Trinidad Lake

Trinidad Lake State Park

State Park in Trinidad, CO

Hours:

Park: Daily, 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Office: Monday through Friday, 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

Contact:

719-846-6951

[email protected]

Fax:

719-846-0676

Trinidad Lake and shoreline with mountains in the distance.

Trinidad Lake State Park

State Park in Trinidad, CO

Trinidad Lake and shoreline with mountains in the distance.

Hours:

Park: Daily, 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Office: Monday through Friday, 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

Contact:

719-846-6951

[email protected]

Fax:

719-846-0676

Navigate to:

Aerial view of Trinidad Lake including campsites

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

Directions

Accessing the Park

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. Ramp is currently closed for the season and will reopen spring 2025.

    Fees and Passes

    Daily Vehicle Pass

    Single vehicle and its occupants

    1 Day

    $10

    Individual Daily Pass

    For individual entry on foot, bicycle, horseback, etc at select parks

    1 Day

    $4

    Keep Colorado Wild Pass

    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

    Visitors 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.

    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
      Great blue heron

      Great Blue Heron.

      Mammals You Might Find

      • Elk
      • Mule Deer
      • Rock Squirrel
      • Mountain Lion
      Mountain lion in the snow

      Mountain Lion in the snow.

      Reptiles and Amphibians You Might Find

      • Prairie Rattlesnake
      • Gopher Snake
      • Greater Short-horned Lizard
      • Woodhouse's Toad
      Prairie rattlesnake

      Prairie Rattlesnake.

      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.

      Distinct layers of rock are visible.

      Distinct layers of rock are visible.

      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.

      Thick brush and trees around the lake

      Thick brush and trees around the lake.

      Upcoming Events

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      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.