2016 Mtns & Mesas with covers

Welcome! 

If you’re reading this, then you’re thinking about visiting Southern Colorado and/or Northern New Mexico. 

We commend you on a brilliant decision! Our combined counties offer an endless number of fun family events, 

solo trips, museums, festivals, and more. No matter the season, no matter your interests, we’ve got something 

for you. This publication goes into detail on a few specific themed trips around our region. Follow the ancient 

rocks to learn how our mountains and mesas were formed millions of years ago, learn the best places to camp 

in your RV and take your dirt bike out for a spin, check out any or all of our lakes for some aquatic fun, or take 

advantage of Colorado’s legalization of marijuana and just chill with our gorgeous landscape in the background. 

We’ve got hikes to go on and native plants to forage, truly something for everyone. 

There are a million and one things to see and do here, far more than we could fit into just one magazine. 

Read on for a list of more events and things to do in the tri-county territory. Enjoy getting to know our world! 

Table of Contents 

Adventure Destination Page 6 

A very brief primer on what to see and where to go in this 

amazing region.There is a LOT more to do than we could list here. 

Gone to (buy) Pot Page 10 

WooHoo-pot is legal in Colorado. Now what? Here are 

a few things you should know before you indulge. 

Hiking Trinchera Page 14 

Not quite a ‘14er, but oh so worth the climb, and a lot fewer 

people in the way. 

Traditional RV’ing Page 18 

A home away from home, and praise for playing in the dirt. 

Living off the land Page 26 

If a zombie apocalypse breaks out, this is the kinda 

stuff you’ll want to know. Or, just because it’s fun. 

Water sports Page 30 

For a place once described as high desert, there are an 

awful lot of places to go and get wet. 

Red Rocks on the Cuchara Page 36 

Red Rocks ain’t just an ampitheater outside Denver. We have 

the same geologic formation pushing up in the Spanish Peaks. 

Rock On Page 40 

You can have a Gneiss time in the Spanish Peaks, 

exploring unique and amazing geological formations 

Mountains & Mesas ©2016. Reproduction in any part is prohibited without publisher’s express 

written permission. Published by ADO LLC, DBA the World Journal, 500 Main Street, P.O. Box 346, 

Walsenburg, CO 81089. www.huerfanoworldjournal.com. (719) 738-1415 office, (719)738-1425 fax. 

f there are any errors or omissions, or changes in information for next year’s Fast Facts, please contact us 

t any of our numbers or addresses above, or send email to office.worldjournal@gmail.com. 

RAPPELLING ON 

BLANCA- 

Garrison LeRock of 

Canada shows his 

ropework

page 6 

Mountains & Mesas 

Adventure Destinations 

Festivals, Music, and Events 

For more Trinidad events, and more info on the 

events listed here, check out 

www.historictrinidad.com/events.html. For more 

info on events in Huerfano County, visit spanishpeakscountry.com/event-calendar/. 

April 23 – Wayne Faust Comedy Night at Dodgeton 

Creek Brewery, Trinidad, 5-10 pm. 

May 21 – 2016 Armed Forces Day Parade downtown 

Trinidad 10 am. 

May 28 - Picker’s Paradise. Booths with antiques, 

primitives, junque and up-cycled products for pickers 

along with an all-day open mike, downtown La 

Veta. 

June 9-12 – Raton Summer Fun Fest at Raton High 

School, Raton, times vary each day. 

June 9-12 - Burning Man music festival, Valdez 

June 10-11 – Santa Fe Trail Days at Central Park, 

Trinidad 

June 16-19 - Sonic Bloom music festival at Humming 

Bird Ranch, I25 Exit 64 Lascar Rd. sonicbloomfestival.com 

June 18 - Annual Friends of the Fiber Festival, La 

Veta Town Park, La Veta. 

June 23-26 – 4th Annual Trinidad Family Fun Days 

at Las Animas County Fairgrounds, Trinidad, times 

vary daily. 

June 24-25 - Cuchara Hermosa Art Show, Cuchara, 

www.cucharahermosa.org 

July 1 - 4th July Celebration and International Balloon 

Rally at Raton's La Mesa Air Field, Raton. Ascensions 

begin by 6:30 am, and the day is capped off 

with night-glows and great food. The city of Raton 

hosts a parade, street dance, crafts, and fun in the 

park, finishing with a fireworks display. 

July 2 - Spanish Peaks Music Festival, La Veta Airport, 

La Veta, spanishpeaksmusicfestival.com 

July 2-3 - Art in the Park and quilt show, La Veta 

Town Park, La Veta 

July 4 – July 4 Fireworks at Trinidad Lake, Trinidad 

July 4 - Cuchara July 4th Celebration, downtown 

Cuchara, 11 am 

July 23 - Francisco Fort Days, Francisco Fort, La Veta 

July 17-19 -Mt. Carmel Festival, Mt. Carmel Health 

and Wellness Center, Trinidad. www.mtcarmelwellness.org 

July 26-30 - Las Animas County 4-H Fair, Las Animas 

County Fairgrounds, Trinidad 

July 29-30 - Gardner Hippie Days, Gardner Community 

Center, Gardner 

Aug. 13- 14 - Huajatolla Heritage Festival, La Veta 

town park, La Veta 

Aug. 27 – Trinidaddio Blues Fest 2016 at Trinidad 

Central Park, Trinidad, 11 am - 11 pm. 

trinidaddio.com 

Aug. 31 - Sept. 6 - Battlemoor VII, Hummingbird 

Ranch, I 25 Exit 64 Lascar Rd. www.Battlemoor.org 

Sept. 3-5 - Trinidad Round-Up Labor Day Parade 

and weekend, downtown and Las Animas County 

Fair Grounds, Trinidad 

Sept. 3 - Mountain Mining Days, downtown 

Walsenburg. 

Sept. 9 – Artocade crazy fun art-car parade, 9-11 am, 

Trinidad. 

