Experiences
Where to See Fall Colors in Spanish Peaks Country
If you’ve traveled to other parts of Colorado and come to Spanish Peaks Country for the first time, you might find yourself surprised and delighted by how diverse, rich, and stunning the landscape is. From Spanish Peaks Country’s unique geological features to its fertile fields and green mountains, the region is one of Colorado’s most [...]
Colorado Stargazing: Experience the Night
In 2019, The Huerfano County Tourism Board partnered with The Headwaters Alliance, San Luis Valley Museum Association, and Custer County Tourism Board to create and launch Colorado Stargazing: Experience the Night, a self-guided stargazing tour found at www.Colorado.com/ColoradoStargazing. Colorado Stargazing: Experience the Night connects seven Colorado locations known for their dark skies and incredible stargazing [...]
Cuchara Mountain Park
In today’s ski industry, mega resorts are buying up the little guys so quickly, it’s easy to forget that not long ago, most ski areas were small, individual businesses dedicated to the skier. But over the years, these mom-and-pop hills were bought by non-skiers who often ran the mountains out of business. At the same [...]
Spanish Peaks Country Campground Map
Looking for a place to set up a tent? Park a camper? This handy map will show you all the places you can do just that. Campgrounds Purgatoire Campground Blue Lake Campground Bear Lake Campground Cordova Pass Campground Dakota Campground Yucca Campground at Lathrop State Park Pinon Campground at Lathrop State Park La Vista Campground [...]
Birding in Spanish Peaks Country
Birding is enjoyable and easy. It happens naturally in people curious about life in nature. Seeing the brilliant yellow warbler or orange oriole in nature's green summer garb is exciting and a joyous event! Children especially will remember this experience. Most birders carry a guidebook or smart phone "app" and binoculars to help clearly see [...]
Morel Mushrooms Grow Like Wildfire in The Spring Creek Burn Scars
Chase the burn in Spanish Peaks Country where “burn” morel mushrooms are almost guaranteed to sprout from the giant burn scars left in the wake of the 2018 Spring Creek Fire, which ravaged parts of La Veta and beyond in 2018. The Spring Creek Fire damaged 108,000 acres, making it the third largest wildfire in [...]
Waterfalls of Spanish Peaks Country
Add a little extra flavor to your next hike by discovering a waterfall at the end of it. Apache Falls The Apache Falls are in the Greenhorn Mountain Wilderness, northwest of Walsenburg. While the hike is beautiful, it can take several hours, so be prepared. Nonetheless, the waterfall that pours from the cliffs creates a [...]
Cuchara Recreation Area
Cuchara Recreation Area gives outdoor enthusiasts a myriad of choices, such as picnicking, hiking and walking, hunting, lake fishing, and four-wheeling. The Cuchara Day Use Areas include four picnic areas. These sites are located along Forest Road 422, on Cuchara Creek, within the first two miles of the road. This is a popular summer destination [...]
Spanish Peaks Country Scenery
Spanish Peaks Country in Southern Colorado is a magical place unlike the rest of Colorado. While you may have traveled throughout the state, over passes, around mountains, across plains, and below mesas, there’s nothing quite like the fertile valley that sweeps across the lower half of Spanish Peaks Country or the unique geological features that [...]
Southern Colorado Astronomical Park
Just one mile west of La Veta is the Southern Colorado Astronomical Park, a crossroads of ancient and modern astronomy, including a stone calendar and two observatory structures. The land on which the park sits was donated to the Southern Colorado Astronomical Society for the purposes of education, research, and enjoyment by all. Here, you [...]
Spanish Peaks Country’s Farmers and Artisans Markets
Spanish Peaks Country offers a variety of markets featuring locally grown food and hand-crafted goods. Check out any one of the following markets. La Veta Farmers Market Website Thursdays, 3 pm to 6 pm Mid-May through Mid-October Location: La Veta Library/Francisco Fort Museum Courtyard The La Veta Farmers Market is a vibrant market venue, offering [...]
Spanish Peaks Country’s State Trust Lands and Wildlife Areas
State Trust Lands Blackhawk - GMU 85 Directions: From Walsenburg go south on -25 to exit 42, Rouse Road. Turn west and then immediately south. The road will turn west again and cross the railroad tracks. Go through the town of Pryor, stay straight, and head past the entry feature at Blackhawk Ranch. The parking [...]
