Lathrop State Park
Lathrop State Park, U.S. State of Colorado's first state park, was dedicated in June 1962,and named after Harold W. Lathrop, the state's first director of the the Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation.
Located a few miles west of the city of Walsenburg, between Denver and the New Mexico state border, the park lies in the transitional zone between the plains and the mountains. It consists of 1,594 acres, including a lake and a reservoir. Activities in the park include camping, picknicking, boating, water skiing, jet skiing, wind surfing, hiking, bird watching, wildlife viewing, fishing, and golfing. There are two campgrunds, two major trails, and a wetlands boardwalk.
Weathering has produced a fantasy of curious formations in the sandstone ledges around the park, carving a maze of pathways and caves for the inquisitive to explore. The predominant ecosystem in the park is piņon-juniper woodland. The new visitor centre offers a panoramic view of the distant montains. Paintings and displays depict wildlife and Colorado history.
See map of the park.
We would like to thank Jonathan D. Kelly, Seasonal Interpreter of Lathrop State Park, for providing information for this page.
Flora
- Common Name (Order Family Genus species); Color of Bloom; Time of Bloom
Trees
- Gambel's Oak (Fabales Fabaceae Quercus gambelii)
- Narrow-leaf Cottonwood (Salicales Salicaceae Populus angustifolia)
- New Mexico Locust (Fabales Fabaceae Robinia neomexicana)
- One-Seed Juniper (Coniferales Cupraceae Juniperus monosperma)
- Piņon Pine (Coniferales Pinaceae Pinus edulis)
- Plains Cottonwood (Salicales Salicaceae Populus deltoides)
- Russian Olive (Elaeagnales Elaeagnaceae Elaeagnus angustifolia)
Wildflowers
- American Vetch (Fabales Fabaceae Vicia americana); Delicate purple; April-June
- Blue Flax (Geraniales Linaceae Linum lewisii); Blue; June-August
- Blue Penstemon (Scrophulariales Scrophulariaceae Penstemon confertus); Lavender-blue; May-June
- Buffalo Gourd (Violales Cucurbitaceae Cucurbita foetidissima); Yellow; July-August
- Bull Nettle (Euphorbiales Euphorbiaceae Cnidoscolus texanus); Pale purple; August-September
- Canadian Milkvetch (Fabales Fabaceae Astragalus canadiensis); Creamy; April-June
- Chicory (Asterales Asteraceae Cichorium intybus); Blue; August-October
- Claret Cup Cactus (Caryophyllales Cactaceae Echinocereus triglochidiatus); Deep red with yellow centres; May-June
- Cushion Cactus (Caryophyllales Cactaceae Opuntia floccosa); Bright pink; June
- Death Camas (Liliales Liliaceae Zigadenus fremontii); Cream; May-June
- Dotted Gayfeather (Asterales Asteraceae Liatris punctata); Purple; August-October
- Evening Primrose (Myrtales Onagraceae Oenothera lamarckiana); Lemon yellow; May-June
- Filaree (Geraniales Germaniaceae Erodium cicutarium); Deep lavender; April-August
- Goldenweed (Asterales Asteraceae ? ?); Yellow; April-June
- Low Daisy (Asterales Asteraceae Erigeron pumilus); Pinkish with yellow disks; May-June
- Paper Flower (Caryophyllales Nyctaginaceae ? ?); Yellow; June-August
- Plains Larkspur (Ranunculales Ranunculaceae Delphinium virescens); White with backward-pointing lavender spurs; May-June
- Prairie Four o'Clock (Caryophyllales Nyctaginaceae Mirabilis eutricha) Pink to purple; June-July
- Prairie Lupine (Fabales Fabaceae Lupinus lepidus); Violet; May-July
- Prairie Sunflower (Asterales Asteraceae Helianthus rigidus); Maroon disk with yellow rays; July-October
- Prickly Pear (Caryophyllales Cactaceae Opuntia phaeacantha); Lemon-yellow; June-July
- Prickly Poppy (Papaverales Papaveraceae Argemone mexicana); Papery petals with yellow centre; June-August
- Purple Loco (Fabales Fabaceae Astragalus agrestis); Dark purple; June-July
- Rabbitbrush (Asterales Asteraceae Chrysothamnus latisquameus); Mustard-coloured; August-October
- Red Globemallow (Malvales Malvaceae Sphaeralcea coccinea); Orange; May-July
- Scarlet Gaura (Myrtales Onagraceae Gaura coccinea); Pink; May-July
- Scarlet Gilia (Polemoniales Polemoniaceae Ipomopsis aggregata); Bright red; June-August
- Snakeweed (Polygonales Polygonaceae Polygonum campanulatum); Deep yellow; August-october
- Spreading Fleabane (Asterales Asteraceae Erigeron poliospermus); White rays and yellow disks; August-September
- Sticky Aster (Asterales Asteraceae Aster integrifolius); Yellow disks and purple rays; August-October
- Texas Bluebonnet (Fabales Fabaceae Lupinus texensis); Dark blue; April-June
- Textile Onion (Liliales Liliaceae Allium textile); White; May-June
- Tree Cholla (Caryophyllales Cactaceae Opuntia imbricata); Magenta; July
- Western Spiderwort (Commelinales Commelinaceae Tradescantia occidentalis); Navy blue; May-June
- White Locoweed (Fabales Fabaceae Oxytropis sericea); White; April-June
- Yellow Gaillardia (Asterales Asteraceae Gaillardia pinnatifida); Purplish-red with yellow rays; May-September
- Yellow Mountain Clover (Fabales Fabaceae Trifolium longipes); Yellow; May-July
- Yellow Salsify (Asterales Asteraceae Tragopogon dubius); Yellow; May-August
- Yucca (Liliidae Agavaceae Yucca glauca); Cream; June
Note: The family Compositae is synonymous with the family Asteraceae. The family Leguminosae is synonymous with the family Fabaceae.
