Woods Lake SWA: hunting rules and access

Woods Lake SWA is 160 acres of State Wildlife Area in San Miguel County, Colorado, in game management unit 70. CPW lists no hunting for it, and its rules for the property run to 4 lines: 2 on its page for the property and 2 in its regulations.

A State Wildlife Area has its own rules on top of the statewide season rules. How the kinds of public land differ.

What CPW lists for hunting here

CPW's page for this property lists no hunting opportunities.

Fishing, as CPW lists it: Fishing Opportunities, Coldwater Lake, Coldwater Stream.

A species on this list is one CPW names for the property. It still needs an open season, the right license for the unit, and nothing in the restrictions below against it on your dates.

Who may enter

A valid hunting or fishing license OR SWA pass is required for everyone 16 or older accessing this state wildlife area.

Restrictions on CPW's page for this property

• A Vessel use prohibited except vessels propelled by hand, wind or electric motor.
• B. Dogs must be under control and on leash by handler, except service animals or when actively hunting, training for hunting or during licensed field trials.

In CPW's regulations

• a. Vessel use is prohibited, except for launching and use of vessels that are propelled by hand, wind or electric motor.
• b. Dogs are allowed but must be kept under control on a physical leash by the handler at all times, except as authorized in #900(C)(15).

From CPW regulations, chapter W-9 (Wildlife Properties), 2 CCR 406-9, dated July 16, 2026.

Read it at the source before you go

The rules above are CPW's words, copied from CPW's page for Woods Lake SWA as it read on October 8, 2026 and from the regulations for CPW properties. CPW can change them or close the property at any time, signs on the ground count, and a rule that names a season moves with that season each year.

Unit 70, around Woods Lake SWA

• Elk in unit 70, 2024: 3,448 hunters in all seasons took 1,275 elk, 37% success (2023: 25% from 3,346 hunters). The rifle seasons alone: 2,696 hunters, 39%. Unit 70 elk by season
• Deer in unit 70, 2024: 1,249 hunters in all seasons took 859 deer, 69% success (2023: 70% from 1,118 hunters). The rifle seasons alone: 1,073 hunters, 76%. Unit 70 deer by season
• Unit 70: 1,511 square miles in Dolores, Montrose and San Miguel Counties, 15.9% national forest and 47.9% BLM land, from 5,200 to 12,500 feet.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife survey estimates for the whole unit, private land included. They are not figures for this property, and whether elk or deer may be hunted here is in CPW's list above.

2026 elk and deer rifle hunt codes for unit 70

A code valid in the unit is not permission to hunt this property: the property's own list and restrictions decide that. Legal light is half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset at the coordinates above, on the Colorado clock; the state's printed table is the rule. Archery, muzzleloader, late and private-land codes are on the unit pages: unit 70 elk, unit 70 deer.

Nearest CPW properties to Woods Lake SWA

Straight-line miles between the middles of the boundaries CPW maps, not road miles. A property can be much nearer at its edge.

More CPW properties in unit 70

Carter Place STLDan Noble SWA - Greager TractDead Horse Creek STLDisappointment Valley STLDry Creek Basin STLDry Creek Basin SWAHamilton Mesa STLKlondike Basin STLMcKenna Peak STLPoison Spyder STLSpring Creek Basin STL

All 721 State Wildlife Areas and State Trust Lands