Details: A beautiful setting in the mountains of southern Colorado, a mild year- round climate and 800 acres of water ideal for numerous water sports are the lures of Trinidad Lake State Park. Anglers catch small and largemouth bass, rainbow and brown trout, walleye & saugeye, black crappie, channel catfish, yellow perch, bluegill, and wiper. The lake is popular for water skiing and windsurfing. Visitors may explore the mountain branch of the historic Santa Fe Trail in nearby Trinidad. There are great wildlife-viewing opportunities at this park; turkey, coyote, deer, and elk call the park home. Two campgrounds with 73 sites can accommodate recreational vehicles, trailers or tents. A total of 73 sites are available by reservation only. Campsites 1-23, 62 & 63 on Carpios Ridge along with electricity, water, dump station, and the camper services building are open for winter camping. Campsites 24-61 in Carpios Ridge are tentatively closed from mid October to mid March and the entire South Shore campground is closed from mid October to mid May. Mild fall weather and abundant winter sunshine make Trinidad Lake State Park a great off-season vacation destination. In addition to camping, some of the activities available between Labor Day and spring are hiking, ice fishing, winter wildlife watching, and hunting. Call Park for details. For current conditions and more information, please visit the Trinidad Lake website: http://cpw.state.co.us/placestogo/parks/trinidadlake
Directions: From either direction on I-25, take Exit 13-B to West Main Street. At the first four-way stop, turn left onto Nevada Ave. Go through the roundabout and continue west onto Highway 12 for 3.5 miles. The first sign you will see on Highway 12 directs you to the entrance to the boat ramp and then the South Shore. Stay on Highway 12 west until the next entrance (second entrance) which is where the visitor center and Carpios Ridge Campground is located.
Reservations: Reserve America - Trinidad Lake State Park