Fishers Peak To Become 42nd State Park

Colorado is poised to get a new state park. The new recreational area will include an iconic mountain peak and lots of wildlife in Southern Colorado.

Fishers Peak near Trinidad was privately owned and off limits, but the state and conservation groups teamed up to purchase the land and will now turn it into Colorado’s 42nd state park.

Governor Jared Polis said Thursday tourists from all over the country will visit to hike and take in the views. But, he added, it’s not just for the humans.

"This newly established area helps connect the grasslands to the east with the foothills and mountains to the west," said Polis. "Very important corridor for the movement of wildlife including elk and mule deer and white tail deer."

Polis said a visitor center and campgrounds will be constructed in the area. He hopes the new park is open by January 2021. Capitol Coverage is a collaborative public policy reporting project, providing news and analysis to communities across Colorado for more than a decade. Eleven public radio stations participate in Capitol Coverage from throughout Colorado.