Fore!!!

The park terrain except for the hogback is flat averaging 6425 feet of elevation. The hogback on the park north boundary gains 40 feet of elevation in the west and increased to 140 of elevation in the east. Much of the park ground cover is prairie and juniper prickly with scattered candelabra cholla. The park woodlands are primarily juniper and piñon. Exotic woodlands are cottonwood and Russian olive. The area west of Horseshoe Lake is partially marsh land with cattails and bulrush.

Lathrop State Park, while sitting in the shadows of the Spanish Peaks, has the honor of being Colorado’s 1st State Park and covers 1594 acres. The main features of the park are its two lakes; Martin Lake, which covers about 180 surface-acres; and Horseshoe Lake which covers 150 surface-acres. Both host a wide range of water activities and catchable fish.

Lathrop State Park is 3 miles west of Walsenburg via US Hwy. 160. Entrance to Lathrop State Park requires a park pass that can be purchased at the visitor center for display on your vehicle windshield. There is also a self-serve station near the park entrance, to purchase a pass if the visitor center is closed. The visitor center sells annual parks passes as well. Colorado disabled veterans displaying Colorado Disabled Veteran (DV) license plates are admitted free without a pass.

Beginning on Memorial Day weekend and ending on Labor Day weekend, each Friday and a different illustrated or “talks-and-props” presentation is offered at the amphitheater. History, geology, and wildlife of the area are just some of the many programs presented.

Lathrop’s picnic areas, which received an outdoor recreation award for America’s Top 15 Picnic Areas, are situated around both Martin Lake and Horseshoe Reservoir. Each table has a stand up fire grill, and most tables are shaded. Picnic tables are on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Keep your eyes peeled for the many bird species that inhabit the park year-round!

Be aware that there are rattlesnakes in the park.

In 1960 the Walsenburg City Council had evidently grown tired of the responsibilities of managing its own large recreational park and financing it. That summer the city began plans for a development around the lake to include home sites, a golf course, and more lakes and ponds on the 1200 acres. That same time, Harold W. Lathrop, first and, at that time, only director of the state park and recreation board, visited the area and was favorably impressed with Martin Lake for recreational development. In 1961 the city signed contracts to transfer Martin and Horseshoe Lakes to the state. Many local golfers were exited to have a golf course in Walsenburg and their dreams were answered in 1966.

In 1965 the City of Walsenburg leased the land for a 9-hold golf course, and the lease expires in 2015. There is a club house with a restaurant that non-golfers can patronize, a driving range and a putting green. Lathrop State Park is the only state park in Colorado that has a golf course. The developer of this geocache was a continual slicer when he played golf years ago. But, when he plays hole #5 his drive is straight as an arrow down the fairway. The fairway for hole #5 is inline to the Spanish Peaks. Those of you who have seen the Spanish Peaks can understand why the golf ball flew straight down the fairway. Golf anyone?