| Lathrop State Park | |
|---|---|
.JPG) Horseshoe Lake and the Spanish Peaks. | |
  | |
| Location | Huerfano County, Colorado, USA |
| Nearest city | Walsenburg, CO |
| Coordinates | 37°36′10″N 104°49′59″W / 37.60278°N 104.83306°W |
| Area | 1,594 acres (6.45 km2) |
| Established | 1962 |
| Visitors | 153,992[1] (in 2021) |
| Governing body | Colorado Parks and Wildlife |
Lathrop State Park is a Colorado state park located 3 miles (4.8 km) west of Walsenburg. The state purchased the property in 1962 and opened Colorado's first state park here later that same year.[2] It is named after Harold Lathrop, the first director of state parks.[3] The park features two lakes, Martin Lake and Horseshoe Lake, that offer fishing for tiger muskie (46-inch, 25-pound examples have been caught here), rainbow trout, bass, catfish, northern pike, blue gill, saugeye, and wipers.[4]
The park also offers a beach, boating, water skiing, wind surfing, jet skiing, picnicking, hiking, wildlife viewing, camping, and a nine-hole golf course.[5]
Lathrop is the only Colorado state park with its own golf course.[6] The Walsenburg Golf Course was founded in 1965 and after two years of construction opened in 1967.[2] It was built by 50 Walsenburg citizens and many local volunteers in a public/private partnership.[citation needed] The course's restaurant/lounge overlooks the lakes and the National Natural Landmark Spanish Peaks.
Over 153,000 visitors passed through Lathrop State Park in 2021, the latest year for which figures are available.[1]
