Historical Marker
Sugarite Canyon State Park
This heavily wooded mountainous park, located on the Colorado-New Mexico border, was formerly the site of a thriving coal camp. There are two fishing lakes in the New Mexico portion of the canyon, and another lake lies just across the border in Colorado. Wild turkey and deer are plentiful in the park vicinity, and facilities include hiking trails and camping/picnicking sites. The colorful history of the canyon and region is described in the visitor's center.
In the early 1800s, New Mexico became an important center for trade along the Santa Fe Trail, which connected Missouri to Santa Fe. The trail was used by traders, trappers, and settlers to transport goods and supplies across the frontier.