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Issue Briefs

River Access in Colorado

Subject:
Water
Published:
August 15, 2025
Agency:
Legislative Council Staff

The right of the public to access rivers flowing through private property in Colorado has been a source of debate since before statehood. Coloradans rely primarily on case law to determine how and where one can float on Colorado’s rivers. This issue brief discusses relevant court cases and other developments that govern river access in Colorado.

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