10 Best Colorado State Parks for All the Stunning Views and None of the National Park Crowds, According to Locals

Lathrop State Park, Walsenburg

Lathrop State Park was the very first official Colorado state park. The fact that it was put aside and preserved in 1962 tells you a lot about the landscape, which is situated in the shadow of the Spanish Peaks in southern Colorado and has two lakes that are popular for boating and fishing. Lathrop State Park has great camping and is just over an hour east of Great Sand Dunes National Park, making it an easy adventure basecamp or add-on to a national park visit.

Golden Gate Canyon State Park, Golden

Just west of Denver in the foothills of Golden is Golden Gate Canyon State Park, which is known for its stellar views—including some over Colorado’s Continental Divide. The park has 35 miles of trails, often leading to high-mountain meadows, wooded forests, and rocky peaks. Plus, it’s also known for its occasional moose sightings.

Colleen Huther, general manager of Hotel Boulderado in Boulder, shared with Travel + Leisure that, “Golden Gate Canyon offers golden aspen groves, open meadows, and panoramic overlooks that stretch for miles.” The park is a great choice for those staying in Boulder and Denver, as it is around 45 minutes from both cities, making it an easy day trip.

Mancos State Park, Mancos

Not all the Colorado state parks are centered around boating, fishing, and camping. At Mancos State Park, visitors can dive a bit deeper into the area’s cultural history. The park land was once inhabited by Ancestral Puebloans, a Native American civilization that lived in the area in ancient times. The long history can be felt in the park, which is also renowned for its views of the San Juan Mountains.

Many use the park as a basecamp for exploring the broader archaeological area, including the nearby Mesa Verde National Park, a personal favorite of mine.

Sylvan Lake State Park, Eagle

Fishing is big in Sylvan Lake State Park thanks to trout-stocked Sylvan Lake, but the wooded landscape that surrounds the water is just as enticing. It’s not surprising that the Ute, an Indigenous tribe, made their homes in the Eagle Valley, migrating with the seasons and their food source. (As a bonus for those really wanting to get off the grid: There is no cell or internet service in Sylvan Lake State Park.)

Yampa River State Park, Hayden

The winding Yampa River forms the heart of Yampa River State Park, just west of Steamboat Springs. One of the last free-flowing rivers in the western United States, the Yampa runs for 250 miles, carving through canyons, ranchland, and high desert. The park encompasses 134 miles of that stretch and is divided into 13 distinct sections. Each section offers its own appeal—from calm waters ideal for fishing to rapids that draw rafters and kayakers from around the region.

Ridgway State Park, Ridgway

The first thing that will catch your eye at Ridgway State Park is the sprawling reservoir that winds its way along the base of a mesa, and while boating and fishing are some of the park’s main draws, there are also plenty of biking and hiking trails, along with a whopping 282 campsites, including plenty of full RV hookups, tent sites, and year-round yurts.

I grew up going to this state park and highly recommend an early-morning paddleboard along the glassy coastline or a family day spent at the swim beach. Either way, the views of the San Juan Mountains from the water are hard to top.

State Forest State Park, Walden

State Forest State Park is unique in that it is located in the far northern part of the state, near the Colorado-Wyoming border. It’s large, remote, rugged, and extremely beautiful. With over 70,000 acres available to explore, visitors can take on the park’s 136 miles of trail, visit high alpine lakes, and climb jagged peaks. State Forest State Park is also popular with backpackers and campers looking to get away from it all, and has a selection of cabins and yurts for travelers looking for comfort—with real beds, heat, and lights.

Eldorado Canyon State Park, Eldorado Springs

Just 20 minutes south of Boulder, located among the ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​area’s iconic red sandstone, is Eldorado Canyon State Park. Huther said, “One of the nice parts about visiting Boulder is how close you are to some of Colorado’s most breathtaking state parks. A short drive south takes you to Eldorado Canyon, where sandstone cliffs and a lively creek make it a favorite spot to visit for climbers and hikers.”

It’s worth noting that because of its location, Eldorado Canyon is often busier than most of the other state parks on this list. To keep crowds at bay, the park has added a timed entry reservation system on weekends and holidays from May to October.

Rifle Falls State Park, Rifle

Rifle Falls State Park is tiny, with just 48 acres to its name, but it is also one of the state’s most beautiful and unexpected treasures. While limestone cliffs and towering plateaus make up the greater Rifle landscape, the park is surprisingly lush—almost tropical. The little gem features a triple 70-foot waterfall that flows over a travertine dam and limestone caves that are set under the falls.

The park is small, but it offers overnight visitors 20 campsites, some with electric hookups.

Cheyenne Mountain State Park, Colorado Springs

A short 15-minute drive south of downtown Colorado Springs takes you to Cheyenne Mountain State Park. It may be one of Colorado’s newest state parks—it was acquired in June 2000—but it is well worth a visit, especially for birders. Cheyenne Mountain State Park is home to 100 species of birds, along with occasional deer, black bears, coyotes, and foxes.

The park sits on the site of a former ranch and is tucked beneath the eastern flank of Cheyenne Mountain, a mountain with three peaks that is most famous for the highly protected U.S. military installation set deep within it.