Fishers Peak State Park grows as wildlife corridor in Las Animas County

The first trailhead at Fishers Peak State Park opened on October 30, 2020, giving visitors access to 250 acres through three trails and a public picnic area. What visitors can use today is still only part of the 19,200-acre property, but the park already has a clear shape: a growing day-use trail system, a protected wildlife corridor, and a phased rollout that is changing how Las Animas County reaches the mountain.

A park built in stages

The property that became Fishers Peak was assembled through a conservation partnership in February 2019 involving the City of Trinidad, The Nature Conservancy, the Trust for Public Land, Great Outdoors Colorado and Colorado Parks and Wildlife. By April 2020, Colorado had acquired the land and designated it the state’s 42nd state park, with Fishers Peak rising to 9,633 feet above the county. Governor Jared Polis had already set a public-access goal in September 2019.

That early opening still shapes the experience. Fishers Peak is one of Colorado’s newest state parks, and access and visitor opportunities are expected to keep evolving as development continues. A 2022 draft master plan envisioned more than 80 miles of trail at full buildout.

What is open now

The public access point is Fishers Peak Trailhead, and that is where first-timers should start. The trailhead currently opens access to about 1,000 acres and more than 16 miles of trails for hiking and biking. The trailhead is open daily from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m., and it includes parking, public restrooms, scenic picnic areas, interpretive signs and pass kiosks.

Getting there is straightforward, but the route matters. From I-25, use exit 11 and head east to County Road 69-3. There is no public office at the park, so plan ahead before you leave Trinidad. That is especially important if you are trying to make this a quick half-day outing rather than a full-day expedition.

A realistic first visit today is not a long backcountry push. It is a day-use stop with trail time, a picnic break, and enough flexibility to turn around before weather or elevation catch up with you. The park still has limited public access while scientific inventories, planning and development continue elsewhere on the property.

How to plan a half-day visit

For most Trinidad residents, the easiest way to use Fishers Peak right now is as a half-day hike with a built-in buffer. The current trailhead access gives you enough room for an out-and-back walk, a short bike ride, or a slower loop with time for photos and a picnic. Because the park sits above town and climbs into foothills terrain, even shorter outings can feel more demanding than they look on a map.

A simple half-day plan works best: 1. Arrive early, especially in summer, and use the daily opening window from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. to avoid heat and afternoon weather shifts. 2. Check the trail board at the trailhead and choose a route that fits your conditioning and daylight. 3. Pack water, snacks, sun protection and a backup plan, because there is no camping and no full-service visitor center on site. 4. Leave time to drive back to Trinidad or continue to Trinidad Lake State Park if you want to stretch the day.

Trinidad Lake State Park is only a few miles away and adds hiking, camping, fishing and boating for anyone who wants more than a trail visit. Fishers Peak works best as the higher-elevation morning stop, with Trinidad Lake as the longer second act.

What to know before you go

This is not a park where every trail is always open. The Stone Guard, Peak Approach and Summit Loop trails close each year from March 15 through July 31 to protect peregrine nesting.

Camping is not permitted, which shifts Fishers Peak away from overnight use and toward daylight access, short visits and careful timing. Nearby Trinidad has EV charging options about five miles away, which helps if you are driving electric and want to pair the park with town errands or lunch before heading back.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife has recorded 174-plus bird species. The park links grasslands to the east with foothills and mountains to the west, creating passage for elk, mule deer, white-tailed deer, black bear and mountain lion.

Why the park still feels unfinished

The state bought the land, opened the first trailhead and began giving the public real access, but the broader landscape is still being mapped, studied and built out. That phased approach has kept the park open while preserving room for future trail miles, visitor features and conservation work.

The Culebra Range Community Coalition, based in Trinidad and focused on youth, education and the environment, publicly supported the acquisition of the Fishers Peak Ranch property. Colorado Parks and Wildlife also began outreach and consultation with more than 40 Tribes in fall and winter 2020 as part of tribal engagement planning.