Trinidad Lake State Park – Trinidad, CO | Boating, Camping, Fishing, Geocaching, Hiking

This scenic 2700-acre state park is centered around Trinidad Lake, near the historic town of Trinidad. The park lies at the base of the Culebra Range of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Water sports dominate the summer season and camping is available year-round.

Convenient to access from I-25, yet tucked away perfectly at the base of the Rockies, the park makes a great base for exploring southern Colorado.

Activities

Biking: Street and mountain biking are popular year-round. There are 9+ miles of bike trails, in addition to paved and unpaved access roads.

Boating: Open to motorboats, jet skiing, and water skiing seasonally, the lake closes on December 1 and reopens in the spring. There is one boat ramp and several docks on-site.

Camping: There are 73 modern sites over 2 campgrounds that are open year-round. The South Shore Campground has 10 non-electric sites for RVs and tents is walking distance to the lake. The Carpios Ridge Campground has 63 electric sites and is perched on a ridge high above the lake. Additionally, there is the Piedmont Group Campground that can accommodate up to 60 people.

Read about the camping near Trinidad, Walsenburg, and La Veta.

Fishing: Boat and shore fishing are both permitted. Warm and cold-water fish, including channel catfish, crappie, bluegill, trout, largemouth bass, saugeye, walleye, and wipers are common. Furthermore, the lake is stocked with trout annually. Numerous tournaments are hosted each year and ice fishing is allowed, conditions permitting.

Trinidad Lake State Park Colorado — Trinidad Lake State Park from atop dam. Photo by: Jeffrey Beall

Upstream of Trinidad Lake, there is some good trout fishing along the Purgatoire River. The headwaters begin west of Weston and flow into Trinidad Lake, eventually joining with the Arkansas River on the plains,

Geocaching: 7 geocache sites are located within the park. Head to the visitor center to pick up a geocache brochure and rent a GPS if you don’t already have one.

Hiking: There are 10 miles of trails, several of which are ADA-accessible. Explore grasslands, forests, cliffs, ponds, and other ecosystems within the park.

Horseback Riding: Permitted on the South Shore Trail of Trinidad Lake.

Hunting: Permitted in posted areas between Labor Day and Memorial Day during legal seasons. Only shotguns or bow and arrows permitted. See park map for hunting area.

Swimming: Not permitted in the lake.

Volleyball: Available to group picnickers.

Winter Recreation: Ice fishing, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing are common winter activities if conditions permit. Winter camping is open with electricity, water, a restroom, and paid showers.