Sept. 22-25 - 12th Annual Celtic Music Festival, 

Huerfano, www.celticmusicfest.com 

Oct. 1 – Oktoberfest, downtown La Veta. 

Oct. 8 – Shadow of the Breasts Fest, Aguilar 

Food 

May 14 - Faragosi Fest “Louisiana Style Shrimp Boil 

at Las Animas County Fairgrounds, Trinidad, 2-9 

pm. 

Aug. 6 - Gardner Chuckwagon, Gardner Methodist 

church, Gardner, 2-5 pm 

Cars and Bikes 

June 11 - Kruizer’s Car & Bike Club Annual Car & 

Bike Show at Brix Sports Bar, Trinidad, registration 

at 8 am. 

Sept. 9 - Artocade, downtown Trinidad, 9-11 am. 

Oct. 1 - Oktoberfest, downtown La Veta. 

Outdoor recreation 

Jan. 1 - Raton Polar Bear Plunge on the South Boat 

Ramp at Lake Maloya, other winter activities follow 

the plunge.

Mountains & Mesas page 7 

April 30 – Climax Canyon 5K Trail Run, Climax 

Canyon, Raton. 

Fridays, May-Aug. - Hummingbird Monitoring at 

Capulin Volcano National Monument 

Aug. 6 - Stonewall Century Ride, 102 mile bike ride 

beginning in La Veta. 

Aug. 13 – Las Animas County Relay for Life at Central 

Park, Trinidad, 4 pm-midnight. 

Aug. 19-20 - Ragnar Relay, Angel Fire www.runragnar.com/event-detail/trail/angel_fire_nm 

Sept. 10 - Master of the Mountain, solo racers or 

relay teams for running, paddling, biking, and shooting, 

events held at Lake Maloya, Horseshoe Mesa, 

Sugarite Canyon State Park, Raton, and the NRA 

Whit-tington Center. www.ratonmom.com/ 

Sept. 24 - Glo-Ball Golf Tourney Trinidad Golf 

Course, Trinidad 

Scenic Drives 

The Enchanted Circle Scenic Byway in northern 

New Mexico is an 83-mile loop through mountains, 

valleys, mesas, and national forests. The drive 

is centered around Wheeler Peak. Visit enchantedcircle.org/ 

for more info. 

The Santa Fe Trail National Scenic Byway follows 

the route people would have followed in the 

1800s to move from Missouri out to the Mexican 

Frontiers. In 1987, the Santa Fe Trail was designated 

as a National Historic Trail. Start at the Byway Visitors 

Center at the Trinidad History Museum. Visit 

www.santafetrailscenicandhistoricbyway.org/ for 

more info. 

The Scenic Highway of Legends Byway in Colorado 

is one of the oldest scenic highways in the 

state and loops through gorgeous mountain valleys 

and communities, past lakes and stone walls, between 

Trinidad and La Veta. Visit 

www.colorado.com/articles/colorado-scenicbyway-highway-legends 

for more info. 

Visit anytime 

Vermejo Park Ranch is located 40 miles west of 

Raton on Highway 555, Vermejo has twenty-one 

lakes and over 30 miles of fishable stream, other activities 

include hiking, horseback riding, skeet and 

sporting clay shooting, wildlife viewing and birding, 

pre-history and historic site visits, photo tours, geological/botanical 

tours, educational ranch management 

visits and ecology projects. vermejoparkranch.com/ 

Capulin Volcano National Monument offers 

the experience of walking around the rim of a volcano. 

Located just east of Raton, there are about 5 

miles of hiking trails in a unique and varied landscape. 

www.nps.gov/cavo/index.htm 

Climax Canyon Park and Nature Trail, just west 

of downtown Raton, was named after an abandoned 

coal mine. Choose between the east or west loop, 

both under 2 miles long, of varied terrain. ra- 

tonnm.gov/facilities/facility/details/Climax- 

Canyon-Park-17 

Sugarite Canyon State Park has facilities for 

boating, camping, equestrian trails, fishing, picnicking, 

hiking, volleyball, wildlife viewing, an historic 

coal camp, an educational program, and a visitor 

center. Soda Pocket and Lake Alice campgrounds 

provide 40 developed campsites. In the winter season, 

cross-country skiing, sledding, and snow-shoeing 

are also options. 

www.emnrd.state.nm.us/SPD/sugaritecanyonstatepark.html 

Trinidad Lake State Park, just outside Trinidad, 

has excellent facilities for camping, fishing, hiking, 

biking, and more. 

cpw.state.co.us/placestogo/parks/TrinidadLake 

Lathrop State Park, just outside Walsenburg, 

has two lakes, a couple of different walking paths, a 

hiking path, lots of camping areas, fishing, boating, 

and swimming. 

cpw.state.co.us/placestogo/parks/Lathrop 

Raton Golf Course is a nine-hole course. The 

club is open to the public, no membership is required 

to play or to join tournaments. www.ratongolf.com/ 

The nine hole Trinidad Golf Course is one of the 

oldest courses in the state. Call ahead or book online. 

www.trinidadgolfcourse.com/ 

Walsenburg Golf Course is another nine hole 

course. Nestled in Lathrop State Park, the course is 

open to the public and does not require a parks pass 

to get in. www.weteeoff.com/ 

Raton Museum is located in downtown Raton. 