Lake Isabel
Lake Isabel is a favorite vacation spot in the southern Wet Mountains, offering picnic areas, a campground, and several parking areas scattered around the lake. There is also a number of private vacation homes on the north shore and cabins you can rent at “the Lodge.” The lake welcomes non-motorized boats for fishing in waters [...]
Cordova Pass
Cordova Pass sits on the western shoulder of the West Spanish Peak, rises to an elevation of 11,2560 feet, and lies just outside the Spanish Peaks Wilderness. Cordova Pass is reached via the Apishapa Road, a leg of the Scenic Highway of Legends. Most of the time, the pass may be traversed by passenger vehicles, [...]
Blue Lake Campground
Blue Lake Campground, located at 10,440 feet in elevation, has a beautiful little lake ideal for fishing. This rustic campground has 16 campsites, each with a table and fire ring. Some are shaded; others provide full sunlight. An on-site camp host offers firewood bundles for sale. Vault toilets and drinking water are available. No electric [...]
Bear Lake Campground
Bear Lake Campground is located in the beautiful San Isabel National Forest at an elevation of 10,480 ft. Views of the nearby Culebra Mountain Range with aspen and spruce forests offer campers a genuine Colorado experience. This rustic campground has 14 campsites, each with a table and fire ring. Some are shaded while others provide [...]
Farley Wildflower Overlook
Farley Wildflower Overlook is a pull-off on Cordova Pass Road just east of the summit of Cucharas Pass. The view of the meadow from the Overlook is simply spectacular as it’s a riot of color throughout wildflower season. There are three large, interpretive boards at the Overlook, a view of West Spanish Peak, and a [...]
Pass Creek Pass
Pass Creek Pass is a hidden gem in western Huerfano County. It crosses the Sierra Blanca ridge from Costilla County in the south to the Upper Huerfano River Valley in the north. Along the way, it passes through a simply beautiful countryside with some very interesting geology. The mountains to the west of Pass Creek [...]
Trails in and Around the Great Sand Dunes National Park
There are so many ways to enjoy the dunes, and if you're the type who likes to explore, these trails might be perfect for your next Great Sand Dunes adventure. Medano Creek Trail In spring and summer, there’s water in Medano Creek at the base of the dunes. Everyone seems to enjoy playing in this [...]
San Isabel National Forest
San Isabel National Forest is one of eleven National Forests in Colorado. The Forest includes over one million acres of beautiful scenery with snow-capped mountain peaks, spring wildflowers, autumn colors, crystal clear mountain lakes, and clear blue skies to enjoy. Prior to the establishment of the forest, the presence of American Indians, Spanish Land Grants, homesteading, and the [...]
The Apishapa Valley Heritage Center
If you find yourself in Aguilar, be sure to stop by the Apishapa Valley Heritage Center, open each summer season until early September. The center is open Thursday through Saturday from 10 am to 2 pm and also by appointment by calling 719-680-1393. Learn the history of the area, enjoy photos of mining and people, [...]
Wahatoya Lakes State Wildlife Area
The Wahatoya Lakes State Wildlife Area—one mile east of La Veta on Bear Creek Road—offers the perfect respite for fishing, picnicking, hiking, wildlife viewing, and non-motorized boating. The main trail at this 203-acre state wildlife area meanders through fields, woods, and into a deep arroyo on the south side. There is a by-pass trail for [...]
Greenhorn Mountain Wilderness Area
What was once an area made of homesteads and cattle ranches in now the Greenhorn Mountain Wilderness Area. Designate by Congress in 1993, the wilderness area totals 23,087 acres, some of which lay on the plains of northern Huerfano county and others which rise from 7,600 feet in elevation to 12,347 feet at its peak. [...]
Bishop’s Castle
Bishop’s Castle is located in neighboring Custer County along the Frontier Pathways Scenic Byway and is an excellent addition to any trip to Custer County or nearby Mission: Wolf. Bishop’s Castle is an elaborate and intricate one-man project named after its constructor, Jim Bishop, that has become a roadside attraction. Tucked in the forest, visitors [...]
Alamosa
Head over La Veta Pass from Walsenburg and discover Alamosa and all it has to offer, from authentic local cuisine to historic train rides through the Rocky Mountains. This city has a unique combination of attractions, most notably the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, which brings nearly half a million visitors annually. Other [...]
Trinidad Lake State Park
Trinidad Lake State Park, just west of Trinidad and nestled in in the foothills of the Culebra Range of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, is an ideal hub for exploring beautiful Southern Colorado and for escaping the crowds that tend to fill other Colorado State Parks. Although the park sits at 6,3000 feet in elevation, [...]
