| Sugarite Canyon State Park | |
| Status: | Recognized | Area: | 5000 acres (2025 hectares) |
| County: | Colfax | Elevation: | 6900-8320 feet (2100-2535 meters) |
| Town: | Raton | Location: | 36°57.33’N, 104°22.78’W |
| Ownership | New Mexico State Parks, HCR 63, Box 386, Raton NM 87740, 505-445-5607 |
| Habitats | Forest (riparian, pine, temperate coniferous), Grassland (low, seasonally wet), Rocky areas |
| Land-use | Water management, Recreation, Hunting |
| Threats | Non-native animals |
| Site Criteria | State conservation species (D1) |
| Site Description |
Sugarite Canyon State Park, once the site of a thriving coal-mining camp, was established
as a state park in 1985, but the canyon has been a recreational attraction in
northeastern New Mexico for decades. Sugarite Canyon State Park is located about
5 miles northeast of Raton via NM-72 and NM-526 (paved). The elevation in the
park ranges from about 6,900 ft to 8,400 ft. This heavily wooded mountain park
has something for everyone year round. Trails are maintained through the ruins
of the settlement and past coal dumps and mines.
Sugarite is believed to be the anglicized version of Chicarica, the original name of the canyon and adjacent mesa. Chicarica is derived from either the Spanish name, chicory, for the wild endive plant growing in the canyon or from the Comanche or Ute name for a species of spotted bird which lived in the canyon. Sugarite Canyon State Park is part of the Raton Basin, a structural basin that extends from Cimarron, New Mexico, northeastward to Huerfano Park, Colorado, about 100 mi long and as much as 60 mi wide. The basin formed during Laramide deformation between about 70 and 50 million years ago as the San Luis Highland rose to the west. Erosion of the highlands during and after uplift provided sediment that filled the basin. The Sugarite coal is bituminous and almost 6 ft thick. It is noncoking but has a high heating value and burns freely without much clinker. The Sugarite mines were tunnels driven into the hillside along the coal seams. The area contains a narrowleaf cottonwood riparian area. Scrub areas include New Mexico locust and Gambel oak. Ponderosa Pine forests and spruce-aspen forests dominate the uplands. Lake Maloya provides habitat for Bald Eagles in winter. Old mining camps have historic/cultural significance. Comanche/Kiowa usage and occupation is evident. There is high recreation use by locals. |
| Birds | Home to a few Bald Eagle in winter. There are large numbers of MacGillvary's Warbler and Green-tailed Towhee. The area has many Western Bluebirds. Other priority species breed as well. Excellent example of intact high-elevation riparian habitat. |
| Conservation Issues | Feral cats. Too large an elk population. |
| Conservation Plan | |
| Monitor(s) | None assigned |
| Nominator | Rob Yaksich, 1321 Columbia Dr. NE, Albuquerque NM 87106, 505-268-7724 |
| Sources | Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) |
| Links |
Sugarite Canyon State Park eBird New Mexico Hot Spot |
| Directions | From I-25 in Raton, take NM72 east to NM-526 north to the park. |
| Species | Year | Status | Population | Sources | Criteria |
| Bald Eagle | 2 individuals | D1 | |||
| Cordilleran Flycatcher | 01 | 10 individuals | D1 | ||
| Green-tailed Towhee | 01 | 22 individuals | D1 | ||
| Lewis' Woodpecker | 01 | 2 individuals | D1 | ||
| MacGillivray's Warbler | 01 | 18 individuals | D1 | ||
| Mountain Bluebird | 01 | 5 individuals | D1 | ||
| Plumbeous Vireo | 01 | 2 individuals | D1 | ||
| Virginia's Warbler | 01 | 23 individuals | D1 | ||
| Western Bluebird | 01 | 2 individuals | D1 |