Fauna
- Common Name (Order Family [Subfamily] Genus species)
Birds
- American Avocet (Charadriiformes Recurvirostridae Recurvirostra americana)
- American Coot (Gruiformes Rallidae Fulica americana)
- American Crow (Passeriformes Corvidae Corvus brachyrhynchos)
- American Goldfinch (Passeriformes Fringillidae Carduelis tristis)
- American Kestrel (Falconiformes Falconidae Falco sparverius)
- American Redstart (Passeriformes Parulidae Setophaga ruticilla)
- American Robin (Passeriformes Turdidae Turdus migratorius)
- American Tree Sparrow (Passeriformes Emberizidae [Emberizinae] Spizella arborea)
- American Wigeon (Anseriformes Anatidae [Anatinae] Anas americana)
- Bald Eagle (Falconiformes Accipitridae Haliaeetus leucocephalus)
- Barn Swallow (Passeriformes Hirundinidae [Hirundininae] Hirundo rustica)
- Barrow's Goldeye (Anseriformes Anatidae [Anatinae] Bucephala islandica)
- Belted Kingfisher (Coraciiformes Alcedinidae [Cerylinae] Ceryle alcyon)
- Bewick's Wren (Passeriformes Troglodytidae Thryomanes bewickii)
- Black-billed Magpie (Passeriformes Corvidae Pica hudsonia)
- Black-capped Chickadee (Passeriformes Paridae Poecile atricapillus)
- Black-crowned Night Heron (Ciconiiformes Ardeidae Nycticorax nycticorax)
- Black-headed Grosbeak (Passeriformes Emberizidae [Cardinalinae] Pheucticus melanocephalus)
- Blackpoll Warbler (Passeriformes Parulidae Dendroica striata)
- Blue-grey Gnatcatcher (Passeriformes Sylviidae Polioptila caerulea)
- Blue-winged Teal (Anseriformes Anatidae [Anatinae] Anas discors)
- Bobolink (Passeriformes Icteridae [Dolichonichinae] Dolichonyx oryzivorus)
- Brewer's Blackbird (Passeriformes Icteridae [Icterinae] Euphagus cyanocephalus)
- Broad-tailed Hummingbird (Apodiformes Trochilidae Selasphoras platycerus)
- Brown Creeper (Passeriformes Certhiidae Certhia americana)
- Brown-headed Cowbird (Passeriformes Icteridae [Icterinae] Molothrus ater)
- Bufflehead (Anseriformes Anatidae [Anatinae] Bucephala albeola)
- Bullock's Oriole (Passeriformes Icteridae [Icterinae] Icterus bullockii)
- Bushtit (Passeriformes Paridae Psaltriparus minimus)
- California Gull (Charadriiformes Laridae [Larinae] Larus californicus)
- Canada Goose (Anseriformes Anatidae [Anserinae] Branta canadensis)
- Canvasback (Anseriformes Anatidae [Anatinae] Aytha valisineria)
- Canyon (Brown) Towhee (Passeriformes Emberizidae [Emberizinae] Pipilo fuscus)
- Canyon Wren (Passeriformes Troglodytidae Catherpes mexicanus)
- Cassin's Finch (Passeriformes Fringillidae Carpodacus cassinii)
- Cassin's Kingbird (Passeriformes Tyrannidae Tyrannus vociferans)
- Cattle Egret (Ciconiiformes Ardeidae Bubulcus ibis)
- Cedar Waxwing (Passeriformes Bombycillidae [Bombycillidae] Bombycilla cedrorum)
- Chihuahuan Raven (Passeriformes Corvidae Corvus cryptoleucus)
- Chimney Swift (Apodiformes Apodidae Chaetura pelagica)
- Chipping Sparrow (Passeriformes Emberizidae [Emberizinae] Spizella passerina)
- Cinnamon Teal (Anseriformes Anatidae [Anatinae] Anas cyanoptera)
- Clark's Grebe (Podicipediformes Podicipedidae Aechmophorus clarkii)
- Clark's Nutcracker (Passeriformes Corvidae Nucifraga columbiana)
- Cliff Swallow (Passeriformes Hirundinidae Hirundo pyrrhonota)
- Common Goldeye (Anseriformes Anatidae [Anatinae] Bucephala clangula)
