Things to do at Lake Pueblo State Park
Officials at Lake Pueblo State Park are gearing up for the spring and summer seasons as locals and out-of-town visitors alike formulate their plans to bask in the sun at one of the state’s most popular parks.
Though the lake is open year-round, spring and summer offer visitors their best chances to experience all the park has to offer.
“Lake Pueblo is the most visited state park because of the size,” said Joe Stadterman, park manager of Lake Pueblo State Park. “We have 400 campsites and 4,600 surface acres of water. There are so many different recreational opportunities.”
Visitors are likely familiar with the park’s recreational offerings, but it does have some new features that will be a fresh sight. Lake Pueblo recently installed a pedestrian bridge and an afterhours exit gate to improve accessibility and accommodate boaters.
But much of what people know and adore about the park remains the same. Here’s what to know about Lake Pueblo during the 2024 spring and summer seasons.
What is there to do at Lake Pueblo State Park?
Camping, boating, and fishing are the three most popular activities at Lake Pueblo, Stadterman said. Mountain biking is not too far behind, considering the many trails that riders can access.
For bikers, a paved trail follows all of the main roads in the park. The trail in Rock Canyon is notable, as bikers can ride along the river to the Nature Center or pivot to other trails that run throughout Pueblo.
The Arkansas Point campground has trails that offer varying degrees of difficulty.
Some boaters will likely welcome
Lake Pueblo’s new south ramp gates, which allow them to keep fishing or boating on the water after hours. The spring hours at that ramp are from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. Decontamination hours are from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Hiking is another popular activity at Lake Pueblo, as hikers can take a paved trail around the park or along the Arkansas River or get an impressive view of the area on top of the Arkansas Point trail. Trail maps can be found at the kiosk at the Arkansas Point Campground, according to CPW.
Dog lovers can bring their furry fourlegged friends to hike with them, as the park is dog-friendly. However, hikers must keep their dogs on a 6-foot leash at all times and remember to pick up their waste. Dogs are welcome in most places throughout the park but are not allowed at the Rock Canyon Swim Beach.
For those interested in horseback riding, it’s allowed on the Arkansas Point Trail System. CPW advises horseback riders to park in the lot at the Arkansas Point Campground and ride up into the bluffs for a bird’s-eye view. Horses are encouraged on the Arkansas Point Trails but are not permitted on the paved trails or north shore trails. Horses are welcome for day trips but are not allowed in the campgrounds for overnight stays.
Sailboarding, jet skiing, wakeboarding, picnicking, and hunting — the lattermost of which is permitted for small game and waterfowl hunting in designated areas during legal seasons beginning after Labor Day and lasting through the Thursday before Memorial Day weekend — are other popular activities that visitors can enjoy.
When and where you can camp at Lake Pueblo
At the park, camping is at its busiest between Memorial Day and Labor Day, according to Colorado Parks and Wildlife, and its 393 campsites across three different areas tend to fill up nearly every weekend during that period. Advance registrations for camping are required and can be made online or by calling 1-800-244-5613.
The Kettle Creek, Eagle View, and Prairie Ridge campgrounds, the latter two of which are electric-friendly, opened April 1. Yucca Flats, also an electric campground, reopens April 22. The Arkansas Point and Juniper Breaks campgrounds are open all year.
All of the sites feature a paved parking area, a covered picnic table and a fire pit. The electrical campgrounds also feature flushing toilets, showers, dump stations and playgrounds.
Advance registrations for camping are required and can be made online or by calling 1-800-244-5613.
Reservations can be made the day you plan to arrive at the park or up to six months in advance, according to CPW.
Important spring and summer dates to know
The current hours for the park’s visitor center are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. every day, but that’s set to change next month. Starting May 1, those hours will extend to 7 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, said Cheyenne Vasquez, office manager at Lake Pueblo State Park.
Starting May 24, the schedule will shift once more as the visitor center will be open between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. every day until Sept. 2.
The swimming beach at Lake Pueblo will open on Memorial Day weekend. It is available from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. between Thursday and Monday but closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
Chieftain reporter Josué Perez can be reached at JHPerez@gannett.com. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, at @josuepwrites. Support local news, subscribe to The Pueblo Chieftain at subscribe.chieftain.com.