LONE MESA STATE PARK
Lone Mesa State Park lies 23 miles north of the town of Dolores and encompasses 11,760 acres of incredibly scenic land, ranging in elevation from about 7,200 feet to just over 9,000 feet.
A high quality Special Use Permit program allows limited public hunting during the big game seasons, as the park includes fantastic elk, deer and bear habitat. Along with the public hunting program and stewardship of its incredible resources, management of Lone Mesa includes monitoring of a grazing lease, education programs and outings, volunteer and other service partnerships, and more. Public access to this park is currently limited to the hunting, volunteer, and coordinated education and stewardship programs.
Located in southwestern Colorado, the park was established in 2006. It spans over 11,760 acres of diverse landscapes and ecosystems.
The area's history dates back to ancient times with evidence of Ancestral Puebloan cultures inhabiting it around AD 1000-1300.
In more recent history, Ute tribes lived on these lands before European settlers arrived during the late nineteenth century.
It served as a cattle ranch for many years until The Nature Conservancy purchased it in 1994 due to its ecological significance.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife acquired this land from The Nature Conservancy through Great Outdoors Colorado funding program by lottery funds.
As of now, access is limited while management plans are being developed; only guided tours are available upon reservation.
All Colorado State Parks have entrance fees. All vehicles are required to have an entrance pass and some parks have walk-in fees. Visit the
Colorado Park Entrance Pass web page.
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