Staunton State Park

Beautiful and not crowded! We love riding mountain bikes up to the top. There are some challenging spots on the trail, but overall it’s an easy ride. Quite a bit of climbing, but there’s not very many trails in Colorado that don’t have that. We have been here several times and always enjoy it.

Third time visiting Staunton State Park this year from Denver. It is classic mountain beauty. Do note that Elk pond is drained for maintenance a so don’t expect to fish there. The employees and volunteers at the visitor center are great! They helped me pick the right hikes and where interest in what I saw during them. I have seen many amazing plants and animals on my hikes. Take the time and pay attention the lichens and mosses and see a whole little world. Everything is well maintained and signs are clear. Though it would nice to have elevation changes on the sign. Having the distances on the sign are helpful, just don’t forget you have to hike back.

To each their own I guess, but I truly don't understand how this place has such high ratings. I did 2 trails and found both to be SUPER boring. Eight tedious miles for the first with just a few solid but certainly not spectacular views; followed by another 7 miles for the next with even less bang for effort: arguably just 1 decent view the entire way. I did happen into one pretty cool deer herd sighting (but that was probably mostly just luck). If your are like me and value fun/unique/varied terrain over an admittedly pristinely-maintained but ultimately just a pure long-walk trail, then I highly recommend you find someplace more exciting to hike than Staunton.

Staunton State Park is a quiet, less crowded spot tucked away at higher elevation—not one of the more talked-about parks, but definitely worth checking out if you enjoy nature without the buzz of big crowds. There are plenty of well-marked hiking trails throughout, and I noticed several signs indicating that horseback riding is allowed, which is great for equestrians. One thing that stood out was the availability of accessibility-friendly wheelchairs for those who want to explore the trails with assistance—huge plus for inclusivity. We hiked to Davis Pond, which is a man-made reservoir or dam. It was peaceful, and there were a few folks fishing around the pond. Since it had snowed recently, the trails were still covered in fresh snow, but it wasn't a problem with the right gear. Just a nice, crisp hike with some beautiful wintery views. There were signs posted all around the park warning about moose activity, so if you're visiting with kids, keep that in mind and stay aware. Overall, it’s a secluded park with a calm vibe, great for a quiet hike, a bit of fishing, or just getting some fresh mountain air without bumping into a lot of people.

One of the better Colorado State Parks with smooth nice trails and everything is pretty well maintained safe for all ages. There are many outdoor activities to do here at this park, Even with a gravel bike you can make most all the trails with ease . . I biked in and paid 4.00 day pass which I feel is worth it. On 6/9/2025 THe park was pretty magical with barely any dogs and peacefully with minimal people . . .

Probably my favorite state park - its close enough to make a day trip or even a morning hike. beautiful views and awesome ROCKS! Tons of climbing routes and just beautiful sites. Check maps before you arrive and definitely take the free park map from the ranger that DOESNT need internet.

The trail volunteers were super helpful in giving us tips to find wildflowers in the park. It was populated without being crowded and we saw plenty of wildlife on our hike, including deer and a bear.

An amazing little park with great trails… as of 03/09 still has some ice at the top, but should be gone very soon! A lot of parking, restrooms, picnic tables… Be careful of bike riders, some trails allow biking … A lot of people with puppies, and most of them were on leash … Great overall park! Come and enjoy, and please do not leave any trash !

We love this park! Code enough to the city for a quick hike with a few different trails to choose from. Mostly respectful folks keeping those furry friends on a leash and following the 'pack-in-pack-out' etiquette, always friendly rangers, and clean bathrooms to use before or after your adventuring - at any of the parking lots you choose to use. How fortunate we are to have this park!

Fantastic State Park relatively close to Denver. Great facilities: Parking, restrooms, trails. Stunning views. Great place for a picnic too!

The husband and I spent the day fishing/photographing and hiking at Staunton State Park. This was my first visit to this 10-year-old state park. We first drove the main roads of the park checking our horse trailer parking and camping sites. We then hiked to Davis Pond #1 and #2 so the husband could fish. I walked around the ponds and across the spillway enjoying the beauty of this park. This really is a hidden gem. Most importantly, Staunton State Park makes previously challenging outdoor activities a reality for members of the public with mobility impairments by offering a Track-Chair program. The park has have multiple Track-Chairs and trails designated for the program, which is available free of charge to visitors.

