Lathrop State Park is a Colorado state park located 3 miles west of Walsenburg. The state purchased the property in 1962 and opened Colorado’s first state park here later that same year. It is named after Harold Lathrop, the first director of state parks. The park features two lakes, Martin Lake and Horseshoe Lake, that offer fishing for tiger muskie, rainbow trout, bass, catfish, northern pike, blue gill, saugeye, and wipers.
The park also offers a beach, boating, water skiing, wind surfing, jet skiing, picnicking, hiking, wildlife viewing, camping, and a nine-hole golf course.