National Parks Week starts this weekend. Entrance is free on Saturday, April 16, and activities continue all week. To help you plan your park adventures all year, here are some perfect Colorado park pairings
Thirst Staff Report
Are you planning your summer adventures? And do you have Colorado’s national parks on the list?
Our state boasts four national parks. All are major draws for visitors — both in-state and from around the world.
But many of those tourists aren’t aware of the lesser-known but still stunning state parks.
Get to know more of the state’s special places with these itineraries for tripping through a nearby state park on the way to or from each national park.
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park and Crawford State Park
Most Black Canyon visitors head east of Montrose onto the south rim of the canyon, which boasts a large campground, river access and the most popular routes into the canyon.
The other side of the canyon is a longer trek, but it’s a 2-for-1 deal. Visit the north rim, then drive across the road to Crawford State Park.
“Being only 20 minutes away from the spectacular North Rim of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, Crawford State Park is really a hidden gem and an ideal base camp for those visiting the national park,” said John Livingston, Southwest Region Public Information Officer for CPW.
With less crowded camping and more water access than the national park, Crawford offers a multitude of outdoor recreational opportunities for all seasons, including fishing, boating, water skiing, paddle boarding, swimming and wildlife viewing. Winter also brings ice fishing and cross-country skiing.
Boyd Lake State Park is a far cry (but a short drive) from Rocky Mountain National Park.
Stop and splash around in Loveland on your way up to Rocky Mountain National Park, outside Estes Park. Boyd is among the most urban state parks, so it’s easy to get provisions and party on the beach with your peeps before heading into the solitude of the RMNP backcountry.
On the other hand, if you are heading up around Bear Lake, which is packed with people all summer, Boyd Lake might seem pretty isolated. For being basically in the middle of Loveland, it is rarely overcrowded.
The top activities in Boyd are boating, camping, fishing, biking, swimming and family cookouts. Also, despite being an urban park, there are still activities more associated with the backcountry.
“Waterfowl hunting has been an activity at Boyd Lake for over 100 years and still continues to be popular,” said Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) Public Information Officer Jason Clay.
Great Sand Dunes National Park and Lathrop State Park
Lathrop State Park sits outside Walsenburg about an hour east of Great Sand Dunes National Park.
Lathrop State Park at sunset
These two parks are a study in contrasts. For much of the year, the dunes are an arid lunar landscape while Lathrop boasts a pair of lakes that were protected in 1962 as Colorado’s first state park.
Dry out on the sand dunes and rehydrate in the water.
Martin Lake is a warm-water lake offering water skiing and power boating. Horseshoe Lake is a no-wake lake designated for canoes, kayaks, sailors and swimmers. Both lakes offer paddle boarding, and the park also has the only golf course in a state park. Lathrop also has an archery practice range, miniature golf course, 13 geocache sites and an equestrian trail.
“We are family-friendly and have a variety of activities for every age,” said Park Manager Stacey Koury. “We are small enough to enjoy most activities on one weekend visit, and large enough to not be crowded.”
Lathrop also offers history lessons. A hotel was built on Martin Lake in the early 1900s, and many cultural sites show where prehistoric people camped in the same area.
Mesa Verde National Park and Mancos State Park
Mancos State Park is a great stop on the way to Mesa Verde for hiking, paddle-boarding and winter igloo camping.
Many visitors stop at Mancos State Park for a picnic or hike before the one-hour drive south to Mesa Verde.
“Mancos State Park offers a quieter experience all 12 months of the year,” said John Livingston, Southwest Region Public Information Officer for CPW. “There is great open-water fishing most of the year and ice fishing in the winter, and the trails are great for hiking or snowshoeing all year, too.”
Mancos is also one of the best parks for standup paddle boarding.
Yurt camping is an option at Mancos State Park.
“Mancos State Park is a wakeless body of water, so it provides a nice quiet place for paddle boarders looking to avoid waters with motorized boats,” Livingston said.
In addition to tent sites and yurts, Mancos also offers a unique winter camping option.
“In the winter when there is adequate snow, igloos are built at Mancos State Park that people can actually rent out for camping,” Livingston said. “They are getting better and better each year with our project manager always coming up with great ways to improve on the previous year’s design.”
He added that visitors need to be bear aware in summer and fall, and that campers with larger RVs will find fewer hookups and fewer sites that accommodate longer setups.
State Parks General Information
Colorado’s 42 state parks contain more than 700 miles of trails, 4,000 campsites and 58 cabins.
Most state parks require a daily vehicle fee (in addition to any camping fees), but annual passes for all parks cost $80 per vehicle (or $70 for those older than 64). Families with multiple vehicles can
also get a transferable hanging tag for $120.
Campgrounds at many state parks are fully booked months ahead of time, particularly for weekends, so reserve early.