What a great place to hike/sightsee! I've been there twice in the last month and have hiked up to views that include Pikes peak. No part is too tough for most people in good health (I'm a 69-year old with perhaps a hint of more weight than I need ). The cost to enter the park is minimal, at $10 a car. Both times, upon leaving just before dusk I've spotted herds of deer and/or Elk. If you plan on going up to any of the major lookouts, park at the farthest/newest lot, and count on about 4 hours. Bring water - you won't want to drink out of the creeks!

Opening its gates in 2013, Staunton State Park is Colorado's youngest State Park. However, its young age doesn't mean it has any less beauty to offer those who visit! This summer I've been making it a mission to get outside as much as possible, so with my sights set on Staunton, I made my way there for a Friday morning adventure. ACTIVITY: There's something for everyone here! Rock climb? Yep! Mountain Bike? You bet! Hiking? Duh! Trail running? Sure, if you're into that sort of thing. Seeking a hike to challenge myself, I decided to make my way to Elk Falls. I opted to Follow Staunton Ranch Trail, to Bugling Elk, to Chimney Rock Trail, To Elk Falls Trail - making an out-and-back totaling 10.95 miles. You can make part of the trail a loop by taking Marmot Passage from Elk Falls Pond, which only adds about 1 mile or so. 'Cause who doesn't love a good loop. NATURE VISTAS: From wildflowers, to waterfalls, to trees, to mushrooms, and all the rock formations - there's bound to be something that catches your eye. Or if you're like me - it all will! Staunton State Park was definitely putting on a show. With all the rain we had earlier this year - the wildflowers were on point! AMENITIES: The trailhead features several vaulted toilets, picnic benches, ample parking, and an amphitheater. There are several porto-pottys and vaulted toilets along the trails too! COST: Since Staunton State Park is part of the Colorado State Park system, there is an entrance fee of $11. Staunton State Park was a most excellent way to get my Friday morning nature fix. I'll definitely be back to check out more of its trails! **Pro Tip: I highly recommend getting there early! While there are some shady areas, the majority of the trails I took were exposed, and the early afternoon heat was brutal.

Beautiful state park with gorgeous views and trails for all levels. Can't wait to check out the visitor center next time around. Worth the annual park pass fee.

Elk Falls should be added to your Colorado bucket list. I'll wait. Officially added? Great, let's ramble on! This is one of my new favorite places within an hour of Denver. I solely found Staunton State Park on Yelp. Not once in my year of living here have I heard anyone recommend it. Well it's time to change that! I started at the Staunton Ranch trailhead at 7:30am on a Friday morning. Here's the route I took (and totally encourage): Staunton Ranch, Bugling Elk, Chimney Rock, Elk Falls. Round trip it's just shy of 12 miles. I'd rate it as moderate, though the distance might cause fatigue for some. However, talk about a beautiful hike throughout! Since I started early, I saw seven deer in total, even a baby one. They'll get pretty close to you, especially on the Staunton Ranch trail. I love the rock formations, the lush trees, and the slight incline on this trail. Bugling Elk is probably the most boring stretch, however you'll discover a bathroom. Talk about clutch! This leads you to Elk Falls Pond, which is where many people conclude their adventure. Though pretty in its own right, you have to keep trucking! Now you could go to an overlook of Elk Falls. In my opinion, why look at them when you can touch them instead? Listen to this, I was the ONLY PERSON at Elk Falls. For 30 minutes. Talk about solitude and complete appreciation for our unparalleled state. The views are so worth it and the perfect spot for a well-earned snack. Parking pass will run you $9 like most state parks in Colorado. Staunton and Eldorado Canyon are my two favorite state parks. Wonderful and challenging hikes with views that encompass why I love living here.

Great park with good and well maintained trails! Ample parking and not too crowded. I will be back to try other trails. The picture shows views from the Staunton Ranch and Bugling Elk loop

All the employees are very helpful. Go on weekdays if possible it's very busy on weekends. A lit different things to see at this park. the visitor center is very nice when it's open. All the bathrooms are always very clean.

