The best camping near Trinidad Lake State Park

Not far from the New Mexico border, Trinidad Lake State Park offers a warmer alternative to many of Colorado's higher-altitude parks further north. As its name suggests, the park sits at Trinidad Lake, a large expanse that attracts anglers, boaters, and jet skiers in great droves in the summer months. There’s also an archery range that's available for year-round use. If you're looking to spend the night, there are 73 campsites spread across two campgrounds, about a third of which are open all year long. The majority offer 50-amp electrical service and there are seven with full hookups.

• Best for families: Carpios Ridge Campground has tons of amenities, with showers, laundry facilities, a dump station, a playground, and even an archeological site.
• Best for a quiet fishing trip: South Shore Campground has only 10 basic campsites and offers easy access to south bank fishing spots

1. You can reserve a campsite over the phone or by using the Colorado Parks and Wildlife online reservation system.
2. Reservations can be made from six months in
3. advance up to your date of arrival. Book early if you want to stay on a summer weekend.
4. The South Shore Campground is closed from mid-October through mid-May and some of the sites at Carpios close from mid-October through mid-March. Sites 1-23, 62, and 63 are open throughout the year.
5. If you can’t find a site in the park, you can find private campgrounds and Hipcamps in the area. Fishers Peak State Park nearby is also a possibility.

Trinidad Lake is in a more temperate part of Colorado, and while it can get pretty cold here on winter nights, daytime temperatures rarely linger below freezing. The hot summer months draw the most crowds, but temperatures here often stay warm well into September, and you'll be faced with fewer crowds if you come between Labor Day and the beginning of October. Note that a limited amount of year-round camping is available in Carpios Campground.

• You’ll find gas stations, supermarkets, restaurants, and other services in the town of Trinidad, a five-minute drive from the park.
• You can buy hunting and fishing licenses, firewood, ice, and souvenirs at the visitor center near the Carpios Ridge campground.
• Carpios Ridge Campground offers ADA-accessible campsites, restrooms, showers, picnic tables, and drinking fountains. There's also one accessible site at South Shore. There are also two ADA-compliant trails in the park.
• Campfire bans are enforced during periods of high forest fire risk.
• Parking fees are not included in the price of camping reservations. You will need a day or annual parking pass for each vehicle in your party.