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Staunton State Park Management Plan

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The public comment period will be open from June 10 to July 18, 2025. The feedback form can be found at the bottom of this page once the comment period opens.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) staff are completing the Staunton State Park Management Plan. The park has previously been operating under their Master Plan which was developed in 2010. This new Staunton State Park Management Plan will serve as an overarching management guide for the park by outlining short- and long-term visitor, recreation, resource, and infrastructure management visions for the park. It will chart the management priorities and specific management directions for current and future park staff.

State Park Management Plans are intended to:

  • Serve as a policy document and point of reference for current and future park staff, other partnering agencies, elected officials, and interested members of the public.
  • Help inform future use and development and visitor recreation experiences.
  • Guide management of existing natural and cultural resources.
  • Provide a framework for monitoring and maintaining state park resources.
  • Identify park enhancement opportunities, including possible facility upgrades, new park facilities, restoration and rehabilitation projects, and other important management initiatives.
  • Help inform future budget allocations and annual funding requests.

Staunton State Park Description

Staunton State Park (Staunton or the park) opened to the public in May 2013 as Colorado’s 41st State Park. The original land base for the park was established by a donation from Frances H. Staunton. Additional land purchases later increased the total area of the park to 4,081 acres. These include a portion of the Davis Ranch (860 acres), the Elk Falls property (1,042 acres), the Berrien property (160 acres), the Dines property (80 acres), and the Chase Property (80 acres).

The outstanding natural features at the park include rugged rock outcroppings, lush grassy meadows, rolling hillsides forested with conifers and aspens, and a dramatic waterfall. Numerous streams wind through the park, contributing to the biodiversity and natural beauty of the area. A variety of wildlife species inhabits Staunton State Park due to the abundance of natural resources. In 2015, the Black Mountain and Elk Falls parcels were designated as Colorado Natural Areas. The park also contains a number of distinct natural and cultural resources; in fact, the park is home to multiple buildings, sites, and structures that are designated on the National Register of Historic Places. As a whole, the park property is rich in history having supported a variety of uses including ranching, a sawmill, and a sportsman’s club.

The park also offers visitors a wide range of recreation opportunities including hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, climbing, archery, angling, wildlife viewing, and more. These opportunities, and the park’s abundant scenery and natural environment, attract visitors throughout the front range. Visitation in the park is at its peak from June through September, and the average annual visitation from 2018 to 2024 is just over 240,000 visitors per year.

Park Purpose Statement

  • Preserve the rich natural and cultural resources of the original Staunton family lands, Staunton family homestead, and additional lands for the enjoyment and education of current and future generations;
  • Provide a backcountry / wilderness style recreation opportunity with additional, limited modern amenities to facilitate visitation; and
  • Protect wildlife habitats and migratory corridors.

Park Goals

The park’s goals support a long-term vision for the park and are outlined below:

  • Protect and maintain the park’s natural and scenic resources.
  • Honor, protect, and preserve the park’s cultural and historical resources.
  • Provide a variety of outdoor recreation opportunities.
  • Utilize proactive park principles prior to development.
  • Maintain partnerships with other land management agencies and community groups.
  • Provide volunteer opportunities and environmental education and interpretation programming.

Upcoming Public Events and Meetings

Marmot Fest: June 28-29, 2025 at Staunton State Park. We will have a booth at the fest and can provide information about ways to provide input and how it will inform the park management plan!

Virtual Public Meeting: July 1, 2025 from 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm (RSVP: Zoom Registration Link - Staunton State Park)

In person Public Meeting: July 8, 2025 from 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm at the Staunton State Park Visitor Center (12102 S. Elk Creek Road Pine, CO 80470)

Public feedback to inform this plan will be collected starting June 10, 2025 through July 18, 2025. Once approved, the final management plan is expected to be published by the end of the year and will be added to this page. Thank you for providing feedback!

