Fishers Peak State Park Summit Trail opens for the season
TRINIDAD, Colo. – The sharp calls of peregrine falcons drew every eye skyward as Colorado Parks and Wildlife staff and volunteers put the finishing touches on the final mile of the Fishers Peak State Park summit trail July 29.
Three peregrine falcons circled above the mountain, soaring over the same cliffs that had remained undisturbed throughout the spring and early summer. For the crew below, the sight needed little explanation.
On Aug. 1, the final mile of the Fishers Peak State Park summit trail reopened to the public after CPW Resource Stewardship biologists confirmed this year's young peregrine falcons had successfully fledged and reached independence. The reopening marks the fifth consecutive year the nesting pair has successfully occupied the site and raised young, and the fifth reopening of the Fishers Peak summit trail since the property became a Colorado state park, allowing visitors to once again reach the summit of Colorado's highest state park.
Every spring, the final mile closes while peregrine falcons establish territories, incubate eggs and raise their young. During the closure, CPW Resource Stewardship biologists monitor the nesting pair from a distance while park staff honor the same restrictions expected of visitors.
“We honor the peregrine closure just like we ask the public to,” said Crystal Dreiling, FPSP manager. “Our staff stays out of this area whenever possible throughout the nesting season. We don't know what the final ascent to the peak at 9,633 feet looks like until we're close to reopening day, so it's all hands on deck during those final days before the trail opens.”
Once Resource Stewardship biologists cleared the trail to reopen, park staff, Southeast Region trail specialists and volunteers began preparing the summit trail for hikers July 29 and 30.
Before heading up the mountain on July 29, Jenn Green, seasonal park technician, gathered the trail maintenance team to review weather, trail conditions, tool safety and the plan to inspect and clear the final mile of trail to the summit. After more than four months without routine maintenance, no one knew exactly what they would find until they reached the work site. The team departed in utility task vehicles on a service road to the final mile of summit trail and heading up on foot, equipment in hand.
Persistent drought meant less vegetation than in wetter years, but crews still cleared encroaching brush, restored trail tread and reinforced rocky sections before the reopening.
“Looking up and seeing three peregrines flying above us while we were getting the trail ready was pretty special,” said Tappan Brown, CPW Southeast Region Trails Coordinator. “It reminded us the closure worked exactly as intended and it's time to prepare the trail and welcome people back.”
“We're thrilled to confirm this year's peregrine falcon chicks have officially fledged,” said Donovan Spaulding, CPW Biological Monitoring Coordinator. “That marks five consecutive years of occupancy and breeding success at Fishers Peak, a major win for local conservation. Careful monitoring during these critical months ensures we only reopen the trail once the young are fully independent and taking flight. This milestone reflects both our dedicated Fishers Peak park staff and a community that continues to respect the space these birds need to thrive.”
Volunteers from La Veta Trails joined CPW staff for the final push before reopening.
“We all share the same passion for maintaining the trails we love to hike,” said Adam Battaia, stewardship coordinator for La Veta Trails. “Working together gives us the opportunity to help care for these places.”
For Dreiling, reopening day never gets old.
“One of my favorite parts of reopening day is watching hikers encourage one another and celebrate together when they reach the summit,” Dreiling said. “There's a special camaraderie among the people who make the climb. Every year, reopening the summit trail feels like a new beginning for the park.”
Visitor Information: The Fishers Peak summit trail reopened to the public on Aug. 1. The approximately 16-mile round-trip hike gains about 3,000 feet in elevation and is considered strenuous. Visitors should begin early, carry plenty of water and food, prepare for rapidly changing mountain weather and remain on the designated trail throughout the hike. At Fishers Peak, the trail is the shortcut. Leaving the trail greatly increases the risk of becoming lost and may result in a search-and-rescue response.
Fishers Peak State Park is open daily from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. For current park information, trail maps and conditions, visit https://cpw.state.co.us/state-parks/fishers-peak-state-park
Media advisory: Members of the news media interested in covering the Fishers Peak summit trail reopening should contact Southeast Region Public Information Officer Dean Miller at [email protected] or (719) 466-3927.