- Common Grackle (Passeriformes Icteridae [Icterinae] Quiscallus quiscula)
- Common Loon (Gaviiformes Gaviidae Gavia immer)
- Common Nighthawk (Caprimulgiformes Caprimulginidae [Chordeilinae] Chordeiles minor)
- Common Raven (Passeriformes Corvidae Corvus corax)
- Common Snipe (Charadriiformes Scolopacidae [Gallinagoninae] Galligano galligano)
- Common Yellowthroat (Passeriformes Parulidae Geothlypis trichas)
- Cooper's Hawk (Falconiformes Accipitridae Accipiter cooperii)
- Cordilleran Flycatcher (Passeriformes Tyrannidae Empidonax difficilis)
- Dark-eyed Junco (Passeriformes Emberizidae [Emberizinae] Junco hyemalis)
- Double-crested Cormorant (Pelecaniformes Phalacrocoracidae Phalacrocorax auritus)
- Downy Woodpecker (Piciformes Picidae [Picinae] Picoides pubescens)
- Eared Grebe (Podicipediformes Podicipedidae Podiceps nigricollis)
- Eastern Bluebird (Passeriformes Turdidae Sialia sialis)
- European Starling (Passeriformes Sturnidae [Sturninae] Sturnus vulgaris)
- Evening Grosbeak (Passeriformes Fringillidae Coccothraustes vespertinus)
- Ferruginous Hawk (Falconiformes Accipitridae Buteo regalis)
- Forster's Tern (Charadriiformes Laridae [Sterninae] Sterna forsteri)
- Gadwall (Anseriformes Anatidae [Anatinae] Anas strepera)
- Golden Eagle (Falconiformes Accipitridae Aquila chryosaetos)
- Gray Catbird (Passeriformes Mimidae Dumetella carolinensis)
- Great Blue Heron (Ciconiiformes Ardeidae Ardea herodias herodias)
- Great Horned Owl (Strigiformes Strigidae [Buboninae] Bubo virginianus)
- Great Roadrunner (Cuculiformes Cuculiformes Cuculidae Geococcyv californicus)
- Greater Yellowlegs (Charadriiformes Scolopacidae [Tringinae] Tringa melanoleuca)
- Green Heron (Ciconiiformes Ardeidae Butorides virescens)
- Green-tailed Towhee (Passeriformes Emberizidae [Emberizinae] Pipilo chlorus)
- Green-winged Teal (Anseriformes Anatidae [Anatinae] Anas crecca)
- Hairy Woodpecker (Piciformes Picidae [Picinae] Picoides villosus)
- Hooded Merganser (Anseriformes Anatidae [Anatinae] Lophodytes cucullatus)
- Horned Lark (Passeriformes Alaudidae Eremophila alpestris)
- House Sparrow (Passeriformes Passeridae Passer domesticus)
- House Wren (Passeriformes Troglodytidae Trogiodytes aedon)
- Juniper Titmouse (Passeriformes Paridae Baeolophus ridgwayi)
- Killdeer (Charadriiformes Charadriidae Charadrius vociferus)
- Ladder-backed Woodpecker (Piciformes Picidae [Picinae] Picoides scaleris)
- Lark Bunting (Passeriformes Emberizidae [Emberizinae] Calamospiza melanocorys)
- Lark Sparrow (Passeriformes Emberizidae [Emberizinae] Chondestes grammacus strigatus)
- Lazuli Bunting (Passeriformes Emberizidae [Emberizinae] Passerina amoena)
- Lesser Goldfinch (Passeriformes Fringillidae Carduelis psaltria)
- Lesser Scaup (Anseriformes Anatidae [Anatinae] Aytha affinis)
- Lesser Yellowlegs (Charadriiformes Scolopacidae [Tringinae] Tringa flavipes)
- Lewis' Woodpecker (Piciformes Picidae [Picinae] Melanerpes lewis)
- Loggerhead Shrike (Passeriformes Laniidae [Laniinae] Lanius ludovivicianus)
- MacGillivray's Warbler (Passeriformes Parulidae Oporornis tolmiei)
- Mallard (Anseriformes Anatidae [Anatinae] Anas platyrhynchos)
- Marsh Wren (Passeriformes Troglodytidae Cistothorus palustris)
- Mississippi Kite (Falconiformes Accipitridae Ictinia mississippiensis)
