Christmas and New Years Office Closure
Colorado Parks and Wildlife offices will be closed on December 24, December 25, December 26 and January 1.
Trinidad Lake State Park
State Park in Trinidad, CO
Hours:
Park: Daily, 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Office: Daily, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Entrance Fees:
Daily Vehicle Pass: $10
Individual Daily Pass: $4
Animals Permitted:
- Leashed Dogs
- Service Animals
- Horses
Park Address:
32610 Highway 12
Trinidad, CO 81082
United States
Trinidad Lake State Park
State Park in Trinidad, CO
Hours:
Park: Daily, 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Office: Daily, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Entrance Fees:
Daily Vehicle Pass: $10
Individual Daily Pass: $4
Animals Permitted:
- Leashed Dogs
- Service Animals
- Horses
Park Address:
32610 Highway 12
Trinidad, CO 81082
United States
Navigate to:
Aerial view of Trinidad Lake including campsites
About this park
Welcome to Trinidad Lake State Park
Trinidad Lake offers a serene escape from crowds, serving as an excellent base camp for exploring the outdoors and nearby attractions. With its mild climate and large lake, the park is perfect for water sports. Anglers can reel in rainbow and brown trout, largemouth bass, channel catfish, walleye, crappie and bluegill.
2,960
acres
73
campsites
46
picnic sites
10.3
miles of trails
Accessing the Park
Directions
From I-25
Follow I-25 S to County Rd 69.1 in Las Animas County. Take exit 11 from I-25 S. Follow County Rd 69.1 to County Rd 18.3. Turn Left on HWY 12. Turn left at the park sign/entrance road.
The Trinidad Lake Visitor Center is located on the north side of the reservoir by the Carpios Ridge campground. This area can be accessed from Highway 12.
Hours: 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily.
The boat ramp is located on the north side of the lake near the Carpios Ridge campground and accessed from Highway 12.
The ramp is open for the 2025 season. For more information on the boat ramp and mandatory boat inspections, see the Park Highlights page.
Closures
Boat Ramp
The boat ramp is closed for the season.
Campgrounds and Amenities
Water: Water has been turned off to all hydrants in the Carpios Ridge Camp. This includes all community hydrants and water hydrants located at full hook-up sites. Potable water may be accessed at the water hydrants located nearby the Sopris and Viola group picnic areas. The group picnic areas are east of the visitor center on Caprios Ridge.
South Shore Campground: The South Shore Campground is closed for the season and will reopen to campers on May 1st, 2026. For more options, see the Staying During Winter section under Know Before You Go within the Camping & Lodging page.
Carpios Ridge Campground: Sites 24-61 of the Carpios Ridge Campground are closed for the winter season. Campers may still reserve sites 1-23, 62, and 63. The comfort station, located on Carpios Ridge, is closed until the spring of 2026. Visitors may use the restroom facilities at the visitor center or the family restrooms at the camper services building in the Carpios Ridge Campground.
Camper Services Building: The main portion of the camper services building is closed for the season. Campers will not have access to laundry facilities or community restrooms. Campers may use the family restrooms located on the northeast side of the camper services building instead.
Dump Station: The flush stand at the dump station has been winterized for the season.
Fees and Passes
Pass |
Description |
Duration |
Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Daily Vehicle Pass |
Single vehicle and its occupants |
1 Day |
$10-$12 |
|
Individual Daily Pass |
For individual entry on foot, bicycle, horseback, etc at select parks |
1 Day |
$4 |
|
DMV vehicle registration renewal option for Colorado residents |
12 Months |
$29 |
|
|
Annual Vehicle Pass (Affixed) |
Pass for a single vehicle and its occupants |
12 Months |
$80 |
|
Family Annual Pass (Hang Tag) |
Members of the same household |
12 Months |
$120 |
|
Aspen Leaf Annual Pass |
Colorado residents 64+ |
12 Months |
$70 |
|
Centennial Pass |
Income-eligible Colorado residents |
12 Months |
$14 |
|
Columbine Pass |
Colorado residents with disabilities |
12 Months |
$14 |
|
Veterans License Plate |
DMV vehicle registration renewal option for military veterans (disabled veterans or purple heart plates) |
Lifetime |
Free |
|
Independence Lifetime Pass |
Colorado resident veterans with disabilities |
Lifetime |
Free |
|
Blue Spruce Pass |
Colorado resident first responders with disabilities |
Lifetime |
$10 |
Nature and Wildlife
The pinyon-juniper forest offers wildlife viewing of many bird species, including pinyon jay and roadrunners. A variety of mammals can be seen, such as deer, elk and smaller animals.
Bird, plant and wildlife guides are available on Trinidad State Park's iNaturalist app observations for Android and iPhone. iNaturalist is a free online social network and citizen science platform that allows users to record and share observations of biodiversity. By uploading photos or sounds of wild organisms, you can get help identifying species from a global community of naturalists and even an automated identification tool. Using iNaturalist helps you learn about local nature, connect with other enthusiasts, and most importantly, contribute valuable scientific data to biodiversity research and conservation efforts worldwide.
Be on the Lookout for Birds
Can you spot all the resident and visiting bird species? Download the Bird List Brochure (PDF).
Birds You Might Find
- Great blue heron
- Woodhouse's scrub-jay
- Juniper titmouse
- Greater roadrunner
Birding Tips
- Always view birds and other wildlife from a safe distance.
