Trinidad Lake State Park

Trinidad Lake State Park is nestled in the foothills of the Culebra Range of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains in southern Colorado. The 2,500 acre park, at an average altitude of 6,300 feet, offers a spectacular backdrop for a wide variety of recreational activities.

Nine miles of trails wander through the piñon and juniper forests at the park, which is part of the Purgatoire River Valley. Trinidad's 800 acre lake offers ample opportunities for boating and fishing. Individual and group facilities are available.

The Carpios Ridge Campground provides modern facilities for overnight stops or longer stays for those undertaking a regional exploration of southern Colorado and northern New Mexico. The park is bordered by the Scenic Highway of Legends and the Santa Fe National Historic Trail. Four of southern Colorado's finest museum complexes are located in Trinidad, just three miles east of the park.

The dam which created Trinidad Lake was built as an irrigation and flood control project by the US Army Corps of Engineers in 1978. The park has been managed by Colorado State Parks since 1980.

Picnicking is permitted throughout the park. Individual picnic shelters are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Group picnic and camping facilities are available. Reservations are required. Please call the visitorscenter at 719-846-6951 for information.

The 62 site campground can accommodate recreational vehicles, trailers or tents. Modern facilities include centrally-located water hydrants, a coin operated laundry, electrical hook-ups, showers, and flush toilets. Campsites may be reserved in advance by calling 1-800-678-CAMP.

All boats must observe wakeless speeds around the boat launch area, within 150 feet of shore fishermen and as buoyed. Boats are not allowed within 200 feet of the dam or the intake structure, or as buoyed. The water level at Trinidad Lake can fluctuate. Boaters are warned to be especially alert to submerged hazards.