Staunton State Park is a gem of a park that offers something for almost everyone. You can go cycling, horseback riding, hiking, tent camping, rock climbing, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, fishing, and it is even dog-friendly (leashed, of course). There is history, wildlife, birding, grand views, ponds, and a spectacular waterfall. The park even offers a track chair program for those who might not otherwise be able to navigate the trails. The only thing the park doesn’t accommodate is motorized use and RVs or camping trailers.
The park opened to the public in 2013, and I visited it for the first time in 2015, when the park had no visitors center, and the only parking lot/trailhead was on the east side of the park. The single parking lot made hiking to some of the park’s most desirable attractions, such as Elk Falls and Lions Head – the prominent bald peak on the park’s southwest corner – long treks. Hiking to the Elk Falls Overlook, before you could actually hike to the waterfall itself or to the top of Lions Head, would be around 12 miles round trip. Since then, the park added more trails, built a visitors’ center, and most recently, added the Lazy V Trailhead near the center of the park, taking miles off hikes to the park’s far west side.
While there are many trails and hikes of varying lengths and difficulties you can do at Staunton, these are my favorites:
Mason Creek-Bear Paw-Old Mill-Staunton Ranch Loop
This hike has a bit of everything: a pretty creek, open fields with wildflowers, spectacular views from three different overlooks, the ruins of an old mill, and then a gentle return on the Staunton Ranch trail, with wildflowers in the summer and golden aspens in the fall. This hike starts at the Ranch Hand trailhead on the east side of the park. From the trailhead, follow this loop counter-clockwise, first on Dines Meadow and then the Mason Creek trail. At about 2 miles, turn left onto the Bear Paw Trail and stop at the Catamount, Pikes Peak and Eagle Cliff overlooks for breathtaking views. At almost 4.5 miles, Bear Paw again intersects with Mason Creek. Turn left and continue to the Old Mill Trail at about 5.25 miles. Continue down the Old Mill Trail for about another mile and turn left on the Staunton Ranch Trail, to return to the Ranch Hand Trailhead at a bit over 8 miles total. Depending on when you go, you might be able to bypass the Bear Paw Trail and stay on Mason Creek. The section of Mason Creek between the two ends of Bear Paw is subject to seasonal closures to protect wildlife. While by-passing Bear Paw will shave about 1.5 miles off this loop, you’ll be missing out on some great views. Cyclists cannot do this entire loop, since the Old Mill trail is not open to cycling. For more information, I created a route on Colorado Trails Explorer (COTREX): Trails.colorado.gov/routes/156015.
Scout Line-Marmot Passage-Bugling Elk-Staunton Ranch Loop
This hike starts at the Lazy V trailhead in the middle of the park, next to the bathrooms at the west end of the parking lot. Turn left on the Staunton Ranch Trail and then left on to the foot-traffic-only Scout Line Trail. This section of Scout Line is a bit strenuous due to elevation gain and some rocky sections. There are some nice overlooks as you climb Scout Line, especially of Lions Head to the southwest. At about two miles the Scout Line ends at the Marmot Passage Trail. A left turn here is the longer hike with the payoff being great views of the southwest corner of the park, while a right turn will drop you down to the Staunton Ranch Trail.
If you go left, the Marmot Passage Trail ends at the Bugling Elk Trail and Elk Falls Pond, about 3.5 miles from the trailhead. Turn right onto Bugling Elk and follow it to the intersection of the north end of the Marmot Passage Trail and the Staunton Ranch Trail, at about 4.7 miles. Continue on Staunton Ranch until you return to the Lazy V Trailhead, for a total of about 6.5 miles. For more information, I created a route on COTREX: https://trails.colorado.gov/routes/156017.
If you go right at the intersection of Marmot Passage and Scout Line, turn right on Staunton Ranch to return to the Lazy V Trailhead for a total of about 4 miles.
As I mentioned earlier, Lions Head and Elk Falls are the big attractions in the park, and getting to them is pretty straightforward. Starting at the Lazy V trailhead, the most direct route to both is to take the Staunton Ranch Trail west to the Bugling Elk Trail. Just past Elk Falls Pond at the intersection of the Lions Back and Chimney Rock Trail, you can either turn left on Chimney Rock and take it to the spur (and steep, somewhat difficult) trail to the bottom of Elk Falls, or turn right on Lions Back, go past an overlook high above Elk Falls, and then Lions Head to the summit. Either of these routes will be hikes of between 7 and 10 miles round trip, depending on whether you go directly out-and-back or create a loop.
Note: The Lions Head Trail is seasonally closed in spring/summer for wildlife protection. Check before you go at CPW.state.co.us/state-parks/staunton-state-park.
Staunton State Park is located at 12102 S. Elk Creek Road in Pine, about a two-hour drive from Colorado Springs.