Custer County
Custer County lies directly northwest of Huerfano County and is joined with Spanish Peaks Country via Highway 69. The towns of Westcliffe/Silver Cliff are the most populated towns in Custer County, although they are still very rural with many of their residents still relying on ranching for their income. Westcliffe/Silver Cliff are tucked in the [...]
OHVing in Spanish Peaks Country
Relieve stress, enjoy Southern Colorado's great weather, spend time with family and friends, and have loads of fun on a four-wheeling adventure. Spanish Peaks Country offers miles of trails for the novice and experienced rider. From open meadows to forested trails, an OHV ride will showcase the region’s famous landscapes. #1 & #2 - Cuchara [...]
Biking in Spanish Peaks Country
Spanish Peaks Country is gorgeous, and what better way to soak it all in than on a bike? Whether you’re into a mellow ride or something more intense, the towns of Walsenburg, La Veta, and Cuchara have the trail for you! For more information, visit www.LaVetaTrails.com. Take your cruiser or road bike on the following [...]
Frontier Pathways Scenic & Historic Byway
The wishbone-shaped Frontier Pathways Scenic & Historic Byway starts in Pueblo, travels west into Westcliffe/Silver Cliff, and then south into Colorado City. The two-lane highway is 103 miles long and showcases pastoral landscapes, the Sangre de Cristo Mountain Range, sharp mesas, Hardscrabble Canyon, and the Arkansas River. Once in the San Isabel National Forest, views [...]
Francisco Center for the Performing Arts
The Spoon River Players performed its first play, The Silver Whistle, on July 31, 1976 in an old, 1892 Presbyterian church on Francisco Street. William H. Adamson built the white, wooden church for $1,200. It initially contained two rooms, a 38-foot by 40-foot audience room, and a second 16-foot by 22-foot room. In 1893, the [...]
Spanish Peaks Birding Trail
Colorado Parks and Wildlife began building the statewide Colorado Birding Trail in 2000, connecting points rich in birds and wildlife. The trail now consists of three regions—Western Colorado, Rocky Mountains, and Eastern Plains. It's in the Rocky Mountain region that you'll find the Spanish Peaks Birding Trail. The Spanish Peaks Birding Trail follows the Highway [...]
La Veta Pass
La Veta Pass (more properly known as North La Veta Pass) bridges the Sangre de Cristo Mountains between the eastern plains and the San Luis Valley at an elevation of 9,413 feet. It lies 1.6 miles northeast of Old La Veta pass and is now accessed via Highway 160. Old La Veta Pass was once [...]
Walsenburg and La Veta Parks
Spanish Peaks Country’s public parks serve a vital role for locals and visitors alike. From baseball fields and playgrounds to skate parks and basketball courts, there’s something for everyone. Whether you live in town or are visiting for a day or two, be sure to check out one of our parks to play, relax, or [...]
Walsenburg Wild Waters
Beat the heat at Walsenburg Wild Waters, Spanish Peaks Country’s family-friendly water park. With three different pools, a lazy river, two giant water slides, and interactive water features including fountains, sprays, and dumping bucket, you’re sure to have a splashin’ good time at Walsenburg Wild Waters! The water park’s zero-entry pool allows the youngest of [...]
La Veta Art Galleries
La Veta may be small and laid-back, but it’s also the art hub of the Spanish Peaks Region. Galleries featuring local, national, and international artists dot La Veta’s quaint Main Street. Art lovers are encouraged to spend time in La Veta and check out the following galleries. #1 - Shalawalla Gallery, Gift Shop, and School [...]
Cuchara Trails
Cuchara, with its lush, pine forests, is made for hiking. Plan your next weekend getaway to Cuchara and spend your days lost in nature on any one of the following trails. #1 - Spring Creek Trail 10 miles | Moderate to Difficult The Spring Creek Trail is a moderate to difficult trail that winds up [...]
Walsenburg Trails
From Walsenburg, take a quick hike in Lathrop State Park or head north for the more arduous, yet adventurous, Lily Lake Trail. #1 - Hogback Nature Trail 2 miles | Gentle The Hogback Nature Trail at Lathrop State Park winds through sandstone formations before climbing up the rocky Hogback Ridge that forms the park's northern [...]
Highway of Legends Scenic Byway
State Highway 12, the Scenic Highway of Legends, ties Walsenburg, La Veta, Cuchara, Stonewall, Trinidad, and Aguilar together with a ribbon of asphalt that journeys through some of the nation’s most beautiful national forests, state parks, wildlife areas, and mountain ranges. Highway 12 was designated a National Forest Byway in 1988 and a Colorado State [...]
