August is one of the best months to get back to some place new. The days are warm, the evenings cool off just right, and the four towns of Spanish Peaks Country are full of reasons to make the drive. Whether you come to ride, to explore the geology that shaped this landscape, or simply to catch live music with the Spanish Peaks as your backdrop, here is what to put on your August calendar in Walsenburg, La Veta, Cuchara, and Gardner.
1. The Stonewall Century Ride Rolls Out August 8
If you love cycling, or you just love cheering on the people who do, mark August 8 for the 23rd Annual Stonewall Century Ride. This is a 102-mile route that starts in La Veta and follows the Highway of Legends Scenic Byway through some of the most stunning terrain in southern Colorado.
The ride climbs past ancient volcanic formations, through San Isabel National Forest, and over mountain passes, all under the watch of the twin Spanish Peaks. It is a serious challenge for serious riders, and a great reason to spend the weekend in the valley whether you are pedaling or watching from the roadside. Grab a folding chair, find a good vantage point along Highway 12, and take in the view. You can find route details and registration on the Stonewall Century Ride event page.
2. Walk the Ground That Volcanoes Built
The dramatic rock lines radiating out from the Spanish Peaks are not just scenery. They are the great dikes, the eroded remains of volcanic activity that shaped this landscape roughly 25 million years ago. Volcanic buttes rise straight out of the plains, and long walls of rock reach across the valley like spokes from a wheel. It is one of the most distinctive geologic settings in the country, and August is a wonderful time to get out and see it up close.
La Veta Trails has launched a Geoheritage Initiative to help visitors understand what they are standing on. It connects the land you are walking to the forces that shaped it, with trails, guided experiences, and the science behind the scenery across Huerfano and Las Animas Counties. If you have ever wanted to read a landscape like a story, this is your invitation. Learn more and plan your visit at lavetatrails.org/geoheritage.
3. Live Music at La Veta Mercantile
There is nothing quite like a warm August evening and live music in a small mountain town. La Veta Mercantile has become one of the best places in southern Colorado to catch a show, with a summer lineup that keeps the stage busy right through the month. From folk and blues to swing and roots, there is almost always something playing.
Make an evening of it. Grab dinner, settle in, and let the night unfold with the Spanish Peaks just outside the door. Browse the schedule and pick up tickets at lavetamercantile.simpletix.com.
4. Planning an EV Road Trip? We Have You Covered
More travelers than ever are exploring Colorado in electric vehicles, and Spanish Peaks Country is an easy and rewarding place to do it. Before you set out, take a look at our EV charging guide, which maps out where to plug in as you make your way through the region and along the Highway of Legends.
A little planning means you can spend less time worrying about range and more time doing what you came for, whether that is a long scenic drive, a day on the trails, or an afternoon wandering a Main Street.
Already Thinking About Fall?
If August has you wanting more, the calendar only gets better. Labor Day weekend kicks things off with Mountain Mining Days in downtown Walsenburg on Saturday, September 5. This 13th annual celebration of the region’s mining heritage opens with a Main Street parade at 10 a.m., then rolls into a street fair along West 6th Street and Miner’s Plaza with live music, food vendors, pop-up shops, and activities for kids all day long.
The music keeps going when the Spanish Peaks International Celtic Music Festival returns September 17 through 20, with world-class performances, ceilidh dancing, and hands-on workshops in music, dance, and storytelling. Closing out the month, the Walsenburg Farm and Makers Market caps its season on Sunday, September 27 with a special aerial artist performance high above the stalls at Heritage Park, a festive send-off to a summer of Sundays. Then on October 3, La Veta Oktoberfest brings the biergarten, live bands, a classic car show, and more than 100 artisanal vendors to town. Every one is worth building a return trip around, so go ahead and pencil them in now.
Plan Your Spanish Peaks Country Getaway
August in Spanish Peaks Country is big rides, ancient rock, live music, and open road, all within a short drive of one another. For the full lineup of what is happening across the four towns, check the events calendar and start planning your trip. Come find it while the season is at its best. We will see you out here.