Fishers Peak State Park
Fishers Peak State Park is a Colorado state park in Las Animas County, Colorado, just south of Trinidad. Trinidad Lake State Park is nearby. The park opened on October 30, 2020, and is still being developed. History The land for the park, formerly the privately-held Crazy French Ranch, was purchased in 2019. Funds to purchase the ranch came jointly from Great Outdoors Colorado, the funding arm of the Colorado Lottery, The Nature Conservancy, and The Trust for Public Land. Geography The park takes its name from Fishers Peak, elevation , a prominent, flat-topped mountain and the highest point on Raton Mesa. The mesa was designated a Natural National Landmark in 1967. The park is within the Raton Basin. The park includes grasslands, foothills, and mountains. One of the main goals of the park's establishment is to conserve the area's wildlife, which includes elk, mule deer, black bear, mountain lions, and bobcats. Contiguous conservation areas Adjoining Fishers Peak State Park on the east are two Colorado State Wildlife Areas (SWA): Lake Dorothey, , and James M. John, . Lake Dorothey also adjoins Sugarite Canyon State Park, , in New Mexico. The total contiguous acreage in public ownership is thus about .