Fun trails, hiking easy access and cool little lake . It's our neighborhood gem. Close to Denver

We headed to Staunton State park early Monday morning with our pup. We had a perfect 10.5 mile hike up to the Old Mill and around, and saw less than 5 people walking along the trail, and a couple of mountain bikers. We started near the horse trailer parking, and headed up the Mason Creek Trail, and it took us about 4 hours. I was happy we started early, because there are long stretches without much shade. We wouldn't have taken the longer route with the overlooks, but part of the mason Creek trail was closed for restoration, so we had no choice. I am so grateful for that closure, because the views from the overlook of Pike's Peak and the state park itself are beautiful. After minimal scrambling, the Eagle's Cliffs Overlook was a great place for a snack with a view. I highly recommend this park and this hike!

This was my first state park since living in Colorado. I am a beginner when it comes to hikes so I prefer trails that are flat. I decided to visit Staunton State Park after comparing levels of difficulty with other parks. The park is pleasant and refreshing from the city life. This park is great for small dogs and parents with young children. The path do the pond was easy because the hike was mainly flat. There is another path called Masons Creek. That path contains rocks and different levels of up and down hills. In the fall and winter season, it does tend to get muddy or icy. Be careful on that. Otherwise, the hike on Masons Creek is next to a stream. For me personally, it's relaxing to listen to the sound of running water. There are also plenty of picnic areas. So don't be afraid to bring you own food. There are bathrooms located near the parking area and the pond.

I just love this park. What a gem. It is scenic, only 45 minutes from Denver, and big enough to find your own piece of peace. There are trails easy enough for toddlers and difficult enough to challenge expert hikers. I love the fact that they have both shared use and hiking only trails. I love the fact that the trails are well-marked. I love the fact that it's clean. I love the fact that I have a state parks pass and don't have to pay the day use fee. Regardless if you are a hiker, mountain biker, climber, camper, or horseback rider, this gorgeous park has stuff that will interest you.

Beautiful park, it was gorgeous. We saw a ton of deer, some elk, and breathtaking views

After indulging a little too much in a nice riesling last night, I wasn't up for anything big this morning. But, I didn't want to hang around Denver all day, either, so I took a made the 45 minute commute up to Staunton State Park. It was my first time to this particular park, and I only hiked the couple miles around the easier trail - Davis Ponds Loop. The trail is easy enough for children, and others like me who aren't in the best of shape. It's well shaded, and if you do the loop around the actual "ponds" you'll find a small picnic area. The north pond is quite pretty, and reflects the mountains well - good place for fishing if that's what you're here for. As I said, the trail is very easy and doesn't offer any great views of the area, but just walking through the pines and aspens makes for a great hour. Also, since the park only has a couple parking lots right near the entrance pretty much all the trail heads are within walking distance - so you can pair this easy stroll with a more challenging hike. I look forward to returning, and getting much deeper into the park.

I know this park like the back of my hands. I've been going here for almost a year. Sometimes four times a week. As in any hikes I choose the trail less travelled. Lightly travelled trails are my favorite. Solitude is one of the reasons I love hiking. This park with its micro climate offers everybody a different level of sweat factor depending on their skill level and the trail you choose. A walk in the park is more your style? You can do that by picking the trail to your left after it splits in two. It does not by any means an indicator that your hike will be easy. Because this trail can also lead to one of the peaks. Now if you choose the trail to the right called the Mason Creek Trail this goes uphill immediately. It will continue to do so with a few breaks here and there. This is my favorite. This trail will lead you to the four overlook area in the park. Catamount and Pike's Peak to name a couple. If you choose to do a loop it'll be very rewarding. Waterfalls, rock climbing if you're interested is also one of the few things you can focus on. In mid April last year it hailed, rained and snowed while I was hiking out. Pack your layers and enjoy a great park. Btw- grab an annual permit ($60+?) rather than a daily pass. It will pay for itself in just three visits. I also heard that this year they will be issuing cards instead of a sticker taped to your windshield. Meaning you can't make the most use of your permit if you have more than one vehicle! With the car type the state parks will be on par with the National Park! You can drive your other 20 cars and carry only 1 car permit! Most of all it will save you money! Imagine your 20 cars x $60? Or the state parks will cut you a deal and you only pay half for the other 20 cars that you own! It's still retarded and don't make sense.