The public comment period will be open from June 10 to July 18, 2025. The feedback form can be found at the bottom of this page once the comment period opens.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) staff are completing the Staunton State Park Management Plan. The park has previously been operating under their Master Plan which was developed in 2010. This new Staunton State Park Management Plan will serve as an overarching management guide for the park by outlining short- and long-term visitor, recreation, resource, and infrastructure management visions for the park. It will chart the management priorities and specific management directions for current and future park staff.

State Park Management Plans are intended to:

  • Serve as a policy document and point of reference for current and future park staff, other partnering agencies, elected officials, and interested members of the public.
  • Help inform future use and development and visitor recreation experiences.
  • Guide management of existing natural and cultural resources.
  • Provide a framework for monitoring and maintaining state park resources.
  • Identify park enhancement opportunities, including possible facility upgrades, new park facilities, restoration and rehabilitation projects, and other important management initiatives.
  • Help inform future budget allocations and annual funding requests.

Staunton State Park Description

Staunton State Park (Staunton or the park) opened to the public in May 2013 as Colorado’s 41st State Park. The original land base for the park was established by a donation from Frances H. Staunton. Additional land purchases later increased the total area of the park to 4,081 acres. These include a portion of the Davis Ranch (860 acres), the Elk Falls property (1,042 acres), the Berrien property (160 acres), the Dines property (80 acres), and the Chase Property (80 acres).

The outstanding natural features at the park include rugged rock outcroppings, lush grassy meadows, rolling hillsides forested with conifers and aspens, and a dramatic waterfall. Numerous streams wind through the park, contributing to the biodiversity and natural beauty of the area. A variety of wildlife species inhabits Staunton State Park due to the abundance of natural resources. In 2015, the Black Mountain and Elk Falls parcels were designated as Colorado Natural Areas. The park also contains a number of distinct natural and cultural resources; in fact, the park is home to multiple buildings, sites, and structures that are designated on the National Register of Historic Places. As a whole, the park property is rich in history having supported a variety of uses including ranching, a sawmill, and a sportsman’s club.

The park also offers visitors a wide range of recreation opportunities including hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, climbing, archery, angling, wildlife viewing, and more. These opportunities, and the park’s abundant scenery and natural environment, attract visitors throughout the front range. Visitation in the park is at its peak from June through September, and the average annual visitation from 2018 to 2024 is just over 240,000 visitors per year.

Park Purpose Statement

  • Preserve the rich natural and cultural resources of the original Staunton family lands, Staunton family homestead, and additional lands for the enjoyment and education of current and future generations;
  • Provide a backcountry / wilderness style recreation opportunity with additional, limited modern amenities to facilitate visitation; and
  • Protect wildlife habitats and migratory corridors.

Park Goals

The park’s goals support a long-term vision for the park and are outlined below:

  • Protect and maintain the park’s natural and scenic resources.
  • Honor, protect, and preserve the park’s cultural and historical resources.
  • Provide a variety of outdoor recreation opportunities.
  • Utilize proactive park principles prior to development.
  • Maintain partnerships with other land management agencies and community groups.
  • Provide volunteer opportunities and environmental education and interpretation programming.

Upcoming Public Events and Meetings

Marmot Fest: June 28-29, 2025 at Staunton State Park. We will have a booth at the fest and can provide information about ways to provide input and how it will inform the park management plan!

Virtual Public Meeting: July 1, 2025 from 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm (RSVP: Zoom Registration Link - Staunton State Park)

In person Public Meeting: July 8, 2025 from 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm at the Staunton State Park Visitor Center (12102 S. Elk Creek Road Pine, CO 80470)

Public feedback to inform this plan will be collected starting June 10, 2025 through July 18, 2025. Once approved, the final management plan is expected to be published by the end of the year and will be added to this page. Thank you for providing feedback!

  • Staunton State Park Management Plan Feedback Form

    Share your feedback on the draft Staunton Canyon State Park Management Plan. Public feedback will be accepted through July 18, 2025.

    *NOTE* In order to complete the form below, you will need to first register for an Engage CPW account - you can register for an account here. Once you have created an account, you must then sign in to your account to complete the feedback form.

    Complete Form
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Page last updated: 12 Jun 2025, 11:29 AM