Enjoy this nice short hike and take in the views, you might see bears, elk, deer, maybe even a mtn. lion. Watch out for Snakes and Creepy Crawlies.
On your drive into the State Park you will see what appears to be ancient roman architecture wich in fact is old coke ovens, these ovens were used in the refinement of coal. Coal was one of the major contributors to this area being developed, there once was a few large towns in the area now covered by the lake that housed the miners and their families. The town of Trinidad flooded so many times between the years of 1866 and 1965 that a flood control damn had to be put in place to protect the citizens. The towns of Sopris, St. Thomas, Jerryville, Piedmont, Longsdale, and Laveses were moslty relocated including all the families, 3 cemetaries, 12 miles of Highways and roads and 9 miles of the railroad, what was left behind is now inhabited by the fish. The bridge you are standing on was part of the original state highway 12, it is a constant reminder to those of us who live in this area of the great sacrifice the loyal citizens of these communities paid in order to protect the people of Trinidad. the kind of courageous people it takes to walk away from their homes in order to save another town is unherd of these days.
BE AWARE OF RATTLESNAKES!!!
Part of a Legend Forgotten
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