Exhibits include Raton’s mining, ranching, Santa Fe 

Trail, and railroad history. The museum is open October-April 

on Wednesday through Saturday from

page 8 

10 am to 4 pm, and May-September on Tuesday 

through Saturday from 9 am to 5 pm. 

http://www.theratonmuseum.org/ 

The Historic Shuler Theater is a registered Cultural 

Property of New Mexico and home to the Santa 

Fe Trail School for the Performing Arts. The Raton’s 

Arts and Humanities Council Inc. performances, individual 

performances, and visiting performances 

are all listed on the Shuler Theater Calendar at 

shulertheatre.com 

The Trinidad History Museum in Trinidad consists 

of landmark homes, local treasures, museums, 

and gardens. http://www.historycolorado.org/museums/trinidad-history-museum-0 

The A.R. Mitchell Museum of Western Art in 

Trinidad features the works of Artuhr Roy Mitchell, 

Harvey Dunn, Harold Von Schmidt, and more. This 

is a must-see for any afficionados of the Old West. 

http://www.armitchellmuseum.com/ 

The Louden-Henritze Museum in Trinidad is 

on the TSJC campus and has exhibits on the geology 

and archaelogy of the area. Open Monday through 

Thursday, www.trinidadstate.edu/museum 

Trinidad Trolley Tour: visit the city via a free 

trolley tour, everyday from Memorial Day through 

Labor Day. Tours leave from the Welcome Center or 

the Trinidad History Museum. www.historictrinidad.com/guided.html 

Southern Colorado Repertory Theatre: performances 

every weekend at the Famous Performing 

Arts Center in Trinidad. Check out amazing plays, 

cabaret shows, and more.www.scrtheatre.com 

The Cokedale Mining Museum in Cokedale, 

near Trinidad, is a brilliant little museum detailing 

the history of the area. Open Monday through Fiday, 


June 9 - Sept 1. www.sangres.com/colorado/lasanimas/cokedale.htm#.VusTpxIrLXE 

The Apishapa Valley Heritage Center in 

Aguilar is open Memorial Day to Labor Day and has 

a great collection of artifacts and old photos. Call 

ahead to make sure they’re open. 719-941-4678 or 

719-680-0538. www.aguilarhistory.com/index.htm 

The Walsenburg Mining Museum in downtown 

Walsenburg is open from May through September, 

and has exhibits on the local mining history 

and more. www.huerfanohistory.org/mining-museum.html 

The Museum of Friends in downtown Walsenburg 

is an art gallery displaying works by local and 

international artists. 

www.museumoffriends.org/blog/ 

The Francisco Fort Museum in La Veta is open 

in the summer Tuesday through Saturday. Check it 

out for a look at what life was like so far from “civilization” 

in the past. www.franciscofort.org/ 

The Mandala Center, 35 miles east of Raton, 

NM along Highway 87/64, is a non-profit retreat 

facility perfect for rest and revitalization providing 

personalized service and a variety of workshops 

for people seeking spiritual growth, personal and 

professional development, health and wellness, 

and creative expression. Visit www.mandalacenter.org/. 

National Rifle Association (NRA) Whittington 

Center is a world renowned outdoor recreation facility 

located on the outskirts of Raton. The center 

offers a variety of ranges to suit any type of shooting 

discipline. There is a firearms museum, specialized 

firearms training, a shotgun center, RV and tent 

camping, and guided and unguided hunts. Younger 

shooters and wildlife lovers can attend the NRA adventure 

camp and wildlife adventures. 

http://www.nrawc.org/ 

The Raton Regional Aquatic Center is the 

only public pool within a 150 mile radius that offers 

swimming facilities year round. Features include 

a kiddie pool with slide, tunnel slide, diving 

board, aqua climbing wall, volleyball net and basketball 

hoop, and whirlpool. The center is open 

daily with the exception of Easter Sunday, July 4th, 

Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year's 

Day. http://www.ratonrecreation.com/aquaticcenter.html 

Walsenburg Wild Waters is an outdoor water 

park in Walsenburg. Open weekends Memorial Day 

through Labor Day. 

http://spanishpeakscountry.com/activities-attractions/walsenburg-water-park/ 

The St. James Hotel and Restaurant in Cimarron, 

is so rich in history, one doesn't need a big 

imagination to experience a slice of the history of 

the wild west. It is known for its paranormal activity, 

and was the backdrop of multiple movies. 

http://www.exstjames.com/ 

If you’re in Cimarron, be sure to check out 

Philmont Scout Ranch, one of the most popular 

boy scout ranches in the country. There is a trading 

post, a museum, and lots of different trails. 

http://www.philmontscoutranch.org/

Our name, Mountains & Mesas 

might be snappy, but it barely 

begins to encompass the 

amazing topography this area 

offers- from deep canyons to 

sky-scraping 14’ers, deserts to 

forests, steppes to meadows, 

ponds, lakes, rivers and pools. 

Bustling cities to tiny little 

villages; 4-lane interstates to 

meandering dirt roads. 

But all that was too long 

to use as a name. 

As amazing as this 

country is, it is the people 

living here who make it truly 

special. As you’re out playing, 

shopping or dining in the 

Spanish Peaks country, ask 

the locals what they think 

makes this area wonderful. 

Rocky Mountain 

Southwest

page 10 


Pot Tourism 

The legalization of marijuana in Colorado has created a whole new 

class of tourist chasing a new take on the Rocky Mountain High 

So, this is a story topic I did not imagine myself 

writing two years ago. Pot. Tourism. 

But here in 2016, I would be remiss if I did not 

mention the incredible boom marijuana has injected 

into the Colorado Tourism industry. And it’s not one 

you’re going to hear about in most official tourism 

sources. 

Cannabis tourism is already a big draw for many 

Colorado visitors. According to the Denver Business 

Journal, a Colorado Tourism Office survey recently 

released showed 48 percent of summer travelers 

were influenced by legal recreational pot -- even 

thought the state's $4.5 million tourism ad campaign 

promoting sprawling backcountry, hot springs and 

rugged mountains makes no mention of local marijuana 

outlets. 

Despite the study's findings, state tourism offices 

remain unconvinced legal cannabis is contributing 

to the state's record-setting $18.6 billion tourism 

revenue, up 7.4 percent from 2013, also a record-setting 

year. Roughly 7 million out-of-state travelers 

visit for the state's ski season, out of a total of 71.3 

million visitors annually. 

Critics of advertising Colorado as a stoner haven 

said any remaining stigma associated with pot 

smoking could infringe on the state's family-friendly 

reputation. Marijuana lounges are still illegal in the 

state, with consumption limited to private homes 

and hotels, and cannabis-friendly accommodations 

are difficult to come by. Inquiries about weed retail 

remain few and far between, according to the Colorado 

Tourism Office. 