Staunton is really beautiful and easy to get to if you want to stay easy of the Rockies and off I-70. The entrance has a $8 day pass and the rangers are very helpful and nice. There is a lot of parking and numerous picnic tables not just by the parking lots but also through out the trails. The trails are maintained well and are clearly marked. If you're doing to loop trails it's hard to get lost. We did the Davis Ponds loop and it was an easy hike with very little elevation gain. We saw a lot of people ice fishing on the ponds but I'm not sure I'd venture out onto the ice; if you fall through I'm not sure how soon you'd get help.

Well maintained, nice long hike. Didn't see the bear, but saw bear tracks and other indicators of bear presence. Left trailhead about 7:15 Sunday morning, plenty of parking and only saw a handful of hikers until the last 1-2 miles on the way back. There were a lot of mountain bikers though so be aware, they seem to come out of nowhere and scared me more than once. The falls were beautiful and we had them to ourselves for the 15 minutes we stopped for a snack and to enjoy the offspray from the falls. Including our stop at falls, the hike took about 5 hours.

If you're a hiker, go away. We were interrupted by at least 20 mountain bikes as they zipped by without regard to the hikrrs who are supposed to have the right of way. So many eBikes too, so annoying. Usually you can at least expect less bike traffic on hard hill climbs, but with eBikes they just zip up and expect everyone to get out of their way. They need to be banned. I'll be avoiding this place.

Though they are obviously quite new, the trails are nice here. The view from Staunton Overlook is beautiful and worth the effort. The gates open automatically at 8am, so don't go sooner than that or you'll be left waiting outside. The better toilets are in the upper lot (permanent, not porta and with hand sanitizer). Equestrians take note - horses are allowed on some of the trails! I intend to come back to hike to the waterfall.

Staunton Park is only about 30 minutes from Centennial/Littleton and is a great place for a hike. I went up the Mason Creek Trail to the Bear Paw Trail to Eagle Cliffs Overlook. The views are amazing here. It is a difficult hike as it is mostly uphill there, but downhill on your way back to the lot. I also went to Pikes Peak Overlook and Catamount Overlook in which both have great views and places to hangout and enjoy nature for a bit. The cost is $7 to get into the park, but you can be there all day.

Great State park, trails are well maintained with good signage. The upper trails are worth the effort, keep an eye and ears open as this is a popular mtn bike venue. Enjoy!

Ok i am very humbled by this mountain. Let's put it this way, if your from Ohio, have acclimated for less than 24 hours, and expect to trek up this mountain, you may experience what kind of felt like a gut punch. This place starts off at 8k. It is crazy awesome, alpine forests, lots of sun and ki ked my Ohio ass. Next time I come to Colorado I will try to be in better shape. This was my 1st real hike after knee surgery last summer, so I'm not hating on myself that much, but possible doing more cardio will help.

So far this is one of my favorite parks near Denver! We did the Elk Falls and Chimney Rock Trail for a 12.3mi loop. Got a head start on Saturday morning before any of the crowds came out. We saw a herd of deer right at the start which was pretty cool since they were so close. Another benefit of this park is that rock climbing and bouldering is allowed! Some of the rock faces already have routes set up. I can't wait to return in the summer when the falls are no longer frozen.

Clean, easy to find, very beautiful state park. Great for summer hikes, snow shoeing, and now tent camping. We live near by and enjoy visiting.

This place is not far at all from Denver. The hike is quite the distance. The view once you make it to a lookout is amazing. The night sky is amazing when it's dark. So many stars are visible. However, I would recommend starting your hike early. Nightfall comes quick and it's not a fun hike down lol. You will see a few wild animals.

Staunton has only been a state park for 3 years, so maybe it's still working on a few things, such as clearly differentiating the trails from the service roads. The park used to be a ranch, so the whole feel is more 'prairie' then 'mountain'. There are several trails without a lot of elevation change, so it might be a good place to bring out of town guests. This would also be a nice place to come hiking with small kids- the trails to Davis Ponds are more of a pleasant walk than a true hike. The ponds are man made and their most noticeable feature is the large dam. Not the most picturesque but apparently the fishing is good. This park has several trails open to bikers and horses, and also caters to climbers. In fact, the large rock formations are some of the most interesting and stunning things to see. We also saw several gorgeous golden aspen interspersed with the evergreens. Overall worth the $7 day pass fee but with all the glorious options for hiking in Colorado this probably won't be a go-to for me.

