Sugarite Canyon State Park is a
state park of
New Mexico
)
, population_demonym = New Mexican ( es, Neomexicano, Neomejicano, Nuevo Mexicano)
, seat = Santa Fe
, LargestCity = Albuquerque
, LargestMetro = Tiguex
, OfficialLang = None
, Languages = English, Spanish ( New Mexican), Navajo, Ke ...
, United States, featuring a historic early-20th century coal-mining camp and natural scenery at the border of the
Rocky Mountains
The Rocky Mountains, also known as the Rockies, are a major mountain range and the largest mountain system in North America. The Rocky Mountains stretch in straight-line distance from the northernmost part of western Canada, to New Mexico ...
and the
Great Plains. The park is located on the
Colorado
Colorado (, other variants) is a state in the Mountain states, Mountain West subregion of the Western United States. It encompasses most of the Southern Rocky Mountains, as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the wes ...
–New Mexico state line northeast of
Raton, New Mexico
Raton ( ) is a city and the county seat of Colfax County in northeastern New Mexico. The city is located just south of Raton Pass. The city is also located about 6.5 miles south of the New Mexico–Colorado border and 85 miles west of Texas.
His ...
.
Setting
Sugarite Canyon (pronounced “shug-ur-eet”) is located east of
Raton Pass
Ratón Pass is a 7,834 ft (2,388 m) elevation mountain pass on the Colorado–New Mexico border in the western United States. It is located on the eastern side of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains between Trinidad, Colorado and Raton, New ...
in a sparsely-populated region of lofty, steep-sided, flat-topped mesas; cone-shaped volcanoes; and old lava flows. Sugarite Canyon State Park, in size, consists of a stream valley flanked by basalt cliffs with Bartlett and Little Horse Mesas to the west and Horse Mesa on the east. Elevations in the park are from at the park entrance to on top of Little Horse Mesa. The park is about long and wide.
Most of the park is heavily forested with
ponderosa pine
''Pinus ponderosa'', commonly known as the ponderosa pine, bull pine, blackjack pine, western yellow-pine, or filipinus pine is a very large pine tree species of variable habitat native to mountainous regions of western North America. It is the ...
and
gambel oak
''Quercus gambelii'', with the common name Gambel oak, is a deciduous small tree or large shrub that is widespread in the foothills and lower mountains of western North America. It is also regionally called scrub oak, oak brush, and white oak.
...
forests. Along Chicorica Creek at lower elevations is a riparian forest of willow and cottonwood. Douglas fir, white fir, and aspen forests are found at higher elevations on north facing slopes. The flat top of Little Horse Mesa is a grassy meadow. Wildlife species in the park include mule deer, black bear, mountain lion, turkeys, and elk. The two artificial lakes in the park,
Lake Maloya (120 acres) and Lake Alice (3 acres) are stocked with rainbow and brown trout. Abundant butterflies, wildflowers, and views down the Sugarite Valley to the Great Plains far below are highlights of the park.
Climate
July is the warmest month with an average high temperature of and an average low of at Lake Maloya, elevation . January is the coldest month with an average high of and a low of . The all-time high temperature is and the all-time low is . Precipitation averages per year with July and August the wettest months and December and January the driest. Most summer rain comes in afternoon thunderstorms and most winter precipitation is in the form of snow, which can be heavy, especially at higher elevations. Droughts are not uncommon in the summer.
History
The name Sugarite derives from either the
Comanche and
Ute name for a bird found in the canyon or the Spanish name, Chicorica, for
chicory
Common chicory (''Cichorium intybus'') is a somewhat woody, perennial herbaceous plant of the family Asteraceae, usually with bright blue flowers, rarely white or pink. Native to the Old World, it has been introduced to North America and Austra ...
, a plant found here. Sugarite Canyon was used as a water supply for Raton as early as 1891. The lakes continue to be used for that purpose.
Coal mining in the canyon began in 1894 and the town of Sugarite was established as a coal-mining town in 1912. Sugarite had a population of nearly one thousand at its peak. The mines began to shut down in 1941 and in 1944 the post office and railroad were shut down. Sugarite Canyon State Park was established in 1985 and now receives about 125,000 visitors per year. The park's land is owned by the City of Raton and leased to the State of New Mexico for 99 years.
Activities
![Sugarite Canyon State Park sign—2](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c5/Sugarite_Canyon_State_Park_sign%E2%80%942.JPG)
Visitor Center and ruins of Sugarite. A visitor center is near the park entrance station and an interpretive trail follows and crosses Sugarite Creek through the ruins of the once thriving town and coal mine. An admission fee is charged to enter the park.
Fishing and boating.
Lake Maloya and Lake Alice are used for trout fishing. Sailboats and boats powered with electric motors are permitted on Lake Maloya. A boat dock serves launching.
Camping and picnicking. Eleven sites in Lake Alice Campground have electric hookups. 41 developed sites in Lake Alice and Soda Pocket Campground offer tent camping. Picnicking is permitted at both campgrounds. Group shelters are located in Gambel Oak Group Area.
Hiking and horseback riding. There are of hiking trails in the park. Several trails beginning at the visitor center lead to ruins of the coal camp and follow the stream in the valley. The longest trail (6 miles) is Ponderosa Ridge/Opportunity Trail which begins at Lake Maloya spillway, follows a small stream, then climbs through an evergreen forest, then descends again to its starting point. Little Horse Mesa Trail, a round trip, climbs steeply to the highest point in the park on Little Horse Mesa. The Mesa top is flat and nearly treeless. Horse corrals are located near Soda Pocket Campground.
Cross country skiing. Skiing is possible all winter although some roads and facilities are closed.
Rock climbing. Rock climbing is permitted in the park although bolting is not.
Wildlife areas. Adjoining Sugarite Canyon State Park on the north in Colorado are two State Wildlife Areas (SWA): Lake Dorothey (5,152 acres) and James M. John (8,339 acres). The public road leads north from Lake Maloya and terminates shortly in a small parking lot. A campsite, picnic area, and restrooms are located here. A trail leads to Lake Dorothey, which offers trout fishing and is situated in a meadow at an elevation of . Beyond, an unmarked trail leads to the summit of Fisher's Peak Mesa in James M. John SWA. Elevations in Lake Dorothey SWA range from to and in James M. John SWA from to . Access to both areas is by foot or horseback only.
The wildlife areas offer hunting for elk, deer, bear, mountain lion, turkey, and small game. James M. John SWA is closed from December 1 to April 1 every year. An annual butterfly festival counts and identifies butterflies in the meadows near Lake Dorothey. The 2006 one-day count was 637 butterflies of 38 species.
References
External links
Sugarite Canyon State Park
{{authority control
State parks of New Mexico
Parks in Colfax County, New Mexico
Protected areas established in 1985
1985 establishments in New Mexico