- Mountain Bluebird (Passeriformes Turdidae Sialia currucoides)
- Mourning Dove (Columbiformes Columbidae Zenaida macroura)
- Nashville Warbler (Passeriformes Parulidae Vermivora ruficapilla)
- Northern Flicker (Piciformes Picidae [Picinae] Colaptes auratus)
- Northern Harrier (Falconiformes Accipitridae Circus cyaneus)
- Northern Mockingbird (Passeriformes Mimidae Mimus polyglottos)
- Northern Pintail (Anseriformes Anatidae [Anatinae] Anas acuta)
- Northern Rough-winged Swallow (Passeriformes Hirundinidae Stalgidopteryx serripennis)
- Northern Shoveler (Anseriformes Anatidae [Anatinae] Anas clypteata)
- Northern Shrike (Passeriformes Laniidae [Laniinae] Lanius excubitor)
- Orange-crowned Warbler (Passeriformes Parulidae Vermivora celota)
- Osprey (Falconiformes Pandionidae Pandion haliaetus)
- Pelican (Pelecaniformes Pelecanidae Pelicanus ?)
- Peregrine Falcon (Falconiformes Falconidae Falco perigrinus anatum)
- Pie-billed Grebe (Podicipediformes Podicipedidae Podilymbus podiceps)
- Pine Siskin (Passeriformes Fringillidae Carduelis pinus)
- Piņon Jay (Passeriformes Corvidae Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus)
- Pygmy Nuthatch (Passeriformes Sittidae Sitta pygmaea)
- Redhead (Anseriformes Anatidae [Anatinae] Aytha americana)
- Red-breasted Nuthatch (Passeriformes Sittidae Sitta canadensis)
- Red-winged Blackbird (Passeriformes Icteridae [Icterinae] Agelaius phoeniceus)
- Ring-billed Gull (Charadriiformes Laridae [Larinae] Larus delawarensis)
- Ring-necked Duck (Anseriformes Anatidae [Anatinae] Aytha collaris)
- Rock Dove (Columbiformes Columbidae Columba livia)
- Rock Wren (Passeriformes Troglodytidae Salpincted obsoletus)
- Rough-legged Hawk (Falconiformes Accipitridae Buteo lagopus)
- Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Passeriformes Regulidae Regulus calendula)
- Ruddy Duck (Anseriformes Anatidae [Anatinae] Oxyura jamaicensis)
- Rufous Hummingbird (Apodiformes Trochilidae Selasphoras rufus)
- Rusty Blackbird (Passeriformes Icteridae [Icterinae] Euphagus carolinus)
- Sage Thrasher (Passeriformes Mimidae Oreoscoptes montanus)
- Savannah Sparrow (Passeriformes Emberizidae [Emberizinae] Passerculus sandwichensis)
- Say's Phoebe (Passeriformes Tyrannidae Sayornis saya)
- Scaled Quail (Galliformes Odontophoridae Callipepla squamata)
- Scrub Jay (Passeriformes Corvidae Aphelocoma californica)
- Sharp-shinned Hawk (Falconiformes Accipitridae Accipiteer striatus)
- Snow Goose (Anseriformes Anatidae [Anserinae] Chen caerulescens)
- Snowy Egret (Ciconiiformes Ardeidae Egretta thula)
- Song Sparrow (Passeriformes Emberizidae [Emberizinae] Melanospiza melodia)
- Sora (Gruiformes Rallidae Porzana carolina)
- Spotted Sandpiper (Charadriiformes Scolopacidae [Tringinae] Activus macularia)
- Spotted Towhee (Passeriformes Emberizidae [Emberizinae] Pipilo maculatus)
- Steller's Jay (Passeriformes Corvidae Cyanocitta stelleri)
- Swainson's Hawk (Falconiformes Accipitridae Buteo swainsoni)
- Tennessee Warbler (Passeriformes Parulidae Vermivora peregrina)
- Townsend's Solitaire (Passeriformes Turdidae Myadestes townsendii)
- Tree Swallow (Passeriformes Hirundinidae [Hirundininae] Iridoprocne bicolor)
- Tundra Swan (Anseriformes Anatidae [Anserinae] Cygnus columbianus)
- Turkey Vulture (Falconiformes Cathartidae Cathartes aura)
