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Photo by Jay Slater
Mountainous lake country west of Trinidad abounds with recreational opportunities and quiet forest retreats for RVers and campers. Dramatic vistas are provided by the Sangre de Cristos marching on the horizon and huge dikes that radiate like spokes of a wheel from the Spanish Peaks. Along with the many amenities in Trinidad, charming villages in the area offer outings for galleries, museums, theatre, dining, and shopping.
In the wide grasslands and wild canyons east of Trinidad, one must come to stillness to view the abundance of wildlife that takes refuge in the Comanche National Grasslands. Canyons hold rare prehistoric and historic sites, petroglyphs and pictographs. The longest dinosaur tracksite in North America is here.
RV Parks in Trinidad, Colorado
Budget Host Inn & RV Park
10301 Santa Fe Trail
I-25 & Exit 11
719-846-3307
High-speed internet in the RV park. Pets OK with charge
Budget Summit Inn & RV Park
9800 Santa Fe Trail
I-25 & Exit 11
719-846-2251
37 rooms, 1 minisuite
Economy rates, free HBO and local calls, guest laundry. Dogs up to 25 lbs OK with charge in four rooms.
Cawthon Motel & RV Park
1701 Santa Fe Trail
719-846-3341
24 rooms
Economy rates, free cable, guest laundry and showers. No pets in rooms but OK with no charge in RV park.
RV and Campsites Near Trinidad, Colorado
Apishapa State Wildlife Area has no facilities, just plenty of opportunity for wilderness camping and wildlife watching.
Apishapa State Wildlife Area
Blue & Bear Lakes have 30 campsites in a lovely and quiet mountain retreat. Each site has a table, fire ring with grill, and camping spur. Drinking water and restrooms are provided. Sites are available on a first-come basis.
Blue & Bear Lakes
Bosque del Oso (Forest of the Bear), a 30,000 acre wildlife refuge, has spartan camping facilities (restrooms only) for hardy campers and wildlife watchers.
Bosque del Oso
Cordova Pass Road, for four-wheeling, connects Aguilar and Cuchara. At Cordova Pass (11,743’), 29 miles from Aguilar and 6 miles from Cuchara, is a trailhead with three campsites with restrooms and trash service for one-night camping.
Cordova Pass
James M. John State Wildlife Area provides a true wilderness camping experience with no modern amenities. Pack everything in and out by foot or horseback from the Lake Dorothey parking lot.
James M. John
Lake Dorothey State Wildlife Area has camping 200 feet from the lake and 100 feet away from all streams. Access is by foot and horseback only from parking areas. The only modern amenity is a restroom. Pack everything in and out.
Lake Dorothey
Lathrop State Park has 104 campsites on two campgrounds and two group camping areas. Sites accommodate motor homes, trailers, and tents and offer either a basic or improved camping experience. Call for specific amenities—such as tent pads, campfire rings, grills, and picnic tables—available at different sites. General amenities include showers, laundry facility, dump stations, community hydrants (no hookups), restrooms, playground, and trash receptacles. Unreserved sites are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Lathrop State Park
Monument Lake Resort & Campground has RV and camping sites, 13 cabins, lodge, a store, bath house, laundry, recreation room, restaurant, and lounge.
Monument Lake
Purgatoire Campground has RV and camping sites with 8 that accommodate larger horse trailers and livestock and 10 sites for tents. Parking spurs, tables, fire rings, grills, drinking water, restrooms, and trash receptacles are provided.
Purgatoire Campground
Spahn & Friends Bison Ranch offers an unusual camping experience in a grove of trees next to an authentic sheepherder’s cabin. Bring your own food and prepare breakfast in the ranch house kitchen or stay for a buffalo burger picnic and a highly entertaining tour of this working buffalo ranch. Spahn Ranch
Spanish Peaks Inn RV Park and Restaurant, between Aguilar and Cuchara on the Cordova Pass road, has a restaurant with 11am-2pm lunch; 5-8pm dinner. Bar opens at 4pm. Bands on Saturday night. Sundays pizza all day at the bar, which opens at 1pm. RVers should approach the inn from Aguilar. This is a four-wheel-drive road and becomes rougher toward its western end. 719-941-4288.
Spanish Peaks Wilderness Area has campsites at different locations with restrooms, trash service, and water. Spanish Peaks Wilderness Area
Stonewall Inn & RV Park, 6673 Highway 12, Stonewall, CO, 719-868-2294.
Trinidad Lake State Park, only minutes from Trinidad, has 62 sites for camping that accommodate RVs, trailers, or tents with some sites available year-round. Five sites are provided for persons with disabilities. Facilities include showers, flush toilets, coin-operated laundry, electrical hookups, water hydrants, sewage dump station, playground, and trash receptacles. Unreserved sites are available on a first-come, first-served basis. The park has excellent sheltered picnic areas for large groups. Trinidad Lake State Park
Vogel Canyon is a fragile place of historic significance where dedicated nature lovers and respectful visitors are welcome. Camping is allowed only in the parking area, which has a toilet, picnic tables, and horse hitching rails.
Magical Canyon Daytrip
Wall of Legends Guest Ranch and RV Park has tent sites.
Wall of Legends