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PHOTOS DISPLAYED BELOW CAPTION LIST:
3099- Colorado Parks and Wildlife staff and La Veta Trails volunteers clear overgrowth from the final mile of the summit trail on the east side of Fishers Peak on July 29; From left: Park Manager Crystal Dreiling, CPW Southeast Region Trails Coordinator Tappan Brown, Park Resource Technician Rachel Bentz; Seasonal Park Technician Joe Kozlowicz, and La Veta Trails volunteer Adam Bataia; CPW Photo/Dean Miller
4868- La Veta Trails volunteer Andy Brannon clears overgrowth from the final mile of the summit trail on the north side of Fishers Peak on July 29; CPW Photo/Dean Miller
3461- La Veta Trails volunteers Adam Battaia and Andy Brannon, clear overgrowth from the final mile of the summit trail on the east side of Fishers Peak on July 29; CPW Photo/Dean Miller
3485- Colorado Parks and Wildlife Seasonal Park Technician Joe Kozlowicz and Seasonal Park Technician Jenn Green, clear overgrowth from the final mile of the summit trail on the east side of Fishers Peak on July 29; CPW Photo/Dean Miller
3508- Fisher Peak State Park team members Jenn Green, Seasonal Park Technician, and Rachel Bentz, Park Resource Technician, clear overgrowth and rocks from the final mile of the summit trail on the east side of Fishers Peak on July 29; CPW Photo/Dean Miller
4841- With the peak rising above, Fishers Peak State Park Manager Crystal Dreiling speaks with volunteers from La Veta Trails on a maintenance road to the trailhead July 29. The volunteers and Colorado Parks and Wildlife staff continued to the trailhead to inspect and clear the last mile of the summit trail; CPW Photo/Dean Miller
4893- Fishers Peak State Park Manager Crystal Dreiling and Park Resource Technician Rachel Bentz, make their way toward the summit, inspecting and clearing the last mile of trail along the way; CPW Photo/Dean Miller
4862- Colorado Parks and Wildlife staff and La Veta Trails volunteers head up Fisher Peak to clear overgrowth from the final mile of the summit trail July 29; CPW Photo/Dean Miller
3353- The James M. John State Wildlife Area as viewed from the summit of Fishers Peak looking south; CPW Photo/Dean Miller
8093- Fishers Peak State Park Manager Crystal Dreiling and Park Resource Technician Rachel Bentz, in lead, make their way toward the summit, inspecting and clearing the last mile of trail along the way; CPW Photo/Dean Miller
8304- The view from the 9,633-foot summit of Fishers Peak, looking east; CPW Photo/Dean Miller
4999- Signs mark the way with safety information along the Fishers Peak State Park summit trail; CPW Photo/Dean Miller
5057- The view from the 9,633-foot summit of Fishers Peak, looking northeast to Trinidad Lake State Park and the Spanish Peaks; CPW Photo/Dean Miller
3215- The view from the 9,633-foot summit of Fishers Peak, looking northeast to Trinidad Lake State Park and the Spanish Peaks; CPW Photo/Dean Miller
5085- The U.S. Department of Agriculture marker on the 9,633-foot summit of Fishers Peak, looking northeast to Trinidad Lake State Park and the Spanish Peaks; CPW Photo/Dean Miller
3170- The view from the 9,633-foot summit trail at the top of Fishers Peak, looking northwest; CPW Photo/Dean Miller
8158- Signs mark the way with safety information along the Fishers Peak State Park summit trail; CPW Photo/Dean Miller
3251- The view from the 9,633-foot summit trail at the top of Fishers Peak, looking southeast to James M. John State Wildlife Area; CPW Photo/Dean Miller
8265- The U.S. Department of Agriculture marker on the 9,633-foot summit of Fishers Peak, looking northeast to Trinidad Lake State Park and the Spanish Peaks; CPW Photo/Dean Miller
3109- Colorado Parks and Wildlife Seasonal Park Technician Joe Kozlowicz and La Veta Trails Volunteer Adam Bataia clear overgrowth from the final mile of the summit trail on the east side of Fishers Peak on July 29; CPW Photo/Dean Miller
8136- The east face of Fishers Peak as seen from the final mile of the summit trail; CPW Photo/Dean Miller
8146- The view from the Fishers Peak summit trail looking northeast to the James M. John State Wildlife Area; CPW Photo/Dean Miller
7944- Fishers Peak rises 9,633 feet above Fishers Peak State Park, viewed from a park service road; CPW Photo/Dean Miller
8067- The Fishers Peak 2026 summit trail maintenance team: Front: Colorado Parks and Wildlife Seasonal Park Technician Joe Kozlowicz, Back, L to R: La Veta Trails Volunteers Adam Bataia and Andy Brannon, CPW Southeast Region Trails Coordinator Tappan Brown, Fishers Peak State Park Manager Crystal Dreiling, La Veta Trails Volunteer Cory O’Brian, Seasonal Park Technician Jenn Green, and Park Resource Technician Rachel Bentz; CPW Photo/Dean Miller
5048- Park Manager Crystal Dreiling inspects the trail on the summit of Fishers Peak; CPW Photo/Dean Miller
3162- Park Manager Crystal Dreiling, Park Resource Manager Rachel Bents and Seasonal Park Technician Jenn Green observe an aggregation of ladybugs on at the summit of Fishers Peak; CPW Photo/Dean Miller
5041- The view from the Fishers Peak summit looking southwest; CPW Photo/Dean Miller
8312- On the final steps to the summit of Fishers Peak, looking back at the James M. John State Wildlife Area; CPW Photo/Dean Miller
7935- Fishers Peak rises 9,633 feet above Fishers Peak State Park, viewed from a park service road; CPW Photo/Dean Miller
5067- The view from the 9,633-foot summit of Fishers Peak, looking southwest; CPW Photo/Dean Miller
8264- The U.S. Department of Agriculture marker on the 9,633-foot summit of Fishers Peak, looking northeast to Trinidad Lake State Park and the Spanish Peaks as Park Resource Technician Rachel Bentz inspects the trail on the summit of Fishers Peak; CPW Photo/Dean Miller
8168- Seasonal Park Technician Jenn Green takes in the view steps from the summit of Fishers Peak with the James M. John State Wildlife Area in the background; CPW Photo/Dean Miller
8260- The U.S. Department of Agriculture marker on the 9,633-foot summit of Fishers Peak; CPW Photo/Dean Miller
3364- La Veta Trails volunteer Andy Brannon clears overgrowth from the final mile of the summit trail on the east side of Fishers Peak on July 29; CPW Photo/Dean Miller
7942- Fishers Peak rises 9,633 feet above Fishers Peak State Park, viewed from a park service road; CPW Photo/Dean Miller
8315- Colorado Parks and Wildlife Southeast Region Trails Coordinator Tappan Brown descends Fishers Peak after the trail maintenance team completed their inspection and clearing the Summit Trail.
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