The resistance has some pot business owners exasperated. 

They claim tourism offices that refuse to 

market Colorado's weed-themed attractions are 

doing taxpayers a disservice and missing an opportunity 

to give the state a competitive edge this season 

as travelers start to research ski destinations.


Despite the controversy, some local tourism 

boards have quietly begun to embrace the state's 

growing market for weed tourism, but there are limitations 

that hold them back from promoting local 

cannabis retail through more visible means, such as 

billboards or on the website, because of federal regulations. 

Some professionals in the marijuana industry, 

however, say there are avenues tourism officials 

could take to support cannabis retail, but do not. 

Tourism offices could work with more hotels, which 

are legally permitted to host pot smokers, and the 

chains' national directors to adopt 420-friendly policies. 

For folks not from Colorado, or who haven’t 

been paying close attention to the state’s marijuana 

laws, here is some basic information from the Colorado 

Pot Guide on what’s legal and where. 

With the passing of Amendment 64, adults 21 or 

older in Colorado can legally possess one ounce (28 

grams) of marijuana or THC. The way the amendment 

is worded actually allows for possession of one 

ounce of THC. This is great news, as in addition to 

buds (flowers), you can also enjoy many types of 

concentrated and edible forms of marijuana during 

your visit. Cannabis seeds are also available for sale 

in Colorado. 

You don't need to be a resident, and there isn't 

any type of registration system. Simply put, as long 

as you are 21 years or older, you have a constitutional 

right in Colorado to possess and consume 

marijuana. You will need a government-issued identification 

to prove you are 21 years or older, a drivers 

license or passport should be sufficient. 

Purchasing Limits 

Although any adult is allowed to possess up to 

one ounce, non-residents of Colorado will be restricted 

to purchasing no more than ¼ ounce (7 

grams) in a single transaction. This law was created 

to prevent visitors from going from one retail store 

to another and stockpiling marijunana for export. 

Obviously this law has some grey areas, such as 

what is a ‘single transaction’ so most recreational 

stores err on the side of caution and will only serve 

you once a day. Please remember these restrictions 

only apply to retail sales, not possession. Since residents 

and out-of-state visitors are both allowed to 

possess up to an ounce (28 grams), you could technically 

visit up to 4 stores in one day and hit your 

oneounce per person possession limit. 

Having said that, you can mix and match what 

you buy (flower, edibles, concentrate), just as long as 

the total equals seven grams or less for a non resident 

or 28 grams or less for a Colorado resident. For 

example, ten 100mg edibles equals one gram, so you 

could buy five grams of flower and twenty 100mg 

edibles. Additionally, one gram of concentrate is 

equivalent to 1 gram of bud, so you could buy two 

grams of flower, twenty 100mg edibles and three 

grams of wax or shatter.


Consumption 

So you made it Colorado and you bought yourself 

a nice bag of buds. Great job. The question now 

is, "Where can I smoke my weed?". Well, this is a 

highly debated topic at the moment. We'll provide 

some insight into what's legal and what's practical. 

First and foremost, you will find the following 

statement to be true during your visit. 

Discretion is appreciated, and usually required. 

Amendment 64 does NOT permit the consumption 

of marijuana "openly and publicly." So before 

you start blazing those blunts while walking down 

the street, remember you can still get a ticket for 

doing so, similar to open container laws for drinking 

in public. 

There aren’t really any coffee shops or marijuana 

bars like you might find in Amsterdam that legally 

allow on-site consumption. Unfortunately the prohibitionists 

had their way with this one. Although 

not banned outright, the Colorado legislature dealt 

a large blow to any hopes of opening cannabis clubs 

by stating they're not exempt from indoor clean air 

regulations, unlike cigar clubs. The exception to this 

rule are some new 'private' cannabis clubs where 

you can buy a day membership. These clubs are relatively 

new and hopefully they are successful. Some 

allow indoor smoking since they are 'private', others 

just allow inside vaping and outside smoking. 

If you can't visit a smoking lounge, all is not lost. 

You just need to use your head and a bit of discretion. 

Most stoners in Colorado are pretty considerate 

in terms of keeping things low key. Avoid smoking 

near other people such as busy sidewalks and bus 

stops, and it is unlikely you will attract attention. For 

many people in Denver, any alley works fine for a 

quick session, but please be aware Denver Police 

have increased citations for public consumption. In 

the first three quarters of 2014, Denver Police issued 

668 public consumption citations. This amounts to a 

470% increase from the same period in 2013, when 

117 citations were issued. 

Even though concert venues and bars are ‘private’, 

the prohibitionists are arguing that they are 

‘publicly accessible private venues’, and therefore 

consumption of marijuana is prohibited. From our 

experience, it really depends upon the place and the 

crowd. Most down to earth venues will usually turn 

a blind eye to things unless they are getting complaints 

or police visits. 

An e-cigarette personal vaporizer can be your 

best friend if you want the option to puff without 

anyone noticing. These have gotten very popular in 

Colorado, as they don’t really leave any odor and are 

very low key. 

One last point, this isn’t legal advice, and laws 

are changing, so always check.

page 14 


Trinchera Peak, 

13’er in the rough 

by Joseph King 

Located in the Culebra Range of the Sangre de 

Cristo mountains stands Trinchera (Trench) Peak at 

13,517 feet, one of Colorado’s lesser-known 13’ers. 

When viewing the peak from the east, it's easy to see 

how the namesake originated. Dipping into the side 

of the peak are a main cirque and a mini-cirque. The 

larger cirque is a thrust fault from mountain building 

episodes during the late Miocene. 

As the cornerstone of three counties (Huerfano, 

Las Animas, and Costilla), the western slope is entirely 

on private land and is not open to the public. 

The eastern slope, however, is accessible from the 

Blue Lake area as well as the Purgatorie Campground. 

