At 2,492 acres, Lory State Park is actually bigger by land area than the nearby Horsetooth Reservoir. Combined with Horsetooth Mountain Open Space, and additional 2,700-acre preserve directly adjacent to Lory to the south, it spans from Satanka Cove to Inlet Bay on the Horsetooth Reservoir’s western edge and its trail network covers 55 miles.
The Horsetooth Reservoir is exceedingly popular, garnering 500,000 visitors annually, and many of these visitors pass through Lory State Park. Considered alone, Lory State Park offers 29 miles of trail. Those on the east side of the park offer access to Horsetooth Reservoir’s coves, including Soldier Cove and Eltuck Bay. Their open waters attract kayakers and paddlers, many of whom use the North Eltuck Bay parking lot as a boat launch for non-motorized craft. Without a boat ramp, motorized boats are forced to launch elsewhere, and put-ins at the coves are just a short walk from the parking lot.
The remaining trails in Lory State Park are gently graded loops shorter than 2.5 miles. Most of its trails are open to mountain biking and horseback riding, and the challenging Howard and Timber trails are recommended for expert riders. Additionally, the Corral Center Mountain Bike Park is a year round destination for mountain bikers, offering dirt jumps and a pump track on grounds that were converted from an old corral.
Lory State Park also includes an equestrian park. More than 40 jumps were restored in 2015 and include several different styles, including portable jumps, log piles, ramps, and cabins, bunkers, rollmops, corner jumps, trakehners, beer barrels, and picnic tables. Jump heights range from 24 to 39 inches, and the difficulty spans from Intro to Training levels, corresponding with the U.S. Eventing Association.
Six backcountry campsites are also available in Lory State Park on a first-come, first-served basis.
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