List of Colorado state parks facts for kids

Welcome to the amazing state parks of Colorado! These special places are managed by Colorado Parks and Wildlife. Their main goal is to help people enjoy the outdoors and learn about nature.

Colorado has over 40 state parks that are open to everyone. Many more are being planned for the future. Every year, more than eleven million people visit these parks!

Besides managing the parks, Colorado Parks and Wildlife also helps with fun activities like boating, off-road vehicle use, and snowmobiling. They also work to keep Colorado's beautiful trails safe and open for everyone to explore.

Discover Colorado's State Parks

Here is a list of the state parks in Colorado. Each park offers unique features and activities for visitors.

Park Name	County or Counties	Size		Year Established	What Makes It Special	Image
		acre	ha
Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area	Chaffee, Fremont, Lake, Pueblo	6,193	2,506	1998	Great for water activities along the Arkansas River.
Barr Lake State Park	Adams	2,715	1,099	1977	A wonderful spot for bird watching and fishing.
Boyd Lake State Park	Larimer	334	135	1965	Popular for boating and swimming on Boyd Lake.
Castlewood Canyon State Park	Douglas	2,621	1,061	1964	Features a deep canyon and the ruins of a historic dam.
Chatfield State Park	Douglas, Jefferson	3,895	1,576	1975	Offers a large reservoir for water sports and camping.
Cherry Creek State Park	Arapahoe	3,346	1,354	1959	A large urban park with a reservoir, close to Denver.
Cheyenne Mountain State Park	El Paso	1,680	680	2006	Known for its hiking trails and views of Colorado Springs.
Crawford State Park	Delta, Montrose	734	297	1964	A quiet park with a lake for fishing and boating.
Eldorado Canyon State Park	Boulder	885	358	1978	Famous for rock climbing and beautiful canyon scenery.
Eleven Mile State Park	Park	7,662	3,101	1970	A large park with a reservoir, popular for fishing and camping.
Elkhead Reservoir State Park	Moffat, Routt	2,200	890	2006	Offers a peaceful lake for fishing and wildlife viewing.
Fishers Peak State Park	Las Animas	19,200	7,800	2020	This park opened recently and offers stunning mountain views.
Golden Gate Canyon State Park	Jefferson, Gilpin	12,119	4,904	1960	Features beautiful mountain landscapes and many trails.
Harvey Gap State Park	Garfield	320	130	1987	A smaller park with a lake, great for fishing and picnics.
Highline Lake State Park	Mesa	563	228	1967	Known for its warm water lake, perfect for swimming and boating.
Jackson Lake State Park	Morgan	3,305	1,337	1965	A sandy beach and warm water make it a popular summer spot.
James M. Robb - Colorado River State Park	Mesa	890	360	1994	Follows the Colorado River, great for river activities.
John Martin Reservoir State Park	Bent	13,176	5,332	2001	A large reservoir known for fishing and bird watching.
Lake Pueblo State Park	Pueblo	10,279	4,160	1975	A huge lake for all kinds of water sports and fishing.
Lathrop State Park	Huerfano	1,596	646	1962	Colorado's first state park, with two lakes and mountain views.
Lone Mesa State Park	Dolores	11,702	4,736	N/A	This park is still being developed for future visitors.
Lory State Park	Larimer	2,492	1,008	1975	Offers great trails for hiking, biking, and horseback riding.
Mancos State Park	Montezuma	553	224	1987	A peaceful park near Mesa Verde National Park.
Mueller State Park	Teller	5,112	2,069	1988	Features beautiful forests and meadows, great for wildlife viewing.
Navajo State Park	Archuleta, La Plata	5,087	2,059	1964	A large reservoir for boating, fishing, and camping.
North Sterling State Park	Logan	5,700	2,300	1992	A popular spot for fishing, boating, and windsurfing.
Paonia State Park	Gunnison	1,857	752	1964	Known for its beautiful reservoir and mountain setting.
Pearl Lake State Park	Routt	300	120	1964	A quiet lake perfect for fishing and non-motorized boating.
Ridgway State Park	Ouray	3,201	1,295	1989	Offers a large reservoir with stunning mountain views.
Rifle Falls State Park	Garfield	48	19	1966	Home to beautiful triple waterfalls and limestone caves.
Rifle Gap State Park	Garfield	1,341	543	1966	A reservoir popular for fishing, boating, and swimming.
Roxborough State Park	Douglas	3,317	1,342	1975	Famous for its dramatic red rock formations and hiking trails.
Spinney Mountain State Park	Park	6,080	2,460	1987	A high-altitude reservoir known for excellent fishing.
St. Vrain State Park	Weld	688	278	1965	Offers several ponds for fishing and a peaceful setting.
Stagecoach State Park	Routt	1,641	664	1965	A beautiful reservoir for boating, fishing, and winter sports.
State Forest State Park	Jackson, Larimer	70,838	28,667	1970	Colorado's largest state park, with vast forests and wildlife.
Staunton State Park	Park, Jefferson	3,652	1,478	2013	Colorado's newest state park, offering rugged mountain terrain.
Steamboat Lake State Park	Routt	2,820	1,140	1967	Features a beautiful lake with views of Hahn's Peak.
Sweetwater Lake State Park	Garfield	500	200	2021	This park is currently being developed for future visitors.
Sweitzer Lake State Park	Delta	210	85	1972	A small lake popular for fishing and bird watching.
Sylvan Lake State Park	Eagle	1,548	626	1987	A scenic mountain lake surrounded by forests.
Trinidad Lake State Park	Las Animas	2,860	1,160	1980	Offers a large lake for fishing and boating near the city of Trinidad.
Vega State Park	Mesa	1,823	738	1967	A mountain park with a reservoir, great for fishing and camping.
Yampa River State Park	Routt, Moffat	3,112	1,259	1998	Protects a long stretch of the Yampa River, ideal for rafting.

More to Explore

If you want to learn more about Colorado's natural beauty and history, check out these related topics:

• Colorado Department of Natural Resources
  • Colorado Parks and Wildlife
• Bibliography of Colorado
• Geography of Colorado
• History of Colorado
• Index of Colorado-related articles
• List of Colorado-related lists
• Outline of Colorado