New State Park Expected to Draw from Far and Wide

By Katie Lee

With a 30 percent increase in state park visits over the past five years, the announcement to open a new park in southern Colorado was welcomed news.

Even with 41 state parks, Coloradans are still excited about number 42 - the latest outdoor gem scheduled to open in 2021 near Trinidad.

Known as the Crazy French Ranch, the purchase by the Trust for Public Land and The Nature Conservancy will add a massive recreation destination that includes Fishers Peak. Although unnamed, the local community will help decide the moniker when the park’s opening day gets closer.

Gov. Jared Polis recently proposed that $10 million be added to the state parks budget, some of which would go toward the new park near Trinidad.
“A new state park, particularly one of this size at 19,200 acres and scenic beauty will draw overnight destination tourists, those traveling along the interstate for day trips and others looking to enjoy this picturesque and culturally interesting region of Colorado,” said Chris Arend, communications director at the state’s Department of Natural Resources.

At more than 19,000 acres, the new park will be larger than Golden Gate Canyon State Park at 11,998 acres. It will be smaller than State Forest State Park near Walden, which is 70,838 acres.

Amenities will include a visitor center and campgrounds. Guests can expect to bike, climb, camp, hike, hunt and participate in outdoor education opportunities.

Although it will most likely not receive as much snow as the Continental Divide, which contains some of the highest peaks in Colorado, such as Grays Peak at 14,278 feet, it is expected to provide a year-round playground.

Its main focal point, Fishers Peak stands 9,633 feet, which is the highest point east of Interstate 25 in the United States.

Due to the lower elevations surrounding Fishers Peak, Arend said they are unsure how much snow to expect for activities such as snow-shoeing, skiing, and snowboarding. There are a couple of very small creeks, Great and McBride, that run through the area.

The new state park is a three-hour drive from the Denver metro area, two hours from Colorado Springs and one hour from Pueblo. It will have three access points along I-25. The park will not be open to the public during the construction and renovation process. But do not worry, there is a chance of it opening in late 2020 if plans go accordingly.

“There still is a lot of inventory and planning to do before the property can open to the public,” Arend said. “We look forward to working with the city of Trinidad, The Nature Conservancy, the Trust for Public Land, Great Outdoors Colorado and other stakeholders on completing the plan and moving toward a state park designation.”