Camping Review of Lathrop State Park
Lathrop State Park is a nice Colorado State Park just off of I-25 in southern Colorado. It sits nicely between Colorado City and Trinidad, outside of Walsenburg. It has a couple of large lakes to enjoy. It also has two separate campgrounds depending on what you are looking at for your stay. One campground is good for tent camping while the other is good for trailer and RV camping. There are a lot of different things to do inside Lathrop State Park, even play a round or two of golf! The weather here is often warm and mild. Lathrop State Park is a great place to visit if you like a variety of amenities and activities but are looking for less of a crowd.
Reserve a Campsite at Lathrop State Park Today!
Campsites at Lathrop State Park
There are two separate campgrounds here at Lathrop State Park. The first is Yucca Campground, which is more suited for tent camping. The second is the Pinion Campground which is more suited for RV and trailer camping.
Campsite Review of Yucca Campground in Lathrop State Park
This campground is on the southeast side of Martin Lake within Lathrop State Park and is more rustic than the newer campground on the north side of the lake. These campsites do not have water or power. Most of these campsites do have better cover than those in the Pinion Campground. Most sites have at least one bush or tree to provide some shade and protection from the wind. Those that don’t have natural cover have wind/shade shelters at the tables.
The tables are all the metal grate variety. This is nice for cleanliness but not a great table surface so plan on bringing a table cloth or even a hard covering.
These campsites are all mostly flat which allow for pitching your tent different areas. Make sure that your tent is not on a path or in an area which water may pass through. Just be sure to watch out for vegetation and give recently used areas a break so they can recover.
The fire rings here are low to the ground and all on small concrete slabs. They have grates that flip over which is very nice. This helps to transition between a cooking fire and a viewing fire. Please remember to be responsible with your fires. Only start them if there is no ban. Never leave any fire unattended. Be sure to put any fires dead out before you leave or go to sleep for the night.
There are a couple of nice group campgrounds in the Yucca Campground area which are slightly separated from the other part of the campground giving this are a nice feeling of seclusion.
Campsite Review of Pinion Campground in Lathrop State Park
This campground is on the north side of Marin Lake and is the newer of the two campgrounds at Lathrop State Park. These campsites all have flat parking with electricity at each site for campers and RVs. These campsites are closer together than at Pinion Campground and there’s less tree cover here.
The tables here are of the same metal grate type as the other campground so make sure to bring tablecloths here as well. You can even pack a few poster boards or something else to put under the tablecloth for a flatter surface.
The fire rings are the same as in the Yucca Campground. Just be sure to be extra careful with your fires as winds here can pick up suddenly, spreading dangerous embers around. Always make sure your fire is dead out when unattended.
This campground is also close to many of the other amenities of Lathrop State Park which we will talk about in the next section.
If you have camped at Lathrop State Park please post your experiences, tips, and comments below! Other campers will really appreciate your insight.
Amenities at Lathrop State Park
Lathrop State Park has many great amenities that can be enjoyed by all campers.
In the Pinion Campground there is a fully ADA-accessible campsite. This is so nice to see, and I wish more campgrounds would be more accommodating to disabled outdoor enthusiasts. Make sure that if you don’t need these features do not reserve this campsite. Leave it for those that need them.
Also in the Pinion Campground you will find a playground, showers, bathrooms, an amphitheater as well as a trailhead to a nice short hike.
In Lathrop State Park you will find several lakes and ponds which you can boat on or fish. There is even a swimming beach at Martin Lake on the south side. Martin Lake also has a nice boat ramp and a large area to park trailers. Along the southern shore there are areas where you can tie up jet skis and other watercraft. There is a kid’s fishing pond to enjoy and all kinds of fishing trails and other areas to enjoy the water.
Within the park there is also a golf course which some campers may wish to try.
There are a handful of trails to enjoy around the park. There is also decent wildlife viewing and great birdwatching depending on the time of the year.
Things to Do Around Lathrop State Park
Walsenburg is nearby if you need to find something to do when the weather is bad. It’s a small town but does offer the necessities. It’s also the place to keep in mind should you forget to pack something or need a replacement.
Spanish Peaks to the south of Lathrop State Park offers some good hiking and great scenery.
The Great Sand Dunes is to the west of Lathrop State Park and is a must see if you find yourself in the area. It is a cool place and something that everyone should put on their itinerary if possible.
Final Thoughts on Lathrop State Park Camping
Lathrop State Park is a nice Colorado State Park that is warm to hot most of the year. It is a good place to take new campers, easy going campers, or those that may have some special needs when camping. The park offers lots to do with a wide variety of campsites ranging from rough tent camping sites to nice open and flat spots to park an RV for the weekend. If you find yourself looking for a place to go camping in southern Colorado, Lathrop State Park should be on your short list.
If you have camped at Lathrop State Park, please post your experiences below. They are helpful for other campers considering a stay at the Lathrop State Park campgrounds.
Reserve a Campsite at Lathrop State Park Today!