Hiking and Camping in Lathrop State Park: Beautiful Views

Everyone who has seen them agrees that the Spanish Peaks are absolutely stunning.  Now imagine being able to camp and hike with a view of these stunning peaks?  Because at Lathrop State Park, you can!

Founded in 1962, Lathrop State Park is Colorado’s oldest park.  With their 2 lakes for fishing, a beach for swimming, multiple hiking trails, and an incredible campground, you’ll love every minute in Lathrop!

The beautiful views are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Lathrop State Park.  So let’s dive into all the details so you can have a great hiking and camping trip.

Important Links

Lathrop State Park website

Camping – Make Reservations Here

Lathrop State Park Brochure (PDF)

Colorado State Park Passes

Hiking Journal – Never Forget the Details of Your Favorite Hikes Again!

Camping Journal – Never Forget Your Camping Trips Details Again!

Location

Lathrop State Park is located just minutes outside of Walsenburg, Colorado.  In town there are 2 grocery stores in case you forget anything or want to pick up some food on the way there.  The nearest Walmart is 45 minutes south in Trinidad, CO.  

If you’re looking to take a camping trip, Lathrop is just 3.5 hours north of Santa Fe, NM, 1.5 hours south of Colorado Springs, CO, and about 4 hours northwest of Amarillo, TX.  So while the park isn’t a day trip from these cities, it’s a great weekend getaway.  

Address: 70 County Road 502 Walsenburg, CO 81089

Fees

Lathrop State Park is no different than any other Colorado State Park in the sense that there is a fee to enter the park.  Whether you walk into the park or bring a vehicle full of family/friends, there is a fee.  

Daily Fees

• Walk-In Individual Fee: $4 per person
• Vehicle Fee: $10 per vehicle (covers all vehicle occupants)

Unfortunately, these daily fees DO still apply if you are camping here.  So if you intend to camp at Lathrop State Park for 7 days, you will be charged $10 per day ($70 total) when you arrive.  This is in addition to the camping fee you have already paid.  

Yes, this adds up quickly!  But there is a way around these daily fees if the math makes sense for you and your family.  Check it out below!

Annual Park Passes

Colorado State Parks do offer several park pass options for purchase to help save you money.  They offer a Family Pass for $120/year, a Vehicle Pass for $80/year, an Aspen Leaf Pass for $70/year and a Keep Colorado Wild Pass (Residents Only) for $30/year.  

Each pass is good for 12 months from your purchase and allows you and a car-full of guests to enter the park for free.  If you intend to visit more than a few parks, or camp for more than 8 days in a year, the vehicle pass is a great option. We bought the vehicle pass and it saved us a ton of money in 2025!

Each of these passes can be purchased in advance or in the visitor center of most state parks.  For all the details, you can visit their Park Pass website.  

Lathrop State Park Details

• 1,451 Acres
• 98 Campsites
• 76 Electric Sites
• 19 Dry Sites
• 3 Group Sites
• Dump Station
• Water Fill-Up Station
• Picnic Area
• 4.5 miles of hiking/biking trails
• 2 Playgrounds
• Fishing
• Birding
• Archery Range
• Boating/Kayaking/SUP
• Swimming Area

What to Expect

Lathrop State Park has 1,451 acres of land and two reservoirs for fishing or boating or swimming in their no wake area.  The park also offers incredible views of the Spanish Peaks from just about anywhere in the park.  

The campsites are mostly sunny and mostly level.  Within each loop there are pit toilets and showers are offered in the Pinon campground loops.  The showers do require quarters (4 quarters = 8 minutes) to help conserve water.

The campground sits at 6,400 feet of elevation, so if you are coming from a lower elevation that you might be out of breath the first few days.  As for cell service, AT&T had barely a bar of service and Verizon was at 2 bars of service.  Starlink worked it’s magic again and was flawless our entire stay.  

Time to Spend Here

With so much to do in such a beautiful place, you can’t go wrong with any amount of time spent at Lathrop State Park.  Whether you come for a quick day trip and hike the trails, or spend the day boating/fishing, you will definitely be able to fill a full day here.

As for camping here, you can camp in Lathrop for up to 14 days.  In that time you can go hiking, fishing, biking, boating, birding or just relax around a fire for a week, weekend, or 2 weeks.  The hiking offers beautiful views and you’ll love every second of their trails!

Hiking

Lathrop State Park has 2 hiking trails that just about anyone can hike.  The Cuerno Verde Trail is 2.9 miles (from the visitor center) and is paved and flat the entire way.  While the Hogback Trail offers incredible views, it’s a little more rugged for 1.4 miles, but still a fairly easy trail.  

With only 4.5 miles of trail in this park, it might not be a hiker’s dream come true, but the beautiful views on both trails aren’t to be missed!  Especially if you are camping here, you won’t even need to drive anywhere, you can simply walk from your campsite and pick up either trail.  

