Author: <span>Hwy 12</span>

The Colorado Department of Transportation created an excellent video on the Highway of Legends.

Cokedale was a mining camp founded in 1899 by American Smelting and Refining Company (ASARCO) as a company town. The town is now designated on the National Register of Historic Places as the Cokedale Historic District. It’s named for Cokedale for its coke ovens. The remnants can be see on the south side of Hwy 12. These coke ovens were operate at very high temperatures. They turned coal into “coke”, which is a hard coal with the impurities removed. On the north side of the hwy you can see the mountains of slag which is the waste from the process. The mine was shut down in 1947.

Story on Cokedale by 9news. https://www.9news.com/article/travel/destinations/colorado-adventures/9adventures-history-cokedale-colorado/73-e9a71ed5-8e96-4ae9-914a-c2d741b14102

Trinidad Lake has a lot to offer and is just a few miles from town. It was created in 1978 as an irrigation and flood control project. The town of Sopris was flooded to create the lake. The 2,500 acre park has an average average altitude of 6,300 feet. The lake is 800 acres.

There are 9 miles of trails. There are 73 campsites along with picnic areas. Campsites are available for RVs, trailers and tents. There are central water hydrants, electric hookups, flush toilets and showers. There is also a coin operated laundry facility. Group camping and picnicking facilities are also available. There are 10 campsites on the southshore that are non electric.

https://cpw.state.co.us/placestogo/parks/TrinidadLake/Pages/Camping.aspx

Boating is allowed. There are submerged hazards.

Fishing is allowed for rainbow and brown trout, largemouth bass, channel catfish, walleye, crappie and bluegill.

There is a new archery range available https://cpw.state.co.us/placestogo/parks/TrinidadLake/Pages/ArcheryRange.aspx

Need to Know

Swimming is not allowed

Dogs must be on a 6 foot leash.