I heard that this park opened recently and I wanted to check it out so a friend and I decided to do the hike to the Elk Falls Overlook. I think it was a 12 mile hike round trip and it wasn't strenuous at all. There were some small inclines here and there but until the last few hundred feet, it was more or less flat. I found the hike quite scenic and the reward was a little disappointing if you came to see the falls because they were on the other side of the valley. But I think the views along the way and even at the overlook were pretty nice! A few points I would like to make. First, I love that this park doesn't have a road going through it. The whole point is to enjoy nature. Some parks might be a bit more accessible via car but I think that's one of the perks for this one. Second, this park is VERY new. They are still working on the trails to the falls itself, for instance, so it will take some time. I think it's good that they opened it but it's going to be a work in progress for a while so keep that in mind. Nonetheless, I would recommend doing this hike if you're looking for something on the easier side although it still is a bit long. It took us just over 4 hours but that included about 30 minutes just sitting on the overlook having lunch.

Colorado's newest state park is pretty popular and has a lot to offer: hiking, biking, horseback riding, and climbing too. Dogs are allowed on-leash, and there were a lot of dogs out on the day we went. The trails were really full initially with mostly hikers, bikers, and trail runners, but then were surprisingly empty after we walked for about a mile. The park is a nice choice if you're looking for an easy hike with beautiful views, and that's probably why there were so many dogs and kids out enjoying the park. I like that some of the trails are for hikers only. I also like that the trails are all dirt. Because the park is so new, they're still working on the trails. The employees and volunteers are very friendly and excited about the park. I'll definitely be back to explore more of the trails.

An absolute gem of a State Park. Staunton is in a beautiful setting and it is one of the cleanest, best maintained parks I've ever visited. The facilities are modern and convenient. Hiking, mountain biking, rock climbing, horseback, archery, fishing, and camping are all available within Staunton. The Track Chair program is so unique and a great opportunity for more people to experience this incredible place.

I love this park. It is clean and beautiful. It was crowded on July 4th, but usually pretty quiet. We like to hike out to the waterfall and picnic. We hike with our dogs out to the he lake and back. A couple of disposal places to make cleaning up after pets easy. I have seen several dogs hiking or running with their humans, but I haven't seen signs that anyone fails to clean up after their pets. There are also a couple of very clean porta potties along the trails. It is a beautiful area, with long hikes through trees, climbing rocks, mountain biking, and historic buildings. There is a park office and all the park employees and volunteers have been helpful and courteous.

This place was very nice great view but the bugs were bad but still very nice place but also there was a lot of ash everywhere and hard to breathe

Beautiful place to hike & bike year around. Fat biking in the winter is my favorite but summertime is gorgeous too. The views are incredible and trails are greens & blues with heathy climbs.

I love this park! How could I not when its in my backyard! Great for hiking and biking! Come with energy and bring snacks and water! Lots of walking! The waterfall is my favorite spot! One of the biggest waterfalls I have seen on this side of the state! It's a great escape from the Denver heat! With great wildlife all around! The park does not offer camping however There is a camp site being built right off the exit to the Park!

Love this park. It's always gorgeous and has great hikes for all ages. My 7 year old enjoys fishing at Davis ponds!

I really love this park and the difference on each of the trails. Have done the elk falls route and the old mine route and loved both. Only thing to note is that park times are different in the winter. Check their website but as of 2/10/18 the park closes at 5pm.

This is my favorite go-to hiking destination within 1 hour of Denver. Beautiful park, well maintained, new parking lot so a fairly good amount of parking, I have not come close to being shut out yet but as it gets more popular I'm sure parking will become an issue like everywhere else. They have it all here, waterfall, pond, views, climbs, history (including quite a few structures and cabins with stories to read at each site), great for trail running, hiking, biking, etc.

