Paonia State Park lies northeast of town along Colorado 133, around Paonia Reservoir beneath the Ragged Mountains. It is a simple mountain park rather than a heavily built recreation area, with camping, picnicking, fishing, boating when water levels allow, and good wildflowers in season.
The reservoir is used for irrigation, so late-summer water levels can drop sharply. The drive is still worthwhile for the high-valley scenery, especially if you are continuing toward McClure Pass or looping back through the North Fork Valley.