Southeast Region
Trinidad Outdoors, Trinidad, CO

Nestled in the Purgatoire Valley in southern Colorado, historic Trinidad lies at the confluence of scenic routes that take visitors a short distance to outstanding recreational areas.

The ancient Spanish Peaks greeted weary travelers who crossed the plains to reach Trinidad. Now they offer over 17,000 acres of heavily timbered ridges, lush meadows, and creeks for the traveler who wants to get away from it all on foot or by horseback. A distinctive feature of this area is the spectacular dikes that radiate out from the mountains like spokes of a wheel. This state wilderness area has hiking trails, restrooms, campgrounds, and drinking water. Vista Trail is handicap accessible.

Bosque del Oso (Bear Forest) is the largest wildlife preserve in the state. Its 30,000 acres harbor elk, peregrine falcons, mountain lions, songbirds. The area has restrooms, drinking water, and camping in designated areas. Colorado Wildlife Areas now require purchase of an annual car sticker.

Eight lakes are nearby for fishing. Trinidad Lake State Park, just minutes west of Trinidad, has year-round access to its 800-acre lake stocked with rainbow and brown trout, crappie, largemouth bass, channel catfish, saugeye, walleye, wipers, and bluegill. The park also offers biking trails, camping, entertainment, and many hands-on activities for all ages.

Monument Lake Resort has all the amenities for the visitor who likes to set up housekeeping in one of the cabins or have the cook prepare the day's catch in the dining room of the adobe-style lodge. The resort also has a lounge, store, bath house and laundry, recreation room, RV hookups, and tent sites.

Explore the many heritage sites east of Trinidad on the Santa Fe Trail and west of town on the Scenic Highway of Legends--rare dinosaur tracks, early coke ovens, pristine canyons, rock art. This area is the cradle of Colorado, rich in the history of early exploration and settlement.

In Trinidad, enjoy the town's "top tens." Trinidad's nine-hole golf course is considered by Avid Golfer magazine as one of the "ten hidden gems in the county." Top skater Tony Hawk rates Trinidad's free skate park one of the ten best in the world.

There are many other opportunities in town for strenuous or leisurely outdoor pursuits. Trinidad's parks offer playgrounds and running trails as well as special activities. Trinidad's Central Park has a fishing pond just for the youngsters. The riverwalk is part of the town's expanding trails system and offers 3.5 miles each way for families who stroll or runners who push to the wall. A soccer park, a radical frisbee golf course, and two new golf courses under construction guarantee to keep residents and visitors fit for the next adventure.