Lathrop State Park

The 1,594 acres of Lathrop State Park are nestled among the piñons and junipers on the prairie west of Walsenburg. Camping here is a real pleasure with the Spanish Peaks making a magnificent background to your activities. With 103 campsites spread through the Yucca and Pinon Campgrounds, there are both electrical and primitive camping sites available, although larger camping units will prefer the recently upgraded sites at Pinon. Showers, toilets, laundry facilities and drinking water are also available to campers.

Martin Lake and Horseshoe Lake are two different aquatic environments and, for the most part, have different kinds of fish. Horseshoe Lake is crystal clear and wakeless, with tigers, muskies, catfish, largemouth bass, and rainbow trout. Martin Lake is always a bit murky and has trout, walleyes, wipers, crappies, bluegills, catfish, and largemouth bass. Martin Lake also has a sandy swimming beach and speed boats, waterskiers and jet skis. Picnicking is permitted throughout the park. Individual picnic shelters are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Martin Lake is part of Lathrop State Park while Horseshoe Lake is managed by the Colorado Division of Wildlife and hunting is allowed on that property in season, with proper permits.

The daily vehicle pass runs $7, or you can buy an annual Colorado State Parks pass for $70. Non-electric campsites run $16 per night while the electric sites cost $20 per night. The Conference Room in the Visitor Center rents for $100 per day. The electric Group Campground costs $170 per night while the primitive Group Campground rents for $60 per night.

Martin Lake

One of the campgrounds

Horseshoe Lake

One of the boat docks on Horseshoe Lake

The swimming beach at Martin Lake

One of the picnic areas, with geese

The Visitor Center at Lathrop State Park

Lathrop State Park area map