I came here the day after Memorial Day to walk off the crazy. It's a nice park about an hour's drive from Denver. As others have mentioned, there isn't a road going through the park, just to a few parking sites near the entrance. Staunton's for walking, not fancy walkin' (driving), so be prepared for that. I came here because there's a lot of potential for looping the different trails, instead of just doing out-and-back hikes. Pretty much every trail is connected, so it really just matters how much you're wanting to hike (this could vary between 2 miles and 20+). I opted to hike the eastern portion of the park, looping Mason Creek, Old Mill and Staunton Ranch (about 8 miles). Mason Creek, for those interested in trying it, is 4.5 miles, almost all steadily uphill. It's not too strenuous because it's not a steep grade, but you're definitely gaining a bit in elevation. This was the nicest portion of my hike - it leads past streams into pine forest and past a few beautiful aspen groves. Views can be a little difficult through the trees, but when you find them, they're spectacular. I would definitely come back to try the other half of the park. When I was hiking, there weren't a whole lot of people there, but I kinda planned it that way. I hardly ran into anyone along the first half of my hike. I imagine the park would get a bit more crowded on weekends, but there's plenty of room to spread out, so I don't see it being an issue. I don't believe there are any camp sites at the park, so you avoid those kinds of crowds that might be elsewhere during the summer.

Nice park good trails water falls dogs on a leash follow the rules or be fined by the ranger please no open fires you do not want to burn down our homes and forrest

The park is lovely. However, it is heavily manned with rangers and the ranger at the entrance gate neglected to tell us that the main parking lot by the entrance was full. As a result, we did not know where to park. The park map is ok but it is not clear from the map which parking lot to go to if the main one by the entrance is full. For $7 one would think the entrance gate ranger could let first time park visitors know where to park.

A new Colorado State Park! What an opportunity to see miles of beautiful new scenery and wildlife on historical ranches that were acquired by the State Parks. We were very eager to see it. BUT it turns out there are only about 2 miles of roads in the park, and they go to three parking lots. The other 15 miles or so of access is only through hiking and horseback riding trails. So if you're older or not healthy enough to hike or ride a horse for miles and miles to see the fantastic scenery, forget it. We were so disappointed and sad that we were not able to enjoy any of the sights. Since it's a new park, maybe they have plans to extend the roads, but I'm not going to hold my breath. The road from Hwy 285 to the park entrance was probably the most scenic part of the trip. If you're able to hike or ride, it's a beautiful place, but I don't expect to go back again.

I love this park! I have been coming here for years and there has been so much great trail work. Most of the trails can be connected in numerous different ways to make sure you never have to take the same route back. I highly recommend making a full day of it and getting down to the falls.

The entire outer loop makes a great moderate bike ride. If you're one of those people who barely ventures from your car, then as usual you'll miss out on the vast majority of sights. Going counter-clockwise is a gradual and scenic climb back up into the park. There are several interesting sights along the way: the Old Mill Site, Staunton Rocks Overlook, and Elk Falls Pond. The descents are fun and fast, particularly down from the overlook. The descent down toward Elk Falls Pond is particularly serene and feels remote. The climb up Elk Falls Overlook is fairly steep and a good workout. Leave the bike behind and a short climb up the rest of the trail rewards with great panoramic views. It will be great when the Elk Falls Trail opens, affording a closer look at the falls.

Great park. The trails are fun and the view are amazing. I strongly suggest visiting Fat biking, mountain biking or hiking

I've hiked every mile of this park. I'll hike every mile of this park again. It's really ugly and crowded and smells like that fishy smell at the beach. See you there!

Most amazing hike -- 9 miles in 3.5 hours -- gorgeous State Park... I hiked Staunton Ranch, to Old Mill, to Border Line, to the Border Line Overlook, and back down Staunton Ranch. Awesome.

What a great state park! Plenty of trails for hiking, biking, and horseback riding. They also have a rock climbing area that looked fun. You can link trails to make a round trip hike ranging from 1mi. to 11mi. or more... We hiked to the elk falls overlook and took the loop back to make it a little more difficult and slightly longer about 11mi. total distance. SR to BE to LB, back down to MP then SL back to SR and out.

First time visiting and hiking at the park. It was very well maintained and clear cut trails. The views were amazing! We will definitely visit again:)

Staunton is a fairly new state park, and is not for anyone who wants to drive. This is a hiking, biking and horseback park. We have gone to the park a couple of times, and we find the trails fairly easy. There is often very few other people around, but the ones who are seem to be friendly and respectful of nature. Wildlfe is everywhere. Deer are plentiful, have seen a coyote or two, and the birds seem to be singing all the time. We like this park for the beauty, and the solitude.