To access the trailhead from the north, take US 

160 west from Walsenburg or east from Fort Garland, 

and take CO 12 through La Veta and go about 4 miles 

past the village of Cuchara. From the south, take CO 

12 west from Trinidad over Cucharas Pass and down 

2.35 miles to Forest Road 422 leading to the Blue 

Lake/Bear Lake Campgrounds. Continue four miles 

to Trinchera Peak Road, aka FR 436, which lies adjacent 

to Blue Lake campground. The campground is 

open from Memorial Day at the end of May until 

Labor Day in early September. Bear Lake campground 

(1 mile further) is typically open until November. 

Camping is available at Blue Lake 

Campground at $13/night which includes the first 

two vehicles. Third vehicles are an additional 

$5/night unless it's a towed vehicle. Day use parking 

fee is $5/day. If you park in a campsite for day 

use, you must pay the $5 fee. At the start of the 

trail (FR436) is a small area where you can park if 

you decide to hike the almost eight-mile round trip, 

or you can continue driving on what will be a moderate 

4-wheel drive trail. 

Once out of the treeline, the peak comes into 

view. Continue up the switchbacks and past the old 

mine to the saddle between Teddy's Peak and 

Trinchera. This is where the trail ends and the scamble 

up the rocks begins. 

Trinchera offers stunning views of the San Luis 

Valley, West Spanish Peak, and plenty of wildlife. 

Wildflowers abound in the spring and early summer 

months. Be cautious of the quick changes in weather

Mountains & Mesas page 15

page 16 


that occur here 

throughout the 

summer. FR422 is 

closed around 

November due to 

heavy snowfall, 

but the area is still 

accessible to 

snowshoeing in 

the winter 

months. 

Trinchera is a 

less-traveled 13’er 

in the area, but an 

absolute must experience 

for those 

seeking a moderate 

hike with 

amazing views. 

Two aspects of 

Trinchera: a 

sunny green 

field, and a cold, 

forbidding point 

of splendour.


page 18 


Homes Away from 

Home and Tearing up 

the Trails on Dirt Bikes 

‘Can’ do camping 

Many families and seniors find RV camping 

the best way of travel. Cheaper than staying in 

hotels and dining at restaurants, RVs also afford 

the opportunity to see the beauty of our country 

a flying trip cannot provide. In addition to the 

beautiful mountains and mesas, southern Colorado 

and northern New Mexico offer a myriad 

of outdoor experiences and family activities. A 

new reason to RV is the privacy and convenience 

of having a “home away from home” to enjoy 

cannabis purchased in the state. 

Huerfano County RV camping 

The friendly community of Walsenburg, CO, 

once a booming coal mining town, boasts a coal 

mining museum, art galleries, great restaurants, 

Walsenburg Wild Waters, and many quaint 

shops. With level sidewalks that make walking 

easy and plenty of benches, it is an easy-going 

rest stop at the intersection of Colorado Highways 

160 and 10, and Interstate 25. The Country 

Host Motel and RV Park, just north of town, offers 

a dump station and affordable rentals. Reliable 

repairs are available nearby at Birco RV Parts 

and Service. Need to check your email? Stop in 

at the fabulous Spanish Peaks Library on north 

Walsen. 

West of Walsenburg, visit Lathrop State Park, 

Colorado's first state park. At 1,594 acres with 

103 camping sites that can accommodate motor 

homes, trailers, and tents, Lathrop's Martin and 

Horseshoe Lakes offer a variety of boating, fishing, 

water skiing, power and sail boating, and 

swimming. Catfish, bass, walleye, trout, and blue 

gill thrive in both lakes. The 9-hole familyfriendly 

Walsenburg Public Golf Course lies just 

east of the park, with affordable green fees and 

magnificent vistas. 

Just up Highway 12 off Hwy 160, La Veta, CO 

has several premier RV campgrounds, including 

Entertaining the neighbors in Lucy’s RV Park in La Veta


page 20 


Sammie's RV Park, I Love Lucy's Place RV Park, 

and Circle the Wagons RV Park. You can also 

check out Two Fox Cabins, which is cannabis 

friendly and has RV sites in addition to cabins. 

While in town, walk a few blocks downtown to 

visit art galleries like SPACe, and the Francisco 

Fort Museum, shop at the eclectic boutiques, play 

in La Veta Park, or take in one of the many vendor 

fairs. Up Hwy 12 check out Sulphur Springs 

Guest Ranch. 

Las Animas County RV camping 

For places to stay in Las Animas County, 

check out Monument Lake Resort along Highway 

12, or stop off at Weston. There are multiple RV 

parks in the Weston area, including Stone Wall 

Inn, Stonewall Shopping Bag, Stonewall Lodge, 

and Picketwire Lodge and Store. For a park a little 

more off the beaten tourist path, but with lots of 

stunning views, try the Spanish Peaks Inn and RV 

Park in Gulnare. Anywhere you stop, you’ll get 

incredible scenery. 

Along I 25 just north of the New Mexico line, 

Trinidad, CO, also has a variety of RV campsites 

in an area that is rich in history. There are many 

historic buildings with charming architecture. 

There is the Trinidad History Museum in the center 

of town has information about the area and the 

Santa Fe Trail. Among Trinidad's numerous RV 

parks are several along Santa Fe Trail, including 

the Summit RV Park, Tower 64 Motel & RV Park 

(cannabis friendly) the Trinidad Lake State park, 

west of the city, is a great place to camp with full 

service campsites. They have hiking trails, camping, 

boating and great fishing. Other campgrounds 

in the vicinity are Cawthon RV Park. 

Colfax County RV camping 

Raton, New Mexico also has much to offer for 

camping and recreational activities. From here, 

you can easily visit Capulin Volcano National 

Monument the Boy Scout Museum, Santa Fe Trail 

and Raton's Downtown Historic District with 

restaurants, and shopping. Santa Fe Trail that 

goes over the Raton Pass is the highest point on 

this trail. With incredible views it is a photographers 

dream. Check out the Raton KOA, Raton 

Pass Camp and Cafe (Cedar Rail RV Park), Sumerlan 

Parks, NRA Whittington Center Campground, 

or Sugarite Canyon State Park. 

