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SWA · Custer County
Upper Red Cliff Ranch State Wildlife Area, a guide for Colorado hunters
State wildlife area in Custer County (480 acres).
Photo: Heath Alseike (CC BY 2.0)
Getting to Upper Red Cliff Ranch State Wildlife Area
Parking, trailheads and gates near Upper Red Cliff Ranch State Wildlife Area
- Rudolph Mountain TrailheadTrailhead · 2.4 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.
Entry requirements for Upper Red Cliff Ranch SWA
The statewide SWA rule covers Upper Red Cliff Ranch SWA: visitors 16+ carry a hunting license, a fishing license or the State Wildlife Area Pass. Keep trucks on open roads; pitch a tent only in places CPW allows. A blind or stand must be portable and can be placed at most 30 days before the season. Discharge of firearms or bows is banned in parking, camping and picnic areas.
Site rules from CPW:
- Public access prohibited December 1 to April 30, except for licensed hunters and one nonhunting companion. Hunting by reservation only. See “Reservations: Hunting” (page 1) for details.
- Parking and access allowed from designated parking areas only.
- Discharging firearms or bows allowed only while hunting.
- Camping allowed by licensed hunters during big game or turkey season plus 3 days before and 3 days after each season. Camping prohibited within 100 feet of any stream.
- Dog training and field trials prohibited.
Special access text: ['a. Public access prohibited December 1 to April 30, except for licensed hunters and 1 nonhunting companion. Hunting by reservation only. See “Reservations: Hunting” (page 1) for details.', 'e. Dog training and field trials prohibited. A. Public access prohibited December 1 to April 30, except for licensed hunters and one nonhunting companion. Hunting by reservation only. See “Reservations: Hunting” (page 1) for details. B. Parking and access allowed from designated parking areas only. C.
Hunting Reservation System bookings open at 9 a.m. online or by phone at 1-800-244-5613.
From the agency source, CPW SWA finder, Big Game brochure, reservations; checked November 5, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Upper Red Cliff Ranch State Wildlife Area
What the agency says about Upper Red Cliff Ranch SWA
Going by the CPW SWA page, Upper Red Cliff Ranch SWA covers 480 acres. 224 state wildlife areas appear on this site, and by acres Upper Red Cliff Ranch SWA comes 147th. Within Custer County there are 3 state wildlife areas on file. For CPW purposes Upper Red Cliff Ranch SWA belongs to Area 11 in the Southeast Region, district Pueblo W. Call 719-561-5300 (Area 11 CPW Office, Pueblo) about conditions on Upper Red Cliff Ranch SWA. In the 2026 brochure the hunting entry reads: elk, deer, bear, mountain lion, turkey, dusky grouse. Anglers will find cold-water stream and ponds are characterized by low-flow and offer limited angling opportunities. on the same ground. Non-hunting uses noted: wildlife viewing: call CPW’s Pueblo Area Office at 719-561-5300 for access instructions.. The CPW page marks camping as offered on Upper Red Cliff Ranch SWA.
The listed quarry: Deer, Elk, Black bear, Wild turkey, Dusky grouse, Mountain lion.
Allowed activities per CPW: Hunting, Fishing, Nature Viewing.
From the agency page, 2026 Recreation Lands brochure, p. 28 (Colorado Parks and Wildlife); retrieved 2026-11-04, checked November 5, 2026.
Open seasons by unit on Upper Red Cliff Ranch SWA
In all, 25 public-land season rows apply in these GMUs. OTC options in these units: wild turkey. Private-land-only and ranch rows (18) are not shown. 4 unit rows for unlisted game are omitted. Note: spring turkey shows 2026 dates until CPW prints 2027.
