Lathrop State Park

Lathrop State Park
Horseshoe Lake and the Spanish Peaks
Map showing the location of Lathrop State Park
Map showing the location of Lathrop State Park
LocationHuerfano County, Colorado, U.S.
Nearest cityWalsenburg, Colorado
Coordinates37°36′10″N 104°49′59″W / 37.60278°N 104.83306°W / 37.60278; -104.83306
Area1,594 acres (6.45 km2)
Established1962
Visitors121,000[1] (in 2023)
Governing bodyColorado Parks and Wildlife

Lathrop State Park is a Colorado state park located 3 miles (4.8 km) west of Walsenburg. The state purchased the property in 1962 and opened Colorado's first state park here later that same year.[2] It is named after Harold Lathrop, the first director of state parks.[3] The park features two lakes, Martin Lake and Horseshoe Lake, that offer fishing for tiger muskie (46-inch, 25-pound examples have been caught here), rainbow trout, bass, catfish, northern pike, blue gill, saugeye, and wipers.[4]

Activities

In addition to fishing, the park also offers a beach, boating, water skiing, wind surfing, jet skiing, picnicking, hiking, wildlife viewing, camping, and a nine-hole golf course.[5]

Golf course

Lathrop is the only Colorado state park with its own golf course.[6] The Walsenburg Golf Course was founded in 1965 and after two years of construction opened in 1967.[2] It was built by 50 Walsenburg citizens and many local volunteers in a public/private partnership.[citation needed] The course's restaurant/lounge overlooks the lakes and the National Natural Landmark Spanish Peaks.

Mountain bike trails

In 2024, the park added 4.5 miles (7.2 kilometers) of mountain bike trails. The dirt trails, which are also open to hikers, are in a 160-acre (65-hectare) parcel of land on the park's north side. The park also allows class 1 and 2 e-bikes to use the trails.[1]

Visitors

The park reported about 121,000 visitors in 2023.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c Boster, Seth (June 5, 2024). "Colorado's first state park gets its first mountain bike trails". The Gazette. Colorado Springs, Colorado. Archived from the original on June 9, 2024. Retrieved December 26, 2024.
  2. ^ a b Christofferson, Nancy (June 30, 2011). "Golfing in the 'burg, 1930 on". Huerfano World Journal. Retrieved May 31, 2013.
  3. ^ "Lathrop State Park History". Colorado Parks and Wildlife. Colorado Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved May 31, 2013.
  4. ^ "Fishing at Lathrop State Park". Colorado Parks and Wildlife. Colorado Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved May 31, 2013.
  5. ^ "Activities at Lathrop". Colorado Parks and Wildlife. Colorado Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved May 31, 2013.
  6. ^ "Lathrop State Park". Colorado Parks and Wildlife. Colorado Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved May 31, 2013.