The landscape around Spanish Peaks Country didn’t happen by accident.
Those dramatic dikes radiating outward from the Spanish Peaks. The volcanic buttes rising unexpectedly from the plains. The rugged rock formations shaped over millions of years. Every ridge, canyon, and horizon line holds a deeper story—one written in lava, pressure, and time.
Now, there’s a new way to understand it.
A New Way to See the Land
The La Veta Trails has launched a Geoheritage Initiative designed to connect people more deeply to the land they’re exploring.
Through scenic trails, guided experiences, and science-backed storytelling, the initiative helps visitors and locals alike understand what they’re actually looking at—and how it all came to be. It transforms a simple hike or scenic drive into something richer: a journey through geologic time.
If you’ve ever stood beneath the Spanish Peaks and wondered how did this happen?—this is your starting point.
Walsenburg Comes Alive: Porchfest + Far Out Murals
On May 23, Walsenburg transforms into something pretty special.
From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Porchfest + Far Out Murals takes over downtown, and it’s completely free.
Live music spills out from porches, patios, and street corners while large-scale murals come to life in real time across the town’s walls. Add in vendors, yard sales, and that unmistakable small-town energy, and you’ve got a day that feels both spontaneous and unforgettable.
A Perfect Day in La Veta
Head to La Veta for a day that blends history, culture, and music.
The Francisco Fort Museum opens for the season on May 21, welcoming visitors Thursday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Step inside and experience the stories that shaped this region, preserved in one of Colorado’s oldest adobe structures.
Admission is free (donations help keep the doors open), making it an easy and meaningful stop.
And just next door? The La Veta Mercantile, where live performances fill the calendar all summer long. It’s the kind of place where you can catch an intimate show and feel like you’ve discovered something special.
Art, History, and Celebration: July in the Valley
This summer, Art in the Park returns to La Veta on July 3 and 4, and this year carries extra significance.
The Spanish Peaks Arts Council celebrates its 50th anniversary, alongside major milestones for Colorado (150), Huerfano County (165) , and the nation (250).
The annual arts and crafts fair brings together handmade goods, original artwork, and local food in the heart of town. Pair that with Independence Day parades—La Veta on the 3rd and Cuchara on the 4th—and the entire valley comes alive with celebration.
The Road Less Taken: Medano Pass
Sure, Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve might be the destination, but Medano Pass is the kind of route that makes you rethink the entire journey.
When the pass opens, the drive through Spanish Peaks Country becomes an adventure of its own. Expect creek crossings, rugged backcountry terrain, and views you simply won’t find from the highway.
Start in Walsenburg, where murals and history invite you to slow down. Then take your time rolling through Gardner, letting the landscape unfold at its own pace.
Come See It for Yourself
Spanish Peaks Country isn’t just a place you visit, it’s a place you begin to understand.
From geologic wonders to front-porch concerts, from historic forts to high-mountain backroads, every experience here connects you more deeply to the land and the people who call it home.
This summer, take the scenic route.