RV camping in Colorado and New Mexico are 

full of activities that the entire family can enjoy. 

History, water activities, hunting, skiing, shopping 

and photography can be enjoyed. Also make 

sure to sample the local cuisine which is unique to 

the area. People can just to sit back and enjoy the 

mountains, scenic views and wildlife which are all 

part of this region. Don’t forget to bring your 

camera. 

Roads to 

Paradise 

by Elisa and Robert Ingoldby 

One of the many advantages to living in 

southern Colorado and northern New Mexico is 

the beautiful scenery, fresh air, and three hundred 

days a year of sunshine. If that’s not enough, 

think of it as a giant backyard full of things to do. 

One popular activity is dirt bike riding; for some 

it’s a family tradition spanning generations. Luckily, 

there are plenty of places around here to get 

out and ride. 

Huerfano County 

If you can get your primary vehicle through 

back country, Medano Pass is a great place for the 

whole family. From Walsenburg, go west on Hwy 

69, through Gardner, travel northwest to C.R. 559, 

then turn left. There are plenty of 4WD trails that 

are not too difficult, however you will need to 

have plated vehicles once you reach the top of the 

pass. This trail meets the borderline of the Sand 

Dunes National Park, and as those trails merge together, 

a parks pass is required on the other side. 

Medano Pass also crosses Rainbow Trail, which 

extends through many other counties for more 

trail riding. Camping is back woods and no facilities 

are available. 

Another great ride is along Indian Creek Trail. 

There are three ways to get up to the trail. The 

first route is to head south out of La Veta on Hwy 

12, go approximately a mile, turn right on road 

422, then drive for about 15 miles to the base of 

the trail (on the left). Go further up the trail and 

there are areas to camp in the trees. Indian Creek 

Trail travels approximately 12 miles over to Bear 

and Blue Lakes. This trail can be shortened by 

traveling to Cuchara, further along Highway 12 

from La Veta, then turning right at the Water District 

Station to “Spring Creek,” the second trailhead 

to Indian Creek. Go further up Hwy 12 until 

you see the Bear and Blue Lake entrance, travel 

another 6 miles of dirt road, (and past the only 

camping site with amenities for this trail), and ride 

around up there. There are other trails in that area 

besides Indian Creek 

Las Animas County 

The advantage to Las Animas County being 

one of the largest counties in the state is the unlimited 

dirt roads you can travel. There are countless 

back roads to ride, but not much in the way 

of a real “trail system” except those around


Trinidad State Park, which are nice for hiking and 

bicycles, but not accessible for dirt bikes. If you 

choose to ride the dirt roads, please be cautious of 

vehicles, and explore the canyons and flats of Las 

Animas county. 

There is a fun ride that starts out in Huerfano 

County but the majority of it is in Las Animas 

County. The Cordova/Apishapa Pass is a windy 

mountain road (so be careful, traffic moves in both 

directions and it can be hard to see around corners). 

It is easiest to start out in Huerfano County 

and follow Hwy 12 to the top of Cucharas Pass, at 

which point you’ll turn east onto a dirt road and 

follow signs for Cordova Pass. The views are gorgeous, 

and there are a couple of hiking trails (including 

the West Spanish Peak Trailhead, which 

has a bathroom) but it is not maintained during 

the winter so might be closed until May or June. 

The road changes names multiple times without 

much warning, but if you stay on the main road 

at all intersections, you will eventually pass 

through Gulnare and into Aguilar, from there you 

can get back out to I-25. There is likely no cell reception 

along the way, and it is about a 33 mile 

drive, so be prepared for that before you head out. 

Colfax County 

Colfax County is much the same story as Las Animas, 

in that there aren’t many designated dirt 

biking trails. Travel along dirt back roads or visit 

Angel Fire, on New Mexico’s Enchanted Circle, 

for areas to hike and bike. 

For more information check out www.riderplanet-usa.com 

for more details on riding. Now 

go out there and play!

page 24 


Breathtaking views await when you 

escape to the mountains!

page 26 


Living off the 

Land 

by Tom Macedo 

Southern Colorado is rich in natural resources— 

resources which generations of people have developed 

an intimate relationship with. Families whose 

ancestors shaped the various cultures that reside in 

the region have the good fortune of having learned 

about the bounty of natural gifts it has to offer. At 

different times of each year, native plants have been 

harvested—some for food, some for their medicinal 

properties—by generations of Huerfanos. Four of 

these valuable plants are piñon pines, cota, bolete 

mushrooms, and osha. 

Get ready to go nuts! 

Much has been written about native peoples and 

their utilization of indigenous plants such as the 

piñon pine. The tasty seeds these trees produce 

(pine nuts or simply piñon) were certainly a rich 

food source for those people just as they continue to 

be for people today. Piñon can be considered a super 

food; it is high in protein, is a good source of fat, and 

is packed with many essential vitamins. Piñon seeds 

also contain a substance called lecithin, which is 

known to lower cholesterol. 

Nicholas Agnes, a lifelong Walsenburg resident, 

can recall family outings to collect piñon from the 

time he was a small child. The Agnes’ would wait 

until the pine cones were ripened and dried out so 

their seeds were ready to fall. Like generations before 

them, they would take to the piñon/juniper 

woodland equipped with sticks which they would 

use to tap the pine branches, loosening the nuts from 

their cones. Piñon would rain down from the tree to 

the ground. Traditionally, people would lay a blanket 

under the branches to catch the bounty. Others 

simply let the piñon fall to the open ground where, 

on hands and knees, they would gather them. 

As anyone who has harvested piñon can attest, 

this can be a sticky business. Piñon pines are pitchy 

trees, and this substance tends to get all over one’s 

hands when one gathers the nuts. Some people are 

proactive and will coat their hands with Vaseline before 

they begin the harvest; others have learned to 

dust their hands with dirt to counteract the tackiness 

of the pitch. Most anyone who has had to deal with 

this inconvenience will say it is worth the trouble. 