| Game | Method | Sex | Sale | Opens | Closes | GMUs here |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elk | Archery | either sex | Limited draw | Sep 2, 2026 | Sep 30, 2026 | 84 |
| Elk | Muzzleloader | bull | Limited draw | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 20, 2026 | 84 |
| Elk | Muzzleloader | cow | Limited draw | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 20, 2026 | 84 |
| Elk | Rifle | bull | Limited draw | Oct 14, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | 84 |
| Elk | Rifle | bull | Limited draw | Oct 24, 2026 | Nov 1, 2026 | 84 |
| Elk | Rifle | cow | Limited draw | Oct 24, 2026 | Nov 1, 2026 | 84 |
| Elk | Rifle | bull | Limited draw | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 15, 2026 | 84 |
| Elk | Rifle | cow | Limited draw | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 15, 2026 | 84 |
| Elk | Rifle | bull | Limited draw | Nov 18, 2026 | Nov 22, 2026 | 84 |
| Elk | Rifle | cow | Limited draw | Nov 18, 2026 | Nov 22, 2026 | 84 |
| Deer | Archery | either sex | Limited draw | Sep 2, 2026 | Sep 30, 2026 | 84 |
| Deer | Muzzleloader | buck | Limited draw | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 20, 2026 | 84 |
| Deer | Muzzleloader | doe | Limited draw | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 20, 2026 | 84 |
| Deer | Rifle | buck | Limited draw | Oct 24, 2026 | Nov 1, 2026 | 84 |
| Deer | Rifle | buck | Limited draw | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 15, 2026 | 84 |
| Deer | Rifle | buck | Limited draw | Nov 18, 2026 | Nov 22, 2026 | 84 |
| Deer | Rifle | buck | Limited, late | Dec 1, 2026 | Dec 14, 2026 | 84 |
| Deer | Rifle | doe | Limited, late | Dec 1, 2026 | Dec 14, 2026 | 84 |
| Black bear | Archery | either sex | Limited draw | Sep 2, 2026 | Sep 30, 2026 | 84 |
| Black bear | Rifle | either sex | Limited draw | Sep 2, 2026 | Sep 30, 2026 | 84 |
| Black bear | Muzzleloader | either sex | Limited draw | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 20, 2026 | 84 |
| Black bear | Rifle | either sex | Limited draw | Oct 14, 2026 | Nov 22, 2026 | 84 |
| Mountain lion | All methods | – | Group harvest limit | Nov 23, 2026 | Mar 31, 2027 | 84 |
| Wild turkey | Spring | – | OTC | Apr 11, 2026 | May 31, 2026 | 84 |
| Wild turkey | Fall | – | OTC | Sep 1, 2026 | Oct 4, 2026 | 84 |
Small game, birds and furbearers
| Game | Hunt | Area | Start | End |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dusky grouse | Season | West of I-25 | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 22, 2026 |
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.
Which units cover Upper Red Cliff Ranch SWA
The CPW unit layer puts Upper Red Cliff Ranch SWA in 1 GMU: GMU 84.
No antler point limit on bulls in the units of Upper Red Cliff Ranch SWA. Lion hunters check the quota for group 15 before going out.
Read these as whole-unit numbers: the biggest 2024 total among them was 529 deer in GMU 84.
| Unit | Species | Harvest | Hunters | Pct success |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GMU 84 | Elk | 272 | 722 | 38% |
| GMU 84 | Deer | 529 | 1,179 | 45% |
| GMU 84 | Pronghorn | 131 | 301 | 44% |
| GMU 84 | Black bear | 15 | – | – |
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 Upper Red Cliff Ranch SWA on the ground
Directions from the 2026 brochure: From Pueblo, travel W on Highway 78 for 20 miles to Central Avenue within the Beulah Valley. Turn right on North Creek Road (CO Road 387) and travel 6.7 miles to the property entrance.
Its map point, 38.1207, -105.0690, comes from the boundary layer.
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.
Towns and outfitters within reach of Upper Red Cliff Ranch SWA
Count on Pueblo West, about 20 miles out, as the first town for supplies. Census 2024 counts 111,166 people in Pueblo, the largest nearby. The nearest CPW office is in Pueblo, 25 miles away.
| Community | County | Residents | Straight line | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pueblo West | Pueblo | – | 20 miles | northeast |
| Westcliffe | Custer | 492 | 22 miles | west |
| Cañon City | Fremont | 17,193 | 24 miles | north |
| Pueblo | Pueblo | 111,166 | 27 miles | northeast |
| Crestone | Saguache | 140 | 35 miles | west |
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.
Public places a short drive from Upper Red Cliff Ranch SWA
The closest other public ground is Florence STL, 11 miles to the northwest. Within the six nearest places are 5 trust land parcels and 1 SWA. Closed to hunting nearby: Lake Beckwith State Wildlife Area (CPW lists no hunting) and Brush Hollow State Wildlife Area (CPW lists no hunting).
| Public land | Kind | Acres | County | Distance | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florence STL | State trust land | 640 | Fremont | 11 miles | northwest |
| Bear Gulch STL | State trust land | 640 | Custer | 12 miles | west |
| Newlin Creek STL | State trust land | 640 | Fremont | 13 miles | north |
| Blue Spring STL | State trust land | 640 | Huerfano | 14 miles | southwest |
| Rosita STL | State trust land | 640 | Custer | 15 miles | west |
| Lake Pueblo SWA | SWA | 11,864 | Pueblo | 16 miles | northeast |
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.