- Vesper Sparrow (Passeriformes Emberizidae [Emberizinae] Pooecetes gramineus)
- Violet-green Swallow (Passeriformes Hirundinidae Tachycineta thalassina)
- Virginia Rail (Gruiformes Rallidae Rallus limicola)
- Warbling Vireo (Passeriformes Vireonidae [Vireoninae] Vireo gilvus)
- Western Bluebird (Passeriformes Turdidae Sialia mexicana)
- Western Grebe (Podicipediformes Podicipedidae Aechmophorus occidentalis occidentalis)
- Western Kingbird (Passeriformes Tyrannidae Tyrannus verticalis)
- Western Meadowlark (Passeriformes Icteridae [Icterinae] Sturnella neglecta)
- Western Screech-Owl (Strigiformes Strigidae [Buboninae] Otus kennicotti macfarlanei)
- Western Tanager (Passeriformes Emerizidae [Thraupinae] Piranga ludoviciana)
- Western Wood-Pewee (Passeriformes Tyrannidae Contopus sordidulus)
- White-breasted Nuthatch (Passeriformes Sittidae [Sittinae] Sitta carolinensis)
- White-crowned Sparrow (Passeriformes Emberizidae [Emberizinae] Zonotrichia leucophrys)
- Wild Turkey (Galliformes Meleagrididae Meleagris gallopavo)
- Wilson's Warbler (Passeriformes Parulidae Wilsonia pusilla)
- Yellow Warbler (Passeriformes Parulidae Dendroica petechia)
- Yellow-breasted Chat (Passeriformes Parulidae Icteria virens auricollis)
- Yellow-headed Blackbird (Passeriformes Icteridae [Icterinae] Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus)
- Yellow-rumped Warbler (Passeriformes Parulidae Dendroica coronata)
- Yellow-throated Warbler (Passeriformes Parulidae Dendroica dominica)
Fish
- Bluegill (Perciformes Centrarchidae Leponis macrochirus)
- Channel Catfish (Siluriformes Ictaluridae Ictaluris punctatus)
- Crappie (Perciformes Centrarchidae Pomoxis annularis)
- Largemouth Bass (Perciformes Centrarchidae Micropterus salmoides)
- Perch (Perciformes Serranidae ? ?)
- Rainbow Trout (Salmoniformes Salmonidae [Salmoninae] Oncorhynchus gairdneri)
- Smallmouth Bass (Perciformes Centrarchidae Micropterus dolomieui)
- Snake River Cutthrout Trout (Salmoniformes Salmonidae [Salmoninae] Oncorhynchus clarki)
- Tiger Muskellunge (Salmoniformes Esocidae Esox lucius)
- Walleye (Perciformes Serranidae Stizostedion vitreum)
- Wiper (? ? ? ?)
Mammals
- Antelope Ground Squirrel (Rodentia Sciuridae Ammospermophilus harrisii)
- Badger (Carnivora Mustilidae [Mellinae]) Taxidea taxus)
- Beaver (Rodentia Castoridae Castor canadensis)
- Black Bear (Carnivora Ursidae Ursus americanus cinnamomum)
- Black-tailed Jackrabbit (Lagomorpha Leporidae Lepus californicus)
- Bobcat (Carnivora Felidae Lynx lynx rufus)
- Coyote (Carnivora Canidae Canis latrans)
- Deer Mouse (Rodentia Muridae Peromyscus ?)
- Desert Cottontail (Lagomorpha Leporidae Sylvilagus audubonii)
- Field Mouse (Rodentia Muridae Microtus ?)
- Kangaroo Rat (Rodentia Heteromyidae Dipodomys ?)
- Little Brown Bat (Chiroptera Vespertilionidae Myotis lucifugus)
- Mountain Lion (Carnivora Felidae [Felinae] Puma concolor)
- Mule Deer (Artiodactyla Cervidae Odocoilus hemionus)
- Muskrat (Rodentia Muridae Ondatra zibethicus)
- Porcupine (Rodentia Erithyzontidae Erithizon dorsatum)
- Raccoon (Carnivora Procyonidae Procyon lotor)
- Rock Squirrel (Rodentia Sciuridae Sperniphilus variegatus)
- Thirteen-line Chipmunk (Rodentia Sciuridae Eutamias striatus)
- White-tailed Deer (Artiodactyla Cervidae Odocoilus virginianus)
