From high grassy meadows at 8,100 feet to soaring granite cliffs over 10,000 feet, Staunton State Park's varied geology, soils, water features, and climate support rare and unexpected plant communities and a rich diversity of wildlife.
It has been almost 30 years since Frances H. Staunton turned over her 1,720-acre mountain ranch to the State of Colorado, stipulating that it was "to be preserved in perpetuity" as a state park. On May 18, 2013, her vision for the land became reality. Her namesake park, Staunton State Park, is now open to the public with activities for all ages.
Trails at Staunton State Park
History of Staunton State Park
There's a trail suitable for every visitor who wants to experience the park up close and personal--on foot, by bike or on horseback. The only way to see the entire park is by way of the trails. All trails are natural surface. Visit our
Trails page or download a copy of the
Staunton map for more information.
The first 1,680-acre parcel was donated to Colorado State Parks in 1986 by Frances Hornbrook Staunton. Subsequent parcels, including a portion of the Davis Ranch and Elk Falls property, were acquired in the late 1990s. In 2006, a small key parcel, called the Chase property, was added to the Park to reach its current land base of approximately 3,800 acres. The properties that make up the Park are rich in human history. Learn more about the history of Staunton State Park by going to our
History page.