List of Trails and Details

–Cuerno Verde Trail – 2.9 miles – Easy, Paved, Loop around Martin Lake

–Hogback Trail – 1.4 miles – Easy, Rocky Terrain, Loop Trail 

Lathrop State Park Campgrounds 

There are 2 campgrounds at Lathrop State Park.  The first campground is the Yucca Campground and the second is the Pinon Campground. All sites allow up to 6 people per site and dogs are welcome.  Camping is available year round at Lathrop, just be aware that they do get quite a bit of snow in the winter.  

You can book a site in either area up to 6 months in advance.  You can also book for up to 14 days if you want a nice long vacation.  Either loop can be booked here, just simply select “Basic” or “Electric” campsites accordingly.  

There are also 3 group camping areas in Lathrop State Park.  These sites are more expensive but if you have a large group of people or families/friends, this is a great way to all camp together.    

Yucca Campground – Dry Camping

As you are entering the park, you’ll pass the Yucca Campground first.  This area is across from Martin Lake, which offers easy access to the Cuerno Verde Trail.  This area has 19 dry sites of varying sizes.

Tents and campers alike are welcome here, just be aware there is no power in this loop.  There are a few water spigots, and a centrally located pit toilet, but there is no electricity.  

Pinon Campground – Electric Sites

Next up is the largest area to camp in, the Pinon Campground, with loops A, B, C and D.  The sites each have electric hook-ups and the sites are paved.  Each loop has about 20 sites to it, with a variation of pull-through sites and back-in sites.  

Each loop offers a bathhouse with paid showers, water spigots are spread throughout the loops, and just about every site has a beautiful view of the Spanish Peaks.  Loop D has a playground and there is access to the Hogback Trail from there.   

Group Camping

There are 3 group camping areas available for booking.  These sites are more expensive, but if you are splitting the cost of the area between friends/family, the prices are about the same as the other campsites. 

Group A Camping Area is non-electric, and tent only.  This area will host up to 30 people and has a campfire ring, three picnic tables, a stand-up grill, a water

faucet and benches.

Group B Camping Area has electricity available and can accommodate up to 40 people.  There is room for 7 campsites and 6 additional vehicles.  This site has covered pavilions, a ring, a stand-up grill, benches and 20/30/50 amp electric.

Los Alamos Electric Group Camping Area offers seven electric pedestals and will accommodate up to 50 people.  The area is near the lake’s shoreline and has a group picnic shelter with seven tables.  There is also a water faucet, fire ring, large barbecue grill, nearby volleyball court and horseshoe pit. Flush toilet bathrooms are just a quick walk away.  

Price Comparison

We all know that camping is an affordable way to take a vacation.  But just how much does it cost to go camping in Lathrop State Park?  

**DISCLAIMER: The prices below were the prices as of 6/2025 and are subject to change by date or holiday.  Prices DO NOT include taxes and fees, nor daily entrance fees.**

Yucca Sites (non-electric)

• $28 per night
• $196 per week

Pinon Sites (Electric)

• $36 per night 
• $252 per week

Group Camping – A (non-electric)

• $140 per night 
• $980 per week

Group Camping – B (electric)

• $225 per night 
• $1,575 per week

Los Alamos Group Camping (electric)

• $250 per night 
• $1,750 per week

Remember, there is a daily fee when camping here unless you buy an annual pass.  The daily fee is an additional $10 per day per vehicle, so make sure you are budgeting for this additional cost as well.

And one other thing, they charge for showers at Lathrop State Park.  While it’s only $1 for 8 minutes of shower time, make sure you are bringing quarters for that!

Things to do in the area

If you plan to camp here for a while, you’ll be just over an hour away from Great Sand Dunes National Park.  While it’s a bit of a drive, this unique park is worth it!  

The adorable town of Cuchara and the Highway of Legends is about a half hour away from the campground and is a beautiful drive.  Cuchara is definitely worth a stop and you’ll love the beer at Dog Bar & Grill. 

Walsenburg has everything you could need as far as groceries are concerned and the town is very cute to walk around.  Plus if you’re in the mood for a beer flight, the Crafty Canary Brewery is right in town.   

Conclusion

If you are seeking a peaceful place and a beautiful view, you’ll love hiking and camping in Lathrop State Park.  As Colorado’s first state park, you’ll see where it all began!

With the stunning view of the Spanish Mountains to the south and a well-thought out campground, you’ll be able to enjoy the beauty of this park from each site.  The lakes offer peaceful boating/fishing and with a few easy trails, you’ll love hiking/biking here too.  

As always, feel free to reach out to me at averagewildexperience@gmail.com and I’ll do my best to answer any questions.

-Happy Hiking and Camping!