Sugarite Canyon State Park

Sugarite Canyon State Park is a 3,600-acre protected area situated where the Rocky Mountains meet the Great Plains. The landscape combines pine forests, two lakes, meadows, and dramatic mesa formations within a largely undeveloped setting.

Coal mining shaped the region starting in 1894, leading to the founding of the mining town of Sugarite in 1912. The settlement briefly flourished as a coal community before economic shifts caused its gradual decline.

The name derives from either the Comanche and Ute word for a local bird or the Spanish term Chicorica, meaning chicory plant.

The area offers over 20 kilometers of hiking trails for various fitness levels plus fishing and camping opportunities. Visitors should bring sturdy footwear and prepare for changing elevations and variable weather conditions.

Hikers can reach the park's highest point on the Ponderosa Ridge Trail and discover ruins from the former mining town along the way. These hidden remains tell the story of a vanished community set within the park's natural landscape.

Location: Colfax County

Inception: 1985

Website: https://emnrd.nm.gov/spd/find-a-park/sugarite-canyon-state-park

GPS coordinates: 36.95920,-104.38600

Latest update: December 9, 2025 18:43