To Agnes and others, roasted piñon is a delicacy. 

He fondly remembers his mother baking piñon into 

Piñon nut gathering is fun, 

if sticky, business


fudge and cookies. Other people relish the opportunity 

to make batches of pesto. 

Gold is delicious and nutritious 

Another lifelong Walsenburg resident, Kathy 

Zgut, also grew up harvesting native plants. She recalls 

being a child and accompanying her parents as 

they collected piñon and another plant called cota. 

Cota, which goes by a number of different names (Indian 

tea, Navajo tea, Colorado Greenthread), is a 

rather inconspicuous plant until it blooms with nodding 

yellow flowers. If the conditions are right— 

meaning lots of moisture—whole fields of cota can 

turn a brilliant gold. Zgut’s father taught her to just 

collect the tops of these perennials to help ensure 

healthy future crops. 

Tea made from cota is considered very tasty, and 

Zgut’s family (the Pinedas) drank it year round in 

place of other more conventional teas. More than 

simply tasting good, cota is a plant with many medicinal 

attributes. Mildly antiseptic, cota is used as 

a remedy for indigestion, as a diuretic, and to treat 

fevers. To this day, Zgut uses cota, harvesting flowers 

she grows in her yard. 

We’ve got some amazing mushrooms 

Not everyone who takes part in harvesting 

plants in Huerfano County is a native Coloradan. 

One such person is Maridith Dressler, who moved to 

the region in 1975 from Albuquerque, New Mexico. 

Maridith is an avid gardener who grows and preserves 

vegetables, fruits, and herbs. What she can’t 

grow—primarily mushrooms—she takes to the 

mountains to harvest. 

Among her favorite mushrooms is the bolete. 

Commonly found in spruce forests, boletes grow all 

over the world. These reddish-brown beauties grow 

best in moist soils where sphagnum mosses are present. 

Sometimes referred to as hamburger bun mushrooms 

(due to their resemblance to the food), this 

plant is different from most other mushrooms as it 

has pores rather than gills on the underside of its cap. 

This makes it easy to identify a bolete, but anyone 

gathering mushrooms needs to know what they are 

looking for, as there are many species of mushrooms 

that are toxic and sometimes deadly. Once harvested, 

boletes won’t last long, so what Dressler can’t 

use right away she dries on a screen or in a dehydrator 

for future use. 

Hidden mountain miracle 

In the mountains of Huerfano County grows a 

medicinal plant called osha. Fewer people harvest 

osha than the aforementioned plants—which turns 

out to be a good thing. La Veta resident, Rena 

Kaplowitz, who has been studying medicinal herbs 

for many decades, warns of over-harvesting. She 

talks about ginseng collecting in West Virginia as a 

cautionary tale. So many people had harvested ginseng 

there the plant become highly endangered. 

Kaplowitz would hate to see Colorado’s osha suffer 

the same fate.

page 28 


When, many years ago, Kaplowitz (then a New 

Yorker), learned of her penicillin allergy, she sought 

to educate herself on the use of natural—and more 

traditional—medicines. She came to know the benefits 

of utilizing herbs such as mint and chamomile, 

and an array of other plants native to the northeastern 

United States. When she came to live in Huerfano 

County in 1988, she learned about a whole other 

group of beneficial plants while she was working 

with the Wahatoya Herb Company. It was then she 

came to know about the healing properties of osha. 

The root of the osha plant is used for fighting bacterial 

and viral infections; it helps to eliminate toxins 

in the body through sweating, and makes a good 

cough syrup. Osha is a plant of the mountains, 

rarely growing below 9,000 feet. A member of the 

parsley family, osha can easily be confused (by the 

uninformed) with another wild-parsley: poison hemlock. 

As its name implies, this is a dangerous plant. 

Kaplowitz warns that unless one is with an experienced 

herbalist, or has extensively studied how to 

discern the differences between these two plants, one 

should steer clear of harvesting osha. The policy of 

“know before you go” is a good one to adopt before 

choosing to collect any wild plant. 

The plants mentioned are just a few of the native 

edibles and medicinals that abound in Huerfano 

County; others include chokecherry, wild plum, arnica, 

lambs quarters, yucca, and sage. The list goes 

on…and on. 

Bolete mushrooms 

are a feast!

Mushroom gathering in 

the high mountains 


page 30 


Water, water, 

everywhere 

by Colette M. Armijo, Tom Macedo, 

and Paula M. Manini 

Our tricounty area may seem dry at first, but 

look again and you’ll find multiple lakes, each 

with different associated trails and activities, 

around out entire area. 

Starting in Colfax County, anyone interested 

in lake-centric activities should check out Vermejo 

Park. 

Located 40 miles west of Raton on Highway 

555, Vermejo Park boasts a variety of forestry and 

wildlife programs, twenty one lakes, and over 30 

miles of fishable stream. The park also has hiking 

trails, horseback riding, skeet and sporting clay 

shooting, wildlife viewing and birding, pre-history 

and historic site visits, photo tours, geological/botanical 

tours, and more. It is definitely 

worth a stop. 

Lake Maloya, 10 miles northeast of Raton, is 

another excellent place to visit. From Raton, take 

NM 72 E heading east for about five miles, then 

veer left onto NM 526 E for another five miles. The 

lake does not allow gasoline motors, so it is popular 

for sailing, flat water kayaking, and canoeing. 

Fishing is allowed, but swimming is not. There 

are places to picnic and hike. On New Year’s Day, 

residents of Raton gather at the South Boat Ramp 

at Lake Maloya for the Polar Bear Plunge, followed 

by snow bowling, ice-skating, sledding, and 

more. On your way up to Lake Maloya, stop off 

at Lake Alice (it will be on the same road) for more 

fishing and campsites. Boats with gasoline motors 

are allowed on Lake Alice. 

