54 a.m. | 4:45 p.m. | 6:24 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. | 6:24 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | 7:18 a.m. | 4:43 p.m. | 6:48 a.m. to 5:13 p.m. | 6:48 a.m. to 4:43 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.
Range stops on the way to Spinney Mountain State Wildlife Area
Park County Shooting Range (a voluntary $10 a day) is 22 miles from Spinney Mountain State Wildlife Area. Beside it sit the closest club ranges inside 30 miles.
From the CPW Shooting Range Finder, ranges’ own pages and directory listings, checked November 5, 2026.
Quick answers about Spinney Mountain SWA
What animals can be hunted on Spinney Mountain SWA?
Pronghorn and waterfowl.
Is CWD testing required for elk from Spinney Mountain SWA?
GMU 58: mandatory CWD sampling for listed rifle elk hunt codes. Antler point rule: GMU 581.
What is the closest town with services to Spinney Mountain SWA?
The closest town with a page here is Hartsel (5 miles).
Which CPW contact handles Spinney Mountain SWA?
Area CPW Office in Denver, 303-291-7227. Poaching tips can go to CPW Turn In Poachers.
Orange or pink on Spinney Mountain SWA?
Solid orange or pink, at least 500 square inches above the waist, and a hat, for firearm deer, elk, pronghorn, moose and bear.
Is it legal to hunt over bait on Spinney Mountain SWA?
No. It is illegal to hunt big game, turkey, small game or migratory birds over bait in Colorado, whoever placed it.
What legal shooting hours apply on Spinney Mountain SWA in November?
Big game: half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset. On November 7, 2026 that works out to 6:06 a.m. to 5:27 p.m. in Park County (NOAA solar formula).
Is camping allowed on Spinney Mountain SWA?
Camping is not listed as an amenity; plan to stay off the property.
Is there an official website for Spinney Mountain SWA?
Yes, run by Colorado Parks and Wildlife: the official page.
Is there an entry fee or permit for Spinney Mountain SWA?
Carry a Colorado hunting or fishing license or a State Wildlife Area Pass if you are 16 or older.
Roughly how much country does Spinney Mountain SWA take in?
About 1,937 acres in all.
What part of Colorado holds Spinney Mountain SWA?
Look in Park County.
Which game management units cover Spinney Mountain SWA?
The CPW GMU layer gives GMU 58 and GMU 581.
Spinney Mountain SWA: the final check
Confirm your hunt code, GMU and the open dates for Spinney Mountain SWA before you load the truck.
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: born1945 (CC BY 2.0); Frank.Vassen (CC BY 2.0); USFWS Mountain Prairie (CC BY 2.0).