Monument Lake Resort Campground

Ever wonder how Monument Lake gets its name? Well, the lake got its original name way back in the 1930s when a fifteen foot rock formation emerged from the center of the lake. While sadly this formation is not here today, the name lives on.  The rock formation is said to resemble two Indian chiefs. The legend is told that two Indian chiefs, desperate for water for their respective tribes, met here in peace and cried out at their lack of water. A lake formed at their feet and a volcano erupted simultaneously, enclosing the two chiefs in the rock formations at the center of the lake.

Monument Lake Resort is located in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, approximately 37 miles west of Trinidad, CO. The resort complex used to have a fish hatchery and a zoo! While unused now, the gorgeous old structures can be seen below the dam east of the lake. The fish hatchery was built in 1951 following the Great Depression to develope larger breeds of fish to help the economy.

The nearby town of Stonewall is a very historic and scenic one. It gets its name from the 250 feet tall sandstone structure that is impossible to miss. Back in the 1880s, this town was the site of a standoff between settlers and the government. Now, the town is full of spring waters that are said to be “enchanted”.

All of the structures at the resort are made of Adobe (aside from the Marina store). Vegetation consists of Ponderosa Pine, white fir, Douglas fir, aspen, juniper, native shrubs, and wildflowers. Geologically speaking, granite, sandstone, and limestone compose most of the rocks nearby. The property in its entirety is 368 acres.