Sylvan Lake State Park

Beautiful park. Well maintained and clean! Fish jumping everywhere. Secluded coves and picnic areas.

One of the coolest place in Colorado. The camping, fishing, hiking etc. all are in a beautiful place. Been coming up to camp is this place since I was a little kid and I think the park has fueled my love for the the out doors. We have used place a jumping point to hit a few of the high peaks around the area. Just a short drive up the mountain and you are at tree line and you cab begin the hike up higher to the peaks.
The cabins are very comfortable and warn in the winter. The camping is also very well laid out, restrooms very close and clean. Hiking can be very tough right out of the park, everything is up steep trails but worth the effort.
Fishing, one fall trip we had one of the coolest events happen that I have ever witnessed in the wild. In the fall the trout where spawning. We had hiked around to the end of the lake while fishing, where the creek that feeds the lake we came upon the trout spawning. The creek is very shallow, maybe two to three inches and the fish where swimming up stream to to spawn. Hundreds of fish swimming upstream to spawn. If you wanted to catch a fish all you had had to do was reach down and grab one, something of which I would not think of doing but what a cool sight to see in nature.
Getting up the the park is a little bit of of a drive but not to bad, I wold recommend taking it easy on the drive as many deer will cross the road and I have heard many people say that hitting a deer is quite common on that drive.
Rent a boat from the park to fish, it seems that it improves the fishing on the lake. From the shore line I think the trout can see you better, trout can be very easy to spook and I have found that a boat is less likely to spook the fish and you will have better luck hauling in fish.
Camping sites are best near the lake, some of the lower site are pretty far from the lake which can be quite a hike if you forget something. Making a reservation through the Colorado State Park service is high recommend.
The park is almost always full on the weekends in the middle of summer and camping is not allowed accept in the park.

A most beautiful park way up in the mountains. Upon entry you need a day pass at the Ranger station which has a gift shop and some illustrations of animals in the area. Lots of hummingbirds outside which were gorgeous feeding on the various feeders. Drive up the road about 3 miles (left road) to camp area is gorgeous drive along the river. Camping is available up in this area with river fishing, animal watching. ight side road-​gravel. Lake is gorgeous. Can walk around lake, its probably about a mile around. Fishing is fun with big night crawlers, trout love them. There are plenty of animal tracks around the lake as well. Altitude is high so take plenty of rest stops walking about. Its a very clean park as well. Well worth the drive even if only for sight seeing.