Trinidad Lake State Park lies about 4 miles west of Trinidad in Colorado, centered on Trinidad Lake, a reservoir created by a dam. Known for hiking, camping, and boating, it also preserves features that connect the area to southern Colorado’s deeper history. Within the park are the coal mining ruins at Cokedale and part of the mountain route of the Santa Fe Trail, reflecting earlier industry and travel through the region. In its southern section, an exposed Cretaceous–Paleogene boundary marks the geological transition associated with the end of the age of dinosaurs, giving the park significance beyond recreation.