Hot Sulphur Springs now owns more Colorado River frontage than it did a year ago. If you head out to walk that new riverbank this winter, though, you'll find hay ground and a pasture lease.
The town closed on 112 acres of the Varra property on Feb. 18, 2026. In August, trustees voted to keep the land in agricultural use for another year. The town's stated reason was to protect the parcel's agricultural water rights. So for the coming season, the river access open to you is the river access the town already had. That's Pioneer Park, the Maple Street bridge, and the state wildlife area past the edge of town.
What the Town Actually Bought
Sky-Hi News reported in April that the purchase was paid for with a $3,000,000 grant from Grand County's Open Lands, Rivers and Trails Fund. Grand County voters set up that fund to conserve river water, farmland, wildlife habitat and river access, and to build and maintain multi-use trails.
According to the same Sky-Hi story, the land has hay fields, a riparian corridor of cottonwood and willow, willow groves, and sagebrush and grass meadows. It also serves as a wildlife migration corridor. The parcel includes 0.36 miles of the Colorado River and 1.5 cubic feet per second of agricultural water rights tied to an irrigation ditch.
The town's March 25 press release, quoted by Sky-Hi, put the priorities in this order:
"The land was purchased to protect and preserve its conservation values for undeveloped open space, scenic quality, wildlife habitat, and its historic use for agriculture (such as grazing and hay production). Additionally, part of the property will be open to the public for low-impact, sustainable, non-motorized recreation."
In that release, grazing and hay are listed as conservation values, alongside open space and habitat. Recreation shows up in the next sentence and covers "part of the property." Mayor and town manager Ray Tinkum thanked the OLRT Advisory Committee and the County Commissioners for "recognizing the significant value of preserving this property in open space for future generations." Open lands committee chair Michelle Cowardin said the project fulfills many of the fund's priorities, including "providing recreational opportunities for residents and visitors to the area."
Why the Pasture Lease Got Renewed
The release also said a management plan would be written over the coming months, and that the town planned to pursue a conservation easement so the land's conservation values stay protected permanently. Back in February, trustees had discussed seeking grants for parking, fencing and walking trails.
Then came the Aug. 19 trustees meeting. According to a Citizen Portal summary of that meeting, the board extended the Varra pasture lease for one year at the existing rate of $100 a month. The lease runs on a July 1 to June 30 cycle. The town's stated reason was to help preserve the property's water rights while the conservation easement and long-term plan are worked out. The motion passed with four ayes and one abstention. The same summary says Colorado Open Lands has submitted a letter of intent for transaction funding.
Those 1.5 cfs of irrigation water came with a ditch and a history of haying, and the town has chosen to keep that history going while the paperwork catches up. The $100 a month barely matters as income. What the lease does is keep the ground in the agricultural use the town says it bought the land to protect. No date for public access has been announced. Until the management plan and easement are in place, the Varra land is something to look at from the road, not something to walk.
Where the River Is Open to You This Winter
Here's the upside of that plan for anyone who wants to be on the water between now and spring. Most of the in-town river access is clustered in one connected stretch, and the town already maintains it.
| Spot | Where | Winter use the town or CPW lists | Fine print |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pioneer Park and River Walk | 80 acres on the Colorado River | Snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, hiking | Dogs welcome on leash; pick up after pets |
| Colorado River pedestrian bridge | Behind the water-treatment plant on Maple Street | Links Community Park to Pioneer Park on foot | Built in 2012 |
| Disc golf course | Along the river in Pioneer Park | Free, marked 18 holes | No winter maintenance listed |
| Community Park | In town | Ice rink listed as a winter amenity | Park hours 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. |
| Hot Sulphur Springs State Wildlife Area | West of town along US 40 | Coldwater stream fishing | License or SWA pass needed at age 16+ |
The bridge is what ties this together. From Community Park you can cross the Colorado behind the water plant on Maple Street and be in Pioneer Park without getting back in the car. The town's Pioneer Park and River Walk page lists snowshoeing, cross-country skiing and hiking as winter uses. It doesn't say the trails are groomed, so expect whatever the last storm left behind.
For the rink, the Hot Sulphur Springs Chamber describes a free public rink on the north side of Town Park that stays open all winter. That description dates to 2024, so check the town's Community Park page once the cold settles in.
Past Town Limits, State Rules Apply
Once you head west past the town parks, the river corridor is managed by Colorado Parks and Wildlife, and the rules work differently. CPW lists fishing as an activity at the Hot Sulphur Springs State Wildlife Area and describes the fishery as a coldwater stream. CPW places the Paul F. Gilbert Fishing Area three miles west of Hot Sulphur Springs on Highway 40, south at the west end of the Colorado River bridge.
A few details from CPW are worth having before you park:
- Access: According to CPW's SWA access rules, visitors age 16 and older need a valid hunting license, fishing license or State Wildlife Area pass.
- Byers Canyon Rifle Range: Open May 1 through Dec. 31, sunrise to sunset. CPW's map closes the range itself to the public from Jan. 1 through April 30, but not the whole wildlife area.
- Camping: Allowed only in designated areas, May 15 through Dec. 15.
- Dogs: Must be under control and leashed, with stated exceptions for hunting.
CPW's map was last updated in 2021 and says posted site regulations take precedence. Read the signs at the parking area and check CPW's current rules before you go.
Warming Up After a Cold Afternoon on the Water
Walking the river in town in January ends close to the town's namesake. The Hot Sulphur Springs Resort & Spa website lists daily hours of 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., last walk-in at 9:15 p.m., and 19 pools. The large chlorine swimming pool is listed as closed for the season. After 8:15 p.m., the site lists a late-entry rate of $17 per adult and $12 per child under 12. Hours and prices shift by season, so check the site before you drive over.
For dinner, Dean Public House at 412 Nevava St. reopened in late spring 2026 after a short closure. Sky-Hi News reported in July that the tapas menu changes weekly and that hours were 4 to 9 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, subject to change. The phone number is 970-794-2009 if you want to confirm the winter schedule. In August, the restaurant's River Fest benefited the Colorado River Headwaters Chapter of Trout Unlimited, which fits a town whose newest public land includes a stretch of that same river.
If the weather keeps you off the trail entirely, the Grand County Historical Association lists winter hours for the Pioneer Village Museum at 110 E. Byers Ave. as Wednesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is $8 for adults, $7 for seniors and $5 for ages 6 to 17.
The next decisions on the Varra land, including the management plan, the conservation easement and any trail grants, will come through the town's trustee agendas and minutes. Those are the first place any public access date will show up.
If you're wondering how protected open space next to town affects a Hot Sulphur Springs home you own or are thinking about, Roxanne King is glad to talk it through, whether you're making plans for this winter or for whenever the trails open.
