Sugarite Canyon State Park

Sugarite Canyon State Park of New Mexico is located on the Colorado border where the Rocky Mountains meet the Great Plains. The park is home to the historic early-20th century Sugarite coal-mining camp and features richly-forested mountains with a wealth of wildlife, meadows flaunting spectacular wildflowers and beautiful views of flat-topped mesas and cone-shaped volcanoes.

Facts

The name of the park is sometimes tied to the Comanche and Ute name for a local bird, and other times to the Spanish name for the chicory plant found there. The park is about four miles long and 1.5 miles wide and includes two large artificial lakes: Lake Maloya and Lake Alice. Among the inhabitants, there are mule deer, mountain lions, black bears, turkeys and elk roaming the forests of the park. The closest city is Raton, located six miles away.

History

Coal mining in the area began as early as 1894 and heavily contributed to the economic growth of both the area and the state. The coal-mining town of Sugarite was established in 1912. After the mines shut down in the 1940s the area was declared a state park in 1985.

Activities

The opportunities for recreational activities at Sugarite Canyon State Park are many. Tourists can visit the ruins of the old town and coal mine, or go trout fishing on Lake Maloya and Lake Alice. Lake Maloya is also open for power boating. The park provides 13 miles of trails for hiking and horseback riding, as well as opportunities for observing the large variety of butterflies and for hunting. Rock climbing is allowed on the “caprock,” a volcanic structure that dominates the park. Cross-country skiing, camping and picnicking are other activities permitted within the park boundaries.

A spectacular show of nature at its best, Sugarite Canyon State Park offers you not only the chance to delight in the beauty of its views, but take a walk through a place full of history.