5 Colorado State Parks this Winter to Getaway

Take your winter wanderlust and getaway to these Colorado state parks this winter to explore for snowy solitude.

Explore State Forest State Park this Winter

State Forest State Park near rural Walden serves up 71,000 acres of rugged woodlands dotted by crystal alpine lakes and the jagged peaks of the Medicine Bow and Never Summer mountain ranges. This is the moose capital of Colorado with a year-round population hovering around 600. Find your winter getaway on snow-packed trails for prime wildlife viewing via snowmobile, cross-country skis, or snowshoes. Sportsmen and women enjoy pristine hunting grounds and untapped ice-fishing holes, and the park hosts full moon hikes on the groomed Gould Loop Trail. Follow moonlight and glow sticks through the forest and make a night of it by booking a cabin, yurt or hut.

Getaway to Navajo State Park this Winter

Situated near Pagosa Springs and extending 20 miles south into New Mexico, Navajo State Park is known as Colorado’s Lake Powell. The reservoir’s surface totals 15,600 acres, with about 3,000 on the Colorado side, and rarely freezes in winter, allowing for year-round boating and open-water fishing. Quiet winter months mean ample wildlife, including deer, river otters, foxes, raccoons, jackrabbits, and many others. Keep your eyes peeled for majestic bald eagles and other wildlife. Take advantage of year-round campsites and three cabins for your winter getaway. Some park areas allow deer, elk, and bird hunting during established seasons.

Mueller State Park this Winter

Mueller State Park  sprawls along 5,112 acres outside of Divide, a small town southwest of Colorado Springs. Cross-country skiers and snowshoers enjoy 50 miles of un-crowded and well-marked winter trails. Follow Outlook Ridge for an easy 1.4-mile trek or the Homestead Trail for a 3.3-mile intermediate outing past two scenic ponds. Five designated sledding and tubing hills roll through the park, delivering exhilarating downhill and stunning views of Pikes Peak. Winter camping is first-come, first-served, and Mueller offers 17 electrical sites along with three modern cabins, a perfect get-a-way State Park this winter.

Getaway to Vega State Park

Head to western Colorado’s Vega State Park for a high-alpine lake and gorgeous meadows perched on the edge of the Grand Mesa National Forest. Winter activities run the gamut from snowmobiling to cross-country skiing and birding to hiking. Hundreds of miles of OHV-friendly trails are easily accessed—Vega is one of the few Colorado State Parks with OHV and snowmobile access to Grand Mesa National Forest lands directly from the park. Five cozy cabins are open year-round and sleep six people each.

Golden Gate Canyon State Park this Winter

With proximity to Golden and Denver, Golden Gate Canyon State Park  is a Front Range winter gem loaded with 36 miles of hiking trails set among dense forest and beautiful aspen stands. Explore 12,000 acres of foothill space ideal for cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, sledding, ice fishing, and ice skating. Visit Panorama Point Scenic Overlook to see 100 miles of the Continental Divide. Stay in one of five cabins and two yurts, or rent a guesthouse—Golden Gate is one of the first Colorado State Parks to offer this luxury amenity. Hunting is permitted on the Jefferson County side of the park the Tuesday after Labor Day through the Friday before Memorial Day and is limited to 35 hunters per day.

Getaway to a Colorado State Park this Winter

Colorado’s resort towns get pretty hectic these days with everybody trying to get on the slopes. Skiing and riding is still super fun, but if you’re ready for a change of pace, retreating at one of these State Parks this winter might be the answer. You’re not going to find lifts, but you won’t find crowds either. State Parks during the winter are not nearly as popular as during the summer months. Depending on the type of experience you want, a snowy mountain getaway or fishing on a cool mountain reservoir, you can find it at one of Colorado’s State Parks this winter.

By Lisa Blake