Pets allowed
Allowed
Guided tours
No
Backcountry camping
No
Lodging
No
Please respect the outdoors by practicing Leave No Trace. Learn more about how to apply the principles of Leave No Trace on your next outdoor adventure here.

Encompassing 5,000 acres west of Pikes Peak, Mueller State Park is a Rocky Mountain destination for horseback riders, mountain bikers, and wildlife watchers. The park and the surrounding region served as hunting grounds for the Ute Indians until pioneers settled the area in the 1860s. Prospectors quickly followed, and the area once had a population of around 50,000. The park encompasses the former Mueller family cattle ranch.

The park offers a large network of horseback riding and mountain biking trails that wind through a dense forest of spruce, aspen, and fir. On-site at Mueller State Park is a large equestrian facility, and both horseback riders and mountain bikers will find a trail network that extends for 36 miles of mix-and-match routes that can easily be lengthened for longer rides. Hikers will find additional pedestrian-only trails to enjoy. Much of the park is relatively flat and forested, but occasional views, like those from the Mueller State Park Visitor Center, showcase the surrounding Rocky Mountains, including Pikes Peak, Mount Ouray, and Pahlone Peak to the southwest. During the winter, Mueller State Park’s trails become ideal for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. 

Mueller State Park also offers learning opportunities for those interested in Rocky Mountain ecology. The Wapiti Trail is a self-guided interpretive nature trail, and brochures at the trailhead detail the park’s flora and fauna. The Mueller State Park Visitor Center offers its own exhibits, including mounted animal displays and tree samples. During the summer season, the park’s amphitheater presents educational programs. Wildlife at the park includes elk, black bear, hawks, and mule deer.

The campground at Mueller State Park is one of the largest in the area, offering 119 campsites and three fully furnished cabins. The large sites are ideal for RVs, and all sites provide electrical hookups with the exception of walk-in sites.

Hunting is allowed in the park during the winter season—check with park authorities for dates. Dragonfly Pond is stocked once annually; Rock Pond, Brook Pond, and Geer Pond have small trout populations.

Logistics + Planning

Preferable season(s)

Spring
Summer
Fall

Congestion

High

Parking Pass

State Park Fee

Pros

119-site campground. Premium large cabins. Extensive horseback riding and mountain biking trail network.

Cons

Trails have limited views (overgrown vegetation).

Features

Campgrounds + Campsites
Showers
Amphitheater
Flushing toilets
Mountain biking
Potable water
Picnic tables
Horseshoes
Horseback riding
Playground

Site type

Full hookups
Cabins

Location

Comments

10/08/2017
This past fall we took a quick day trip up to Mueller to enjoy the last of the aspens and we weren't disappointed. The park its self is absolutely gorgeous while still remaining very accessible to visitors still acclimating. There are several long, gently rolling trails that are fantastic for running if you're looking to do some altitude training too.
07/15/2016
Love Mueller we stayed at walk in site 107, 108, 109. A bit of a haul with a lot of stuff but worth it . Great car camping place
07/01/2017
Love Mueller . We have made this our first camping trip for 2 year since it is not too far from home. Good first trip and great scenic walk in tent camping
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