Mueller

Nearby Attractions In addition to the sites and activities within Mueller State Park, the region has many attractions within a short driving distance. The historic mining towns of Cripple Creek and Victor can be reached by taking a scenic drive along Highway 67 south. The area offers mine tours, gold panning, rides on the narrow gauge railroad and limited stakes gambling. Pikes Peak, America’s mountain, towers 14,110 feet directly east of the Park. It can be reached by taking Highway 24 east to the turnoff in Cascade. Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument with volcanic fossils of plants, insects and giant redwoods is 12 miles west of the park. Eleven Mile and Spinney Mountain State Parks, located near Lake George, consistently produce some of the best trout fishing in the state. Colorado Springs, about 30 miles east of the park has a variety of local attractions, including the U.S. Air Force Academy, Garden of the Gods, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, Cave of the Winds and the U.S. Olympic Complex Training Center. C O L O R A D O PA R K S & W I L D L I F E Mueller State Park ENJOY YOUR STATE PARKS Community Facilities Gas, groceries, restaurants, gifts, lodging and religious facilities are available in the nearby communities of Divide, (4 miles to the north), Woodland Park (11 miles to the east), Cripple Creek (15 miles to the south) and Victor (17 miles to the south). Location Map Mueller State Park Passes and Permits Mueller State Park PO Box 39 • Divide, CO (719) 687-2366 • mueller.park@state.co.us cpw.state.co.us Funded in part by Great Outdoors Colorado through Colorado Lottery proceeds. CPW_SEMU_3/17 W elcome to Mueller State Park. You are surrounded by over 5,000 acres of spring-fed meadows, forested ridges and massive rock of Pikes Peak Granite. The Visitor Center is the information hub of the park and is an excellent starting point for your adventure at Mueller. Here you will find wildlife, forestry and historical exhibits to wander through at your leisure. Between May and September, educational programs may be offered at the center auditorium or the campground amphitheater. The park supports a variety of plant-life ranging from native grasses and wildflowers to stands of spruce, fir, pine and aspen. Elk, mule deer, bear and many small mammals and birds share the park’s habitat. The park’s topography varies from dense forest stands of conifer and aspen to rolling grasslands interrupted by dramatic rock outcroppings. This contrast results from an ancient up-thrust of Pikes Peak to the east and volcanic action to the west. Once hunting grounds of the Ute Indians, pioneers settled the land in the 1860s. Prospectors trampled through the land during the Gold Rush to Cripple Creek and Victor. Lumber was harvested for nearby towns, mines and railroads. Cattle grazing and farming were occasionally supplemented by bootlegging, horse thievery and cattle rustling. The former owners, the Mueller family, designated their cattle ranch as a game preserve. Today, resident elk flourish as a result of this protection. Visitors may enjoy year-round outdoor activities including camping, picnicking, hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, wildlife viewing and nature studies. Winter activities include snowshoeing and ski touring. Every season is a photographer’s delight. cpw.state.co.us Visitors to Mueller State Park are required to display a current Colorado State Parks Pass on their windshield. A daily pass is valid from the day purchased until noon the following day. An annual pass is valid at any Colorado State Park. For annual pass holders who own additional vehicles, multiple passes are available at a reduced fee. An Aspen Leaf annual pass is available to Colorado seniors at a discounted rate. Passes are available at the park entrance, or at the visitor center. Colorado disabled veterans displaying Colorado Disabled Veteran (DV) license plates are admitted free without a pass. A current fee schedule for Colorado State Parks is available online at www.cpw.state.co.us. In addition to a parks pass, campers are required to purchase and display a camping permit at their campsite. Picnicking The park has four scenic picnic areas along Revenuer’s Ridge. Picnic areas include barbecue grills and tables. Three of the four picnic areas also have drinking water and restrooms. Camping/Cabins The campground is located in a picturesque forest setting of spruce, fir and aspen with panoramic views of the Rocky Mountains. The park has three fully furnished rental cabins and 134 campsites including 22 walk-in tent sites, a reservable group campground and 2 equestrian sites for horse campers only. The campground can accommodate motor homes, trailers and tents. A camper services facility with flush restrooms, coin-operated showers and laundry facilities is centrally located in the campground. All sites, except the walk-in tent sites, have electric hookups. Water hydrants