COME TO LIFE | Trinidad, Walsenburg, La Veta, Cuchara resembling something more ancient-Roman than frontier. The byway heads north alongside the Sangre de Cristo range, affording spectacular views of those mountains to the west as well as the monstrous volcanic walls (or dikes) that jut from the Spanish Peaks to the east. It also passes through the San Isabel National Forest and three cute towns: Cuchara has stunning Sangre views (especially from Cuchara Mountain Park trails and disc-golf course; in winter, it opens to snowshoeing and cross-country skiing, and a sleepy downtown with gift shops, B&Bs and cabins. For summer splendor, pull off Cuchara Pass at the Farley Wildflower Overlook and behold a color-filled meadow. Scope out Walsenburg ’s antique shops, mining museum, water park, visitor center and Lathrop State Park . And peek into La Veta ’s art galleries and the 1862 adobe Francisco Fort Museum . Check out Uptop ghost town on Old La Veta Pass — a favorite of star gazers. For an audio tour of the Highway of Legends and walking tours of Walsenburg, La Veta and Cuchara, check out the TravelStorys app , which describes the geology and history of the locations you’ll see, as well as the legends of those who passed through in days of yore. COLORADO MYSTIC SAN LUIS VALLEY & CANYONS & PLAINS COKEDALE GO SLOW: HIGHWAY OF LEGENDS Near the southern border, where the Sangre de Cristo Mountains intersect the waving grassland of the eastern high plains, lie some of Colorado’s best frontier towns, including Trinidad , Walsenburg , La Veta and Cuchara . Day 1 Start at the Trinidad Municipal Golf Course , a nine-holer with Sangre de Cristo views. Trinidad Lake State Park and the Wormhole Loop network of trails are home to miles of multi-use routes that weave through the hills nearby. At Fishers Peak , one of our newest state parks, picnic or stroll meadows and forests. Or spend a lazy day on the Purgatoire River , which is stocked for great trout fishing and has a lovely riverwalk. Wander the brick-lined streets of Old Trinidad and one of the largest collections of Victorian-era houses in the West. You’ll find a trove of artists’ galleries, and Main Street LIVE theater performances. These factors and more led to the Corazón de Trinidad being named a Certified Colorado Creative District. The Art Cartopia Museum shows just how creative folks can get here, especially when inspired by the town’s annual Arto Cade (art-car parade) held each September. meticulously preserved Baca House , an 1870 two-story adobe that combines Hispanic construction with British design. The Santa Fe Trail Museum exhibits evoke frontier life from the trail days to the 1920s. While here, tour the A.R. Mitchell Museum of Western Art ’s collections of Western and Spanish colonial folk art. End your visit with a drive along the Highway of Legends . From Trinidad, the byway continues west to Cokedale , where a strip of old coke ovens (used to mix and heat coal) lines the road, FIVE MUSEUMS IN TRINIDAD HAVE ENTRY FEES RANGING FROM FREE TO JUST $5, AND THERE’S A FREE 45-MINUTE TROLLEY TOUR OF THE HISTORIC DISTRICT. WALSENBURG’S WILD WATERS IS AN AFFORDABLE FAMILY FAVE. BOOK A CHARMING ADOBE CABIN AT MONUMENT LAKE RESORT AND HAVE A SPLASH FISHING, SUP-ING, KAYAKING OR CRUISING IN A PONTOON BOAT. Day 2 The Trinidad History Museum houses the 164 1-800-COLORADO HEAD OVER TO COLORADOBYWAYS.COM FOR INFORMATION ON ALL BYWAYS ROUTES, INCLUDING VIDEOS, TRIP TIPS, ITINERARIES AND MORE. Cuchara , La Veta , Trinidad , Walsenburg MILES/ANNA ZOROMSKI. 26 COLORADO BYWAYS Stay & Play Options
Colorado Official State Vacation Guide 2022: Page 164
