This Hidden Colorado State Park Is Better Than Rocky Mountain National Park

Attracting greater than 4 million yearly visits, Rocky Mountain is without doubt one of the most popular national parks in the USA. The Park spans 415 sq. miles and is thought for its extremely various surroundings, from towering peaks, lush valleys, and deep forests to open meadows, alpine lakes, and streams.

It’s additionally one of many best national parks in the mountains to visit, with breathtaking vistas, scenic hikes that vary in problem degree, and among the best National Parks for wildlife viewing. The park’s spectacular landscapes and thrilling outside adventures are almost unmatched.

Nonetheless, there are good causes it’s best to skip Rocky Mountain for lesser visited vacationer spots, together with the truth that vacationers overrun it. It’s additionally some of the costly nationwide parks that might be skipped for higher options.

If you wish to get pleasure from stunning surroundings and equally fascinating outside actions minus crowds, go for Staunton State Park. This underrated gem has a lot to supply from beautiful mountain views to scenic hikes to a stupendous waterfall.

Discover out why this hidden Colorado State Park is healthier than Rocky Mountain Nationwide Park.

What To Know About The Hidden Staunton State Park

Established in 2013, it’s one of many newer and underrated Colorado State Parks

Colorado’s state park system hosts 42 parks, with Lake Pueblo having almost three million vacationers yearly. It’s the most visited state park within the Rocky Mountain State. Staunton State Park is equally scenic, and in a current contest hosted by the Colorado Authorities, it was voted the state’s favourite state park.

The park was established in 2013, making it one of many newer state parks in Colorado, but it surely has a vibrant geologic and human historical past. The park’s rocks are between 1.7 billion and 1.08 billion years previous, making them a few of Colorado’s oldest.

The park’s historical past dates again to 1918 when Archibald and Rachael Staunton bought it and developed it right into a ranch. When it was first bought, it was solely eighty acres, however Staunton expanded it over the following twelve years till they acquired 1,720 acres.

They stored horses and cattle and grew oats and potatoes to fulfill the Homestead Act necessities. From the start of the Nineteen Twenties till 1942, a portion of the land was additionally used for logging.

Staunton used the land for farming and logging and to host tenting actions. After Archibald and Rachael Staunton handed away in 1958 and 1946, respectively, their daughter Frances inherited the ranch, which she, together with buddies and friends, continued to make use of till she died in 1989.

In her will, Frances acknowledged that the land ought to be donated to the state to be used as a state park. Nevertheless, it took years to develop the park whereas the state acquired extra land.

The park, divided between Park and Jefferson Counties, is about 40 miles southwest of downtown Denver and 6 miles west of Conifer.

Staunton State Park Is A Higher Different To Rocky Mountain Nationwide Park

Like Colorado’s most visited nationwide park, Staunton State Park boasts spectacular mountain surroundings, lush meadows, forests, streams, unbelievable wildlife, and a wide ranging waterfall – minus the crowds

Whereas not as well-known as Rocky Mountain Nationwide Park, Staunton State Park’s surroundings is without doubt one of the most breathtaking within the Rockies and is thought to supply excellent views of the Entrance Vary. The park boasts various ecosystems, from grassy meadows and forests to granite cliffs, streams, and rivers.

It hosts numerous wildlife, together with chipmunks, Pacific martens, coyotes, deer, bears, bobcats, mountain lions, and extra.

Its surroundings additionally consists of Elk Falls, a 75-foot, beautiful waterfall that may be reached via the 10.9-mile Elk Falls and Chimney Rock Trail, a difficult route that takes 5 hours and 7 minutes to finish.

The path is without doubt one of the hottest within the park and is famous for its breathtaking views of the encompassing peaks, Elk Falls, and Chimney Rock.

Though Rocky Mountain Nationwide is bigger, which implies more room for numerous outside recreation, its crowds could make your journey irritating, particularly if you’re planning to go to throughout the peak season.

That is the place Staunton State Park is available in—it’s a mini-Rocky Mountain however with out crowds. Though many state parks offer national park-level views, Staunton State Park’s surroundings is to not be missed.

Staunton State Park Is A Haven For Out of doors Recreation

From scenic hikes to mountaineering to horseback using, there’s loads of enjoyable available on this hidden Colorado State Park

Like Rocky Mountain, one of many prettiest national parks in the US for hikers, you’ll have a variety of enjoyable outside adventures to discover in Staunton State Park’s various and spectacular landscapes.

Climbing is without doubt one of the most typical methods of having fun with the pure great thing about the park, and except for the Elk Falls and Chimney Rock Path talked about above, there are different nice trails you possibly can discover.

For a straightforward path, hike Davis Ponds Trail, a kid-friendly route with stunning views. Mason Creek Trail to Bear Paw Trail, which incorporates some steep rocky parts, is among the many reasonably difficult hikes you possibly can strive.

Staunton presents quite a few multi-use trails that vacationers can even use for horseback using, together with Mason Creek Trail, one of many longest routes identified for its extremely various terrain and terrific views.

In case you are on the lookout for slightly little bit of journey, strive mountaineering in Staunton State Park. In accordance with AllTrails, there are two rock-climbing trails within the park: Staunton Ranch and Bugling Elk Loop Trail and Staunton Ranch Trail to Mason Creek Trail Loop.

With related surroundings and far to find, like Rocky Mountain, Staunton State Park is a greater different for these trying to escape the crowds in Colorado’s most visited Nationwide Park.