with drinking water are available throughout the campground. There are no sewer hookups, but a dump station is available. Please use this facility. It is illegal to dump any waste or sewage, including dishwater, on the ground or vegetation. To reserve a campsite or cabin, call (303) 470-1144 in Denver, outside Denver, 1-800-678-CAMP (2267) or online at www.cpw.state.co.us. Trails Over 44 miles of trails invite visitors to explore the park’s natural and historical resources. Trails vary from short, leisurely walks to challenging, full-day hikes. Most trails are open to hikers, mountain bikers and equestrians with a few ecologically fragile areas restricted to hikers only. A horse-trailer parking and unloading area is provided. Winter ski touring and snowshoeing can be enjoyed on a variety of terrain. There are 37 trails in the park. Each trail is named and numbered. Trail users should use established and marked trails. Trailhead and parking areas are easily accessible from the main roads in the park. Trail maps are available at the Visitor Center and park entrance. Fishing and Hunting Dragonfly Pond is stocked once a year for Outdoor Skills Day. Other park ponds such as Rock Pond, Brook Pond and Geer Pond have small populations of Brook Trout. Most ponds can be reached by hiking 1½ to 2 miles into the backcountry. A Colorado fishing license is required and Colorado Parks and Wildlife regulations apply. Fishing with flies and lures is strongly encouraged. If you return fish to the water put them back alive! Hunting is limited and controlled. Information on seasons and regulations is available from Park Rangers and the Visitor Center. During the period from the Tuesday after Labor Day and continuing through the Friday prior to Memorial Day, any lawful method of controlled hunting may be used. Please refer to the park's hunting flyers for specific information. Target shooting is always prohibited!! Mueller State Park Help Protect Your Park We would like you to feel as much at home at Mueller as the wildlife of the park. To help us conserve park resources and to promote your safety, we must insist that you please respect the following: 1. Motor vehicles are permitted only on designated roads, parking areas and the pavement at campsites. 2.  F  ires must be attended in person by an adult at all times and extinguished when not attended. 3.  P  ets are prohibited on all trails, anywhere in the backcountry and at all ponds. 4.  C  amping is permitted in designated campsites in the improved campground only. 5.  U  se proper receptacles for trash, sewage and wastewater. Food is required to be properly stored so as not to attract bears or other wildlife. Feeding wildlife is prohibited by law. 6.  D  own and dead wood may be used in grills and fire rings, but fuel wood may not be removed from the park. Firewood may be purchased at the entrance stations. 7.  S hore fishing is permitted at ponds unless otherwise posted. No water body contact, boating or tubing is allowed. 8.  Q  uiet hours are enforced from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. for the comfort of all campers. 9.  D  ay use hours are 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. Report any problems or direct inquiries to a Park Ranger Nature Programs and Hikes The park offers three self-guided nature trails. A brochure is available at the beginning of the Wapiti Trail and allows visitors to learn about the park’s ecological resources at their own pace. The Northern Meadow loop has interpretive signs regarding wildlife and habitats. The Dragonfly Trail is a children’s nature trail. Ranger-led hikes and activities are offered year round and amphitheater programs are presented during the summer. Posted schedules give details, times and locations. To learn more about wildlife, geology and history, visitors are encouraged to view the interpretive exhibits at the Visitor Center. Cautions The park’s high altitude and mountainous terrain require visitors to take precautions against: • Overexertion: Allow extra time and rest occasionally. • Dehydration: The climate is dry; take water along; do not drink from streams or ponds. • U ltraviolet Rays: The sun is a greater factor at this altitude. Wear protective clothing, sunscreen and sunglasses. • Hypothermia: Weather can change rapidly. Take warm, water-repellent clothing. • Lightning: Storms occur frequently in the region. During threatening skies and weather, seek shelter and avoid hilltops or tall or isolated trees. • Precipitous Rocks and Old Mines: Avoid edges, watch footing and supervise children carefully. • Avoid Getting Lost: It is recommended that trail users have a trail map with them. Dragonfly Pond Emergencies Park Rangers are trained and equipped to give first aid. Assistance can also be obtained at the Visitor Center. In an emergency, an ambulance can be summoned by dialing 911 on any phone. A medical emergency room facility is located in Woodland Park, 9.2 miles from the Park.