A look at the country near Upper Red Cliff Ranch SWA
Legal light on Upper Red Cliff Ranch SWA, opener by opener
In Upper Red Cliff Ranch SWA, the light goose conservation order and furbearer hunting both run to half an hour after sunset.
| Date | Why it matters | Sunrise | Sunset | Big game hours | Bird hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 2, 2026 | Archery opener | 6:31 a.m. | 7:32 p.m. | 6:01 a.m. to 8:02 p.m. | 6:01 a.m. to 7:32 p.m. |
| Sep 12, 2026 | Muzzleloader opens | 6:40 a.m. | 7:16 p.m. | 6:10 a.m. to 7:46 p.m. | 6:10 a.m. to 7:16 p.m. |
| Oct 3, 2026 | Duck season opens | 6:58 a.m. | 6:43 p.m. | 6:28 a.m. to 7:13 p.m. | 6:28 a.m. to 6:43 p.m. |
| Oct 24, 2026 | Second rifle opens | 7:18 a.m. | 6:13 p.m. | 6:48 a.m. to 6:43 p.m. | 6:48 a.m. to 6:13 p.m. |
| Nov 23, 2026 | Lion season opens | 6:51 a.m. | 4:46 p.m. | 6:21 a.m. to 5:16 p.m. | 6:21 a.m. to 4:46 p.m. |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | 7:14 a.m. | 4:45 p.m. | 6:44 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. | 6:44 a.m. to 4:45 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.
Upper Red Cliff Ranch State Wildlife Area hunters: public range plus clubs
For a no-dues line, Upper Red Cliff Ranch State Wildlife Area hunters head 17 miles to Bighorn Archery Range. 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.
Quick answers about Upper Red Cliff Ranch SWA
What license or pass gets me onto Upper Red Cliff Ranch SWA?
Anyone 16 or older needs a Colorado hunting or fishing license or a State Wildlife Area Pass, plus the license for the game you hunt.
Where do I confirm the rules for Upper Red Cliff Ranch SWA?
Check the agency page run by Colorado Parks and Wildlife.
What counties does Upper Red Cliff Ranch SWA reach into?
Inside Custer County.
How much room is there to roam on Upper Red Cliff Ranch SWA?
Listed size: 480 acres.
Are there date or time limits on Upper Red Cliff Ranch SWA?
Public access prohibited December 1 to April 30, except for licensed hunters and one nonhunting companion. Hunting by reservation only. See “Reservations: Hunting” (page 1) for details.
Which GMUs does Upper Red Cliff Ranch SWA overlap?
Units on the CPW layer: GMU 84.
Do I need to draw for elk on Upper Red Cliff Ranch SWA?
Yes, elk here is draw only: 10 limited rows and no OTC option.
Which game does Upper Red Cliff Ranch SWA hold?
Deer, elk, black bear, wild turkey, dusky grouse and mountain lion, by the agency list.
What is the closest town with services to Upper Red Cliff Ranch SWA?
The closest town with a page here is Pueblo West (20 miles).
CWD and antler rules for Upper Red Cliff Ranch SWA?
No elk antler point restriction in these units. No mandatory CWD testing GMU here; deer testing is not mandatory in 2026.
What blaze orange rule applies on Upper Red Cliff Ranch SWA?
With any firearm license for deer, elk, pronghorn, moose or bear: 500 square inches of solid orange or pink above the waist plus an orange or pink hat.
Who can answer a question about conditions on Upper Red Cliff Ranch SWA?
Phone Area 11 CPW Office in Pueblo, 719-561-5300.
What clock times bound legal hunting on Upper Red Cliff Ranch SWA?
Half an hour either side of the sun for big game, which on November 7, 2026 means 6:03 a.m. to 5:28 p.m. in Custer County.
Is it legal to hunt over bait on Upper Red Cliff Ranch SWA?
No. It is illegal to hunt big game, turkey, small game or migratory birds over bait in Colorado, whoever placed it.
Does the CPW page show camping for Upper Red Cliff Ranch SWA?
Camping is marked available; check the restrictions for limits.
Are there limited-entry hunts on Upper Red Cliff Ranch SWA?
['a. Public access prohibited December 1 to April 30, except for licensed hunters and 1 nonhunting companion. Hunting by reservation only. See “Reservations: Hunting” (page 1) for details.', 'e. Dog training and field trials prohibited. A. Public access prohibited December 1 to April 30, except for licensed hunte
Upper Red Cliff Ranch SWA: the final check
Use this page to plan, then reread the agency page for Upper Red Cliff Ranch SWA the week before the trip.
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: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Midwest Region (Public domain); Paul VanDerWerf (CC BY 2.0); Kahunapule Michael Johnson (CC BY-SA 2.0); Alabama Extension (CC0 1.0); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Midwest Region (Public domain).