Presidents' Day Office Closure
Colorado Parks and Wildlife offices, including park visitor centers, will be closed for the state holiday, Monday, Feb. 16.
Lathrop State Park
State Park in Walsenburg, CO
Hours:
Park: Daily, 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Visitor Center Office and Drive Up Window: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday
Entrance Fees:
Daily Vehicle Pass: $10
Individual Daily Pass: $4
Animals Permitted:
- Leashed Dogs
- Service Animals
- Horses
Park Address:
70 County Road 502
Walsenburg, CO 81089
United States
Lathrop State Park
State Park in Walsenburg, CO
Hours:
Park: Daily, 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Visitor Center Office and Drive Up Window: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday
Entrance Fees:
Daily Vehicle Pass: $10
Individual Daily Pass: $4
Animals Permitted:
- Leashed Dogs
- Service Animals
- Horses
Park Address:
70 County Road 502
Walsenburg, CO 81089
United States
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A person on a blue and green jet ski
Activities and Trails
What to Do at Lathrop
Colorado's first state park, Lathrop covers 1,451 acres near the Spanish Peaks. Opportunities for water activities abound on the park’s two lakes. Lathrop is the only Colorado state park offering a golf course.
Activities
- Archery Range
- Biking
- Birding
- Boating
- Camping
- Education Programs
- Fishing
- Geocaching
- Golfing
- Hiking
- Horseback Riding
- Hunting
- Jet Skiing
- Picnicking
- Swimming
- Water Skiing
Best of Lathrop
Martin & Horseshoe Lakes
Lathrop offers 330 surface acres of water with two lakes, Martin Lake and Horseshoe Lake. Visitors can boat, fish, sail, swim, water ski and kayak.
Archery Range
Lathrop State Park has an archery range where archers can practice at 20-, 50-, or 80-yard targets. The entrance gate and parking lot are west of the main park entrance on Highway 160. No park pass is required. Broadheads, smoking, firearms, and overnight camping are not allowed.
Golf Course
Yes, there is a golf course in a Colorado state park! Lathrop's Walsenburg Golf Course offers 9 hole, 18 hole or all-day rates and is within walking distance of the Piñon Campground. Carts and a full-service restaurant and bar are also available. For golf rates and more information, visit the website or call 719- 738-2730.
Swim Beach
Swimming is permitted only in the designated swim beach area. The swim beach is open from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day and has covered picnic tables and grills. There are no lifeguards. Pets, fishing and glass are not permitted at the swim beach area.
Upcoming Events
Feb
28
BYOB Birding (Bring Your Own Binoculars!)
Feb 28, 2026 · 9:00am - Feb 28, 2026 · 11:00am
Feb
28
BYOB Birding (Bring Your Own Binoculars!)
Feb 28, 2026 · 9:00am - Feb 28, 2026 · 11:00am
Mar
28
BYOB Birding (Bring Your Own Binoculars!)
Mar 28, 2026 · 9:00am - Mar 28, 2026 · 11:00am
Mar
28
BYOB Birding (Bring Your Own Binoculars!)
Mar 28, 2026 · 9:00am - Mar 28, 2026 · 11:00am
Feb
28
BYOB Birding (Bring Your Own Binoculars!)
Feb 28, 2026 · 9:00am - Feb 28, 2026 · 11:00am
Feb
28
BYOB Birding (Bring Your Own Binoculars!)
Feb 28, 2026 · 9:00am - Feb 28, 2026 · 11:00am
Mar
28
BYOB Birding (Bring Your Own Binoculars!)
Mar 28, 2026 · 9:00am - Mar 28, 2026 · 11:00am
Mar
28
BYOB Birding (Bring Your Own Binoculars!)
Mar 28, 2026 · 9:00am - Mar 28, 2026 · 11:00am
All-terrain Motorized Wheelchair
Track Chair Program
A TrackMaster Track Chair was created for people with mobility limitations, designed to get you where you want to go. The Track Chair offers users both unassisted and assisted steering options, and with a ground clearance of 10 inches and 35% incline climbing ability, the inaccessible just became accessible.
We are offering guided hikes on designated trails that utilize different parts of the park. Lengths vary from 1.5 - 3 miles, and should take around 1 - 4 hours. Hikes will begin between 9:30 a.m. and 12 p.m. For everyone's safety, a CPW staff member or volunteer will be present on every hike.
Guided hikes will be available to reserve seven days a week year round, weather and trail conditions permitting. There is a limit of one hike per customer per day, and reservations ARE required. Reservations must be made a minimum of two weeks ahead of time. Though there is no fee to reserve a Track Chair, a valid parks pass on your vehicle is required.
Check the availability calendar before making a reservation.
Hiking, Biking and Horseback Riding
Trails
Lathrop's two main trails, the Hogback Trail and the Cuerno Verde Trail, offer visitors exceptional views of the Spanish Peaks, Greenhorn Mountain and Pikes Peak.
Biking
The park’s 3-mile closed-loop Cuerno Verde Trail is popular with bicyclists. The trail goes around Martin Lake.
Horseback Riding
There is an equestrian trail west of Horseshoe Lake. A park pass is required. Parking is available in a designated area on the west side of Horseshoe Lake. The posted equestrian trail can be accessed from that point. Horses are not allowed anywhere else in the park, including the campgrounds.
Hiking and Biking North Side Trail
A 4.5 mile trail takes bikers and hikers over the Hogback Ridge to the north side of the park. Parking is located on the north side of Horseshoe Reservoir.
Cuerno Verde Trail
3.0 miles, paved
Hiking, biking
ADA accessible
Dog friendly
Hogback Nature Trail
2 miles, non-paved
Hiking only
Dog friendly
William Henry Jackson Trail
528 feet, non-paved
Hiking, biking
Dog friendly
North Side Trails
(North side of Horseshoe Reservoir)
4.5 miles, non-paved
Hiking, biking
Dog friendly
Cuerno Verde Trail
3.0 miles, paved
Hiking, biking
ADA accessible
Dog friendly
Hogback Nature Trail
2 miles, non-paved
Hiking only
Dog friendly
William Henry Jackson Trail
528 feet, non-paved
Hiking, biking
Dog friendly
North Side Trails
(North side of Horseshoe Reservoir)
4.5 miles, non-paved
Hiking, biking
Dog friendly
Safety during Hunting Season
Most of Colorado's outdoors is multi-use and intended to be shared. Hunters and nonhunters should show respect and courtesy to all users engaged in outdoor recreation.
- Learn where and when hunting is taking place. Stay out of designated hunt areas.
- Stay on designated trails. Enjoying activities only on designated trails will reduce the likelihood of entering designated hunt areas.
- Make yourself easily visible by wearing bright clothing. Choose colors that stand out, like bright, fluorescent red, orange or green.
- For protection, it is recommended to keep your dog on a leash. Tie a brightly-colored bandana around your dog’s neck or purchase a blaze orange dog vest to make your dog more visible.
- Make noise. Alert hunters to your presence by whistling, singing or carrying on a conversation as you walk.
- If you hear shooting, raise your voice and let hunters know you are in the vicinity.
- Be courteous. Once a hunter is aware of your presence, don’t make unnecessary noise that disturbs wildlife. Avoid conflict. Please note it is illegal to intentionally interfere with hunters.
Waterfowl and Small Game
Hunting
The park allows waterfowl and small-game hunting in designated areas around Horseshoe Lake during established hunting seasons, which run from after Labor Day until the Friday before Memorial Day.
Hunting licenses are required. Only shotguns and bows and arrows are allowed. The park does not have any duck blinds to rent.