High above the mountain town of Collbran lies Vega State Park, a 1,830-acre recreation area nestled in the Grand Mesa.
Vega reservoir and the meadows that surround it are rich in history and natural beauty. The area was originally a mountain meadow where cattle ranchers grazed their herds from the late 1800s until 1962. ("Vega" is the Spanish word for "meadow.")
At an elevation of 8,000 feet, this mountain setting is a popular sport and vacation destination. Snowmobiling and ice fishing have made Vega a well-known winter sports area. Warm-weather visitors include anglers, campers, boaters, water-skiers and other outdoor enthusiasts.
Colorado wildflowers abound within the park, as do many kinds of wildlife. Visitors are encouraged to enjoy access to the Grand Mesa park trails, open to hikers, four-wheelers, trail bikers and snowmobilers. Also, the park offers historical sites, including the area where the Dominguez-Escalante expedition camped in 1776 and the Vega cemetery.
Camping
The park maintains 110 individual and group campsites. These can accommodate recreational vehicles, tents and campers.
Boating and water sports
Water-skiing season at Vega usually begins in early June and ends by mid-August, depending on the water level. Windsurfers and Jet Skiers are welcome.
Picnicking
The park has many individual sites, and one group picnic shelter that can accommodate 100 to 200 people. The group shelter also has a ballfield.
Fishing
Vega reservoir is approximately two miles long when full. It is the largest body of water in the Grand Valley region. Because Vega is 2,000 feet lower in elevation than Grand Mesa, it is the last to freeze in the fall and the first to thaw in the spring. Few lakes can surpass Vega reservoir as a trout fishery.
Wildlife
Deer, elk, beaver and many kinds of waterfowl frequent Vega. Also