Fishing in Spanish Peaks Country
With a wide range of waters from high mountain lakes and streams to rivers, reservoirs, and lakes, you’ll find a variety of cold and warm water fish in and around Spanish Peaks Country. Check out the following Spanish Peaks fishing holes: #1 - Lathrop State Park Fish for largemouth bass, channel catfish, black crappie, walleye, rainbow [...]
Lathrop State Park
Colorado’s first state park, Lathrop State Park features two lakes and nearly 1,600 acres of recreational land nestled among the pinyons and junipers of the Spanish Peaks' foothills. Martin Lake offers water skiing, power, and sail boating. It’s also a warm-water lake, making it great for swimming. Horseshoe Lake is a peaceful haven for canoeists, [...]
Walsenburg Mining Museum
Walsenburg was called the “City Built on Coal” during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and nowhere else in Spanish Peaks County will give you as much opportunity to learn why than the Walsenburg Mining Museum. Follow the battles between the coal miners and mine operators, examine artifacts associated with the mining industry, and [...]
Museum of Friends
Want to visit Museum of Friends but can't quite make it in person? Check out the virtual tour instead! The Museum of Friends (MoF), located in the historic "Roof and Dick" building in the heart of downtown Walsenburg, is a Contemporary Art Museum incorporated in 2007 by artists Brendt Berger and Maria Cocchiarelli. The museum's [...]
Pueblo
Take a quick and easy drive north of Walsenburg and discover Pueblo, a culturally and historically-rich Colorado city made famous by being one of the largest steel-producing cities in the U.S. Built in 1881, Pueblo's Colorado Fuel and Iron Steel Mill attracted a large number of immigrant laborers, resulting in Pueblo becoming the most ethnically [...]
Twelve Must-Dos in Spanish Peaks Country
There’s so much to do in Spanish Peaks County, where does one start? Good thing we compiled a list of some of our favorite activities. Take our challenge and try to do all 10! Find that one-of-a-kind item on Walsenburg’s Main Street and at the Antique Mall Go four-wheeling over Medano Pass to the Great [...]
The Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve
Nestled in Southern Colorado, the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve features North America's tallest dunes, which rise over 750 feet high against the rugged Sangre de Cristo Mountains. This fragile and complex ecosystem, which receives roughly 300,000 visitors annually, is an outdoor playground unlike any other. Hiking is the most popular activity at [...]
La Veta School of the Arts
Treat yourself to a creative experience you won't soon forget at La Veta School of the Arts. With well-known, respected instructors, La Veta School of the Arts has established a strong reputation for offering quality educational artistic experiences in one of the most breathtaking undiscovered parts of Colorado. Workshops include anything from photography and painting [...]
La Veta Trails
La Veta is a pocket of pristine beauty in the heart of Spanish Peaks Country. While a variety of recreational opportunities are available to all visitors, it’s the city’s trails that bring people back again and again. Whether you like to walk, run, or bike, there’s a trail for you ranging from easy to difficult. [...]
Trinidad
Drive half an hour south of Walsenburg and check out Trinidad, a place where no one is a stranger, art thrives, and history runs deep. Just 12 miles north of the New Mexico border and Raton Pass, Trinidad offers visitors grand, historic architecture, a unique blend of culture, wildly fun events, and lots of opportunities [...]
Mission: Wolf
Mission: Wolf is a peaceful sanctuary for captive wolves and wolf-dog crosses in the mountains of Huerfano County. The more than 30 wolves and wolf-dog crosses living at Mission: Wolf all have one thing in common—they were born in a cage. At Mission: Wolf, these animals are given a second chance at a happy life [...]
Fox Theatre
The Fox Theatre, a Walsenburg historic landmark, dates back to 1917 when it was named the Star Theatre. Upon its opening, the Walsenburg World reported, “Besides being a high-class picture show-house, the Star is now Walsenburg’s largest and best-equipped hall for plays, vaudeville or conventions.” In 1929, the theatre began showing talking pictures, its interior [...]
Francisco Fort Museum
Colonel John M. Francisco founded a trading post at the foot of the Spanish Peaks in Colorado Territory in 1862, around which the small town of La Veta grew. Legend tells us that upon reaching the verdant Upper Cuchara Valley in present-day Huerfano County, he declared, “This is paradise enough for me,” and settled down. [...]