- Use binoculars or a spotting scope for a closer view.
- Protect young by avoiding nests or dens.
- Help protect birds by using your senses to find them, not recorded calls.
- To see more birds, keep voices and other sounds low.
- Protect plants and wildlife by staying on trails and respecting closures.
- Keep dogs leashed and under control at all times.
- For the best viewing experience, leave pets at home.
- Human food can hurt wildlife - please keep their diets wild.
- Take nothing but pictures - leave what you find for others to enjoy.
Mammals You Might Find
- Elk
- Mule deer
- Rock squirrel
- Mountain lion
Learn How to Coexist
View a short video and tips on watching wildlife safely and find important information on crossing paths with wildlife.
Reptiles and Amphibians You Might Find
- Prairie rattlesnake
- Gopher snake
- Greater short-horned lizard
- Woodhouse's toad
YOU Can Help!
The park is lacking vital data on amphibian and reptile populations. By logging your reptile and amphibian observations into iNaturalist, you'll help us collect data that's essential for protecting and preserving the Park's natural resources.
Geology at This Park
The park is home to the K-T or K-Pg Boundary, which marks the boundary between the Mesozoic and Cenozoic geologic eras. It is believed that the park offers one of the best examples in the world of this boundary. Within the park, the Purgatoire River cuts through Upper Cretaceous Trinidad sandstone, which caps the valley rim, and Pierre shale, which is visible throughout the park. The combination of buff-colored sandstone and dark-gray siltstone and shale provides a subtle backdrop for the lake and river valley.
Habitats and Plants at This Park
Pinyon-juniper woodland and short and mixed-grass prairies occupy park uplands. The pinyon-juniper woodland community occurs on rocky outcrops and slopes over one-third of the park. Pinyon pine, one-seed juniper, Rocky Mountain juniper, and scrubland species such as Gambel oak, mountain mahogany and serviceberry occupy the park.
Mixed-grass prairie is made of western wheatgrass, needle and thread grass, and Indian ricegrass. Shortgrass prairie is made of blue grama, galleta and side oats grama. Saline bottomland scrubland, made of rabbitbrush, four-wing saltbush and alkali sacaton, grows in areas disturbed in the past by ground work and earthmoving activities.
Diverse wetland, riparian and aquatic plant communities have become established around the reservoir, in the Purgatoire River Valley above the reservoir and below the dam. Riparian scrubland is made of sandbar willow and typically grows adjacent to cottonwood forests.
Upcoming Events
Jan
1
First Day Hikes
Thursday, Jan 1
Castlewood Canyon State Park
Celebrate the New Year and join the nationwide observance of America's 250th birthday by hiking at a Colorado state park! First...
Jan
1
First Day Hikes
Thursday, Jan 1
Castlewood Canyon State Park
Celebrate the New Year and join the nationwide observance of America's 250th birthday by hiking at a Colorado state park! First...
Jan
1
First Day Hikes
Thursday, Jan 1
Castlewood Canyon State Park
Celebrate the New Year and join the nationwide observance of America's 250th birthday by hiking at a Colorado state park! First...
Jan
1
First Day Hikes
Thursday, Jan 1
Castlewood Canyon State Park
Celebrate the New Year and join the nationwide observance of America's 250th birthday by hiking at a Colorado state park! First...
History
The legacy of Trinidad's early days and the influence of various groups are evident in historic sites like the Trinidad History Museum Complex, the Cokedale Historic District, and others listed on national and state registries. Archaeological sites in the park date from the early Sopris Phase (1075 to 1150 CE) to the Baca Phase, which was the Spanish-American occupation of the area from 1860 through 1900. The most widespread Native Tribes were the Jicarilla Apache, Utes and Comanches.
- 1664: Spanish Arrival
Archuleta leads the first Spanish expedition into the Purgatoire Valley, followed by Ulibarri in 1706 and Valverde in 1719. Valverde names the Purgatoire River, reflecting a tragic history. - 1821: Santa Fe Trail and William Becknell
William Becknell opens the Santa Fe Trail, which passes near the park, becoming a vital trade route. - 1858: Settlers and Coal Mining
Settlers farm along the Purgatoire, leading to the founding of Trinidad in 1858. The main economic base is sheep and cattle ranching. In 1876, the first coal mining operation begins, marking the start of a coal boom. - 1978: Trinidad Dam and Trinidad Lake Creation
The US Army Corps of Engineers constructs Trinidad Dam, creating Trinidad Lake for irrigation and flood control. - 1980: Park Management
Colorado State Parks, today called Colorado Parks and Wildlife, begins managing Trinidad Lake State Park. - 1985–1988: Sopris Mine Coal Tailing Reclamation
A project led by the Division of Mined Land Reclamation reclaims a portion of the Sopris Mine coal tailing pile on park land. - 1991: Santa Fe National Historic Trail Designation
Trinidad Lake becomes a Complementary Interpretive Facility for the Santa Fe National Historic Trail through an agreement with the National Park Service. - 1995: Horno Construction and Historic Bridge Recognition
A traditional horno, an adobe oven used by early Native American cultures for cooking, is built in the park. - 1999: Historic Recognition for Reilly Canyon Bridge
The Reilly Canyon Bridge, constructed in 1936 and featuring characteristic WPA construction, is added to the State Register of Historic Properties. - Present day: Historical Interpretation
Interpretive displays and wayside exhibits scattered throughout the park tell visitors about the region's rich history.