Lathrop State Park Visitor Center

About

Lathrop State Park Visitor Center serves as the primary access point for hiking in Walsenburg, Colorado. Located at 6,422 feet elevation, the park offers moderate difficulty trails spanning approximately 8 miles. Hikers typically spend about two hours on these paths, which traverse piñon-juniper forests and provide views of the Spanish Peaks, Greenhorn Mountain, and Pikes Peak. The two main trails are the Hogback Trail and the Cuerno Verde Trail. The Visitor Center, situated southeast of the park entrance off County Road 502, provides maps and information. It operates daily from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., with a drive-up window open until 6 p.m. on weekdays and 8 p.m. on weekends. Parking is available at the center. The park allows leashed dogs and horses, with specific parking areas for equestrians. Lathrop is open year-round, from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m., making it accessible in all seasons including winter camping. The park is Colorado’s first state park, established in 1962, and lies near the crossroads of early Colorado history. The Visitor Center displays 12 murals by Disney animator Paul Busch, depicting local history from the Mesa Verde era through the coal strikes of the 1920s. The area is currently under Stage 2 Fire Restrictions due to dry conditions and high heat.