Staunton State Park, Pine, CO
I belong wherever the pine trees are, so Staunton State Park was naturally a must! This pet-friendly park has hiking and biking trails galore with scenic spots that feel surreal. I’ve included information about my experience, as well as a personal report on the terrain, weather, wildlife, and tourist/visitor info.
All photos are original and captured by me!
Pikes Peak Overlook, Staunton State Park, Pine, CO (elev. 9509ft).
Personal Experience
I came across Staunton State Park on a whim, longing to embark on a hike that would allow me to see the mountain scape. My friend and I, with bellies full of coffee and oatmeal, drove from Denver to Pines to see the park and experience nature at new heights. The drive to the park is scenic, driving along the side of the winding mountains and seeing layers of pine trees. Upon arrival, we drove to the nearest parking lot up the mountains, though you can drive further beyond where we parked to reach higher trails and visit the original Staunton residence cabins. The air was chilly with a small, delightful breeze with no bugs to swat away. With the hiking map in hand, my friend and I were determined to reach one of the mountain’s highest scenic views, and mapped out three trails: Dines Meadow, Mason Creek, and Bear Paw. The Dines Meadow Trail lasted less than 15 minutes and had informational posts about bears, weather conditions, and safety warnings. The thought of seeing a bear was definitely lingering in our minds but made the hike even more exciting. The tall grass was pale yellow with deep green pine trees and a vivid blue sky. The Dines Meadow Trail marked the beginning of my first serious hiking endeavor (and my favorite hike yet!).
Mason Creek was the longest trail with a creek stretching along the trail for miles. Chipmunks found us to be really interesting, as dozens of them ran beside us, cracking small branches, jumping from rock to rock, and occasionally spooking us with their fast movements. Towards the end of the Mason Creek trail, we hiked uphill making sharp twists and turns, eventually crossing over the creek and reaching a new milestone. We came across a wide open field allowing us to see mansions tucked away in the thick woods. The openness was so freeing and contrasted nicely against the tight trails woven through trees. Bear Paw was next, taking us all the way to the scenic spot. This trail was all uphill but was not too steep or dangerous. The trail become slimmer but was still well-paved. Every time we saw a glimpse of the blue sky we exhausted ourselves stretching our necks to see above the treetops, excited to make it to the overlook. After 1 1/2 hours of hiking, we reached Pikes Peak Overlook, a breathtaking sight that put us over 9000ft above sea level.
Stunned. Speechless. Out of breath. We saw depths of the world that we never thought we’d see. Blue layers of mountains, swerving roadways that looked like nature’s veins, sun orbs, faint clouds, and the miniscule presence of civilization. Tiny sparkles and gleams bounced off roofs and car windshields. Suddenly, in the presence of this godly, unfathomable view of nature, the societal, modern life of humans looked so microscopic, almost irrelevant. A realization that hit me in this moment was how beautiful, earthly creations like this exist in such a paramount scale, while we, energy-yielding humans, walk among these natural monuments without truthfully recognizing it. One thing became clear in my mind: nature connects, heals, resonates, and fulfills humans, something I think many neglect. A sight like this at Staunton State Park will embrace you so beautifully like a hug from the universe.
Dines Meadow Trail, Staunton State Park, Pine, CO (1.0 mi).
Weather & Terrain
I traveled to Staunton State Park in the middle of November, 2021. The skies were clear and sunny with minimal clouds, and the temperature was around 50-60 degrees Fahrenheit. The trees were deep green in color with pale yellow grass with several gravel hiking trails. There were no bugs at all, making the hike a little more enjoyable. Along some hiking trails were flowing creeks with the fresh aroma of pine swirling in the air. Closer to the top of the mountain, the trails became thinner but were still very easy to follow. Larger rocks became more prominent closer to the top. At the scenic view, the trail curved and continued as a separate trailhead, but allowed hikers to step off and soak in the view. Pikes Peak Overlook was outlined with pine trees and resided along a sudden cliff. Large rocks made great seats and ideal spots to sit for a photo.
The trails I hiked included:
Dines Meadow Trail: 1.0 miles
Mason Creek Trail: 4.6 miles
Bear Paw Trail: 2.3 miles
Dines Meadow Trail extended along the base of the mountain to reach Mason Creek trail. Mason Creek was fairly easy in the beginning with a small incline, but got slightly steeper as we reached the end of the trail. Bear Paw was slimmer and had more rocks poking into the trail, which were still very easy to step over or maneuver around. This trail zig-zagged up one side of the mountain, giving hikers balanced leverage and keeping the trail from becoming too steep. Bear Paw Trail led us to Pikes Peak Overlook, an elevation of 9,509 ft. Ultimately, these three trails were easy to follow and were clearly paved. It took around 3 hours to complete our hike. More experienced hikers could definitely complete this hike a little faster, but we were thoroughly enjoying all the little sights.
Me at the Pikes Peak Overlook, Staunton State Park, Pine, CO (elev. 9509ft).
Visitor Info
The route to the state park was easy to navigate and the roadways leading further up the mountain were concrete-paved and not too steep. A day-trip to Staunton State Park was $10 per visitor. There were bathrooms on site near every parking lot, including maps that are also provided upon entry. Pets are welcome but are required to be leashed at all times. Mountain bikers share trails with hikers. They speed down the trails very quickly but are good at notifying hikers with a bell or horn as they approach, giving you time to move out of the way. Please be careful and share the trail!
Staunton State Park also has family-friendly recreational resources for wildlife viewing, bird watching, horseback riding, picnicking, and tent camping.
Wildlife
There were warning signs about black bears, elk, and mountain goats along the base of the mountain. I only saw chipmunks and birds along the trails, but no other animals were encountered during my hike. Wildlife posts informed hikers that bears and other large wildlife are not likely to approach or make an appearance when there is noise, meaning bear sights are infrequent but not uncommon. In fact, we heard a distant bear growl as we overlooked the scenic view!
Overview
My experience at Staunton State Park was unforgettable. Simply walking in the presence of true nature and connecting with my inner self was such a significant part of my hike. The little things, like friendly chipmunks, a running creek, cool air, and thick trees made every second of my hike remarkable. I found so much inspiration here that I painted a reflection of how the hike and scenic view made me feel. My hike produced one of my favorite pieces to date: “Natural Intelligence.”
I’m positive your trip to Staunton State Park will be nothing less than beautiful, serene, and immaculate. I hope my personal report on Staunton State Park inspires you to visit! Feel free to contact me at msstudio.designs@gmail.com with questions you may have about my experience or the park in general. Cheers to your future travels!
Natural Intelligence
Original Painting
Acrylic on canvas with a high gloss finish
