Walsenburg, Huerfano Country’s county seat, sits in the heart of Spanish Peaks Country. With I-25, Highway 160, and Highway 10 meeting in Walsenburg, this quaint, Southern Colorado gem is a popular stop for travelers who delight in its small-town charm and history, natural wonders, and artistic inspiration of the surrounding area.

Visitors enjoy Walsenburg’s antique shops, the Walsenburg Mining Museum, the Museum of Friends, the Walsenburg Golf Course, and Wild Waters water park. Walsenburg is also adjacent to Lathrop State Park, a favorite destination for boating, swimming, hiking, and more.

The town lies east of La Veta Pass, south of Pueblo, and north of Trinidad and Taos, making it a convenient place to stay for many of Southern Colorado’s and Northern New Mexico’s most popular attractions, including the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, Pueblo’s Riverwalk, and Taos’s pueblos.

Highlight: Robert Ford, the assassin of outlaw Jesse James, operated a combination saloon and gambling house in Walsenburg.

Highway of Legends Scenic and Historic Byway begins just west of town and winds its way through world-famous geological sites, wildlife viewing, and small mining towns. More details about the geology and history surrounding the Highway of Legend is available on the Highway of Legend Storys App. The audio tour also includes information on local hikes, museums, and parks to enhance the journey.

Walsenburg was originally settled as La Plaza de los Leones in 1852 but is named after Fred Walsen, a businessman who settled here around 1870. It was Fred who opened the first coal mine in the county just west of town in 1876. Walsen Mine was the largest and most productive coal mine in Huerfano County.