The Paonia River Park is the perfect place to enjoy the North Fork of the Gunnison River. Take advantage of the Park’s picnic tables, boat ramp, and river access, and make your own memories. Come early to watch the North Fork Valley come alive in the sunlight, relax in the shade with your lunch after swimming in the river, or explore the park in the evening cool with family, friends, and your well-behaved dog! Please note that there is no camping or overnight parking allowed in the park.
The Paonia River Park is the product of community collaboration and partnership. Once an in-stream gravel mine, the North Fork River Improvement Association (now the Conservation Center) worked hard to reclaim the river, restore riparian habitat, and make the park a family-friendly recreation area. With the help of the Minnesota Ditch & Reservoir Company, the Conservation Center completed the Paonia River Park Restoration Project in 2013, transforming the former in-stream gravel mine into a healthy aquatic ecosystem. In 2016, the park expanded to include an interpretive trail system. This expansion allows visitors the opportunity to explore the riparian habitat even further along the corridor without disturbing precious wildlife habitat. The park now contains a shaded picnic area, outdoor classroom, boat launch, river viewing platform, an ADA compliant access ramp, and a one-mile trail.
Installed in April of 2024, the River Park Chronolog station is located right before the bridge on the parking lot side of the River Park. It is designed to highlight changes in our natural environment over time. In other words, a timelapse! What’s even better? YOU are needed! Anyone can participate by placing their phone on the custom holder, snapping a picture, and sending it via email to those at Chronolog (instructions are provided at the station). Chronolog then compiles all submissions into a timelapse that is able to be viewed by the public. So…go check it out and help us document the changes to the river and its surroundings!
Although the station has only been active for less than a year, we have already seen how the river level has changed after this spring’s runoff season! Over time, we hope to see changes in the river’s path as well as wildlife activity.
We would like to thank Betsy and Mick Johnson, our River Park caretakers, for graciously sponsoring our Chronolog and for all that they do to keep our River Park sparkling! Thank you Betsy and Mick!
See the continuing River Park Chronolog timelapse here.
Pre-2023 spring runoff, it is known that the River Park had beaver residents. Unfortunately, due to the extremely high water levels, it seems like they were washed out. Come November 2023, evidence supporting the beavers return was documented. We are happy to announce that our beaver friends are back and busier than ever. They have done quite the remodeling over the past few months! While it was sudden and quite dramatic, we want them to do their beaver-thing.
Beavers play a crucial role in shaping and maintaining healthy ecosystems, making them a keystone species and vital to environmental sustainability. Their natural behaviors, such as building dams and lodges, create wetlands that support a diverse array of wildlife. These wetlands serve as critical habitats for many species, including fish, amphibians, and birds, while also enhancing water quality by filtering pollutants and regulating water flow. Additionally, beaver activity can help mitigate the impacts of flooding by slowing and distributing water across landscapes, reducing erosion, and recharging groundwater supplies. Through their industrious work, beavers not only engineer their own habitats but also foster greater ecological balance and resilience in the environments they inhabit.
The park is one of only two public access points along the North Fork river. Over 95 percent of land along the river is privately owned. The Conservation Center is committed to connecting the community to the river, maintaining a balance between natural and built structures, and ensuring project sustainability through public participation. We work hard to build the relationship between the North Fork of the Gunnison River and the community that surrounds it.
The Paonia River Park was built with a strong emphasis on accessibility with ongoing efforts to improve accessibility even further. We invite everyone of all abilities to come explore the park. The Paonia River Park is open year-round and each season brings its own special charm. Please stop by and let us know what you think!
