Hiking in Colorado’s State Parks
Information courtesy of Colorado’s State Parks
Let’s tour through several of Colorado’s many state parks to get a better idea of the parks available for you next hiking vacation.
Located in the famous Black Forest in central Colorado, Castlewood Canyon State Park offers visitors hiking, rock climbing and unique sightseeing opportunities in an arid and beautiful setting. The ruins of the century-old Castlewood Canyon Dam form the centerpiece of the park and leads visitors to hiking trails that wind their way into the deepest regions of the canyon. Dramatic canyon walls and the unique ruins make up some of the park’s attractions. Castlewood Canyon State Park is open from 8 a.m. to sunset for sightseeing, picnicking, hiking, nature study and technical rock climbing. The park is also popular for bird watching and photography. Castlewood Canyon is a day-use park only and does not offer camping. Volunteers are needed for trail work, noxious weed cleanup and other projects that help maintain the park’s natural beauty. For more information on these ongoing programs, please contact the park.
Geology - Mueller encompasses 5,121 acres. It lies on the western foothills of Pike’s Peak, an area supporting aspen and montane coniferous forests and montane grassland. Precambrian Pike’s Peak Granite, part of the Pike’s Peak batholith, underlies Mueller. Pike’s Peak Granite consists of biotite or biotite-hornblende rocks. Several inactive faults trend north to south through the park.
The John Martin Reservoir State Park, is an oasis on the plains of southeastern Colorado. Located in the Lower Arkansas River Valley, visitors come to John Martin to take advantage of modern campgrounds, great fishing, uncrowded boating waters, diverse wildlife viewing opportunities, and to see historical signs of the past.
The Park has a total of 213 campsites, which can accommodate recreational vehicles, trailers, and tents. The Lake Hasty Campground, located below the dam provides plentiful shade with large trees. Camping is available year-round in Lake Hasty. The Point Campground, located on the north shore, sits on a ridge overlooking the reservoir.
John Martin is a large reservoir that accommodates all forms of water recreation including water skiing, jet skiing, sailing, windsurfing, and swimming. Anglers catch walleye, saugeye, bass, wiper, crappie, perch, and catfish.
John Martin supports a diverse community of wildlife. Resident and migratory birds abound here, making the park a bird-watchers paradise. Every year from mid-April to late August visitors share the sand and gravel shores of the reservoir with the Threatened Piping Plover and Endangered Interior Least Tern. John Martin Reservoir is among the few acceptable nesting areas for these birds in Colorado. During the winter months, Bald Eagles can be seen throughout the area.
Denver Administrative Office
1313 Sherman Street #618
Denver, CO 80203
Phone: (303) 866-3437
High Plains Region Office
1313 Sherman Street #618
Denver, CO 80203
Phone: (303) 866-3437
High Plains Service Center
3745 E. Prospect Road #2
Fort Collins, CO 80525
Phone: (970) 491-1168
Rocky Mountain Region Office
P.O. Box 700
Clifton, CO 81520
Phone: (970) 434-6862
Rocky Mountain Service Center
4255 Sinton Road
Colorado Springs, CO 80907
Phone (719)227-5250