Both lakes are located within the Sugarite 

Canyon State Park, managed by New Mexico State 

Parks. For more information, call 505-445-5607 or 

visit www.emnrd.state.nm.us/SPD/. You can also 

Lake Maloya, in Sugarite State Park


find more info on Facebook. 

Once you’re done with the Colfax lakes, head 

back to Raton and take I-25 heading north towards 

Trinidad. While in Las Animas County, be sure to 

check out Trinidad Lake State Park. It is simultaneously 

tranquil and buzzing with activity. Within 

2,700 acres in a piñon and juniper forest, people of 

various abilities and interests can enjoy the great 

outdoors year-round. Head west out of Trinidad 

and get on Highway 12, drive for about five miles, 

and the lake should be on your left. 

At the main entrance at Carpios Ridge, you 

can enjoy camping, self-guided trails, archery, 

horseshoes, volleyball, and a playground. In the 

summer, guided hikes and educational programs 

take place. 

The park has seven trails, including two that 

are handicap accessible and one in Long's Canyon 

where horseback riding is permitted. Mountain 

biking and snow-shoeing are allowed on all the 

trails. 

With secluded spots and panoramic views, the 

park is perfect for quiet pursuits such as bird 

watching, yoga, nature photography, and plein air 

painting. Seven geo-caches provide another fun 

Trinidad Lake State Park


activity for people of all ages. 

A watchable wildlife area, featuring stream-riparian 

and wetland habitats, is located in Reilly 

Canyon, which is accessed further west on Highway 

12. The canyon also has one of the world's 

best exposures of the K-T geological boundary that 

marks the extinction of most life forms, including 

dinosaurs, 65 million years ago. 

The south shore has trails, a summer campground, 

and a boat ramp. The 800-acre lake is 

used for motorized boating, non-wake watercraft, 

and water and jet skiing. Boat, shore, and ice fishing 

are very popular, and hunting is permitted on 

a seasonal basis (state licenses are required). 

Trinidad Lake State Park is managed by Colorado 

Parks and Wildlife through a partnership 

with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The 

USACE has a free exhibit about the dam, constructed 

in 1978, in their office at the intersection 

of the dam road and Highway 12. 

For more information, call 719-846-6951, or 

visit www.cpw.state.co.us. You can also follow the 

park on facebook. 

When you’re done in Trinidad, continue heading 

west on Highway 12 up into the mountains to 

reach Monument Lake, 37 miles west of Trinidad. 

Jet-skiing on Trinidad Lake 

I EXIST TO ASSIST 

 

 

Laura DeBella, Agent

page 34 


It is popular for fishing and has pedal boats available. 

The nearby resort includes cabins, RV and 

tent sites, a bath house, laundry, recreation room, 

and a store. 

Keep driving north along the highway and 

eventually you’ll cross over Cuchara Pass and 

begin dropping into Huerfano County. Keep driving, 

but keep your eye out for CO RD 422 (a left 

hand turn onto a dirt road) and drive up about 3.5 

miles. Blue Lake will be on your right. There is a 

campground, restrooms, and drinking water. 

Fishing is a popular option, and there are several 

trailheads nearby. Continue up the road for about 

one mile and you’ll reach Bear Lake. There is another 

campground, additional restrooms, and 

drinking water is available. Camping, picnicking, 

fishing, and parking require fees. There are more 

trailheads nearby for hikers. 

From here, head back out to Highway 12 and 

continue north past the town of Cuchara and 

drive in to the town of La Veta. Go through town 

and out the north end, go five miles up Highway 

12 and intersect with Highway 160. Turn east 

(right) and drive for about eight miles. The entrance 

to Lathrop State Park will be on the left 

hand side, right across the highway from the regional 

hospital. 

Lathrop was Colorado’s first state park. At 

the turn off the twentieth century, what were once 

little more than prairie potholes west of Walsenburg 

were developed into the reservoirs we today 

know as Martin and Horseshoe Lakes. Over the 

decades since, these lakes have become an increasingly 

important recreation destination. Each lake 

offers something different to outdoor recreationists. 

Both lakes are nestled in piñon/juniper 

woodland and both offer incredible views of the 

Spanish Peaks, but their characters are markedly 

different. 

At 180 surface acres, Martin Lake is the larger 

and far busier of the two locations. There, boaters 

tear upon the water, whereas on Horseshoe fishing 

boats putter along in a part of the park that is 

slower, less busy and wilder. Boaters flock to Martin 

Lake in the warm months to practice their 

water-skiing skills, and jet skiers race around the 

laid out boating course. On summer weekends 

the Martin dock parking lot is full of boat trailers, 

yet the lake is large enough to accommodate fishing 

boats in areas where speed boats aren’t permitted. 

Fishing is by far one of the most popular 

activities at Martin Lake. 

Excepting cold winter days when the lake surface 

is frozen over, anglers can be found around 

the shoreline attempting to hook on to one of any 

of the twelve species that live there. Much of the 

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year these anglers have the lake virtually to themselves, 

but when conditions are too hectic for a 

peaceful day of casting, there exists a more peaceful 

option: Horseshoe Lake. 

Only wake-less boating is allowed on Horseshoe 

Lake. This makes for a more serene lake experience. 

Whereas on Martin, power boats reign, 

on Horseshoe small fishing boats, kayaks, and canoes 

can be seen gliding over the lake surface. A 

big draw for Horseshoe is the tiger muskies 

found there. More wildlife is seen at Horseshoe, 

including deer that can be observed swimming 

from an island in the lake, and great blue herons 

that have a rookery on the island. 

Swimming is only allowed at Martin Lake 

and only at the swim beach. There is a group 

camping area near the swim beach and boat 

dock, and a walking/biking path encircles Martin. 

Picnic shelters are situated around both of 

the lakes, perfect for day use. For those seeking 

a longer stay there are two campgrounds—one 

primitive, one developed—at Lathrop State Park. 

There is also a 9-hole golf course within the park 

and another hiking trail that climbs up the hogback 

on the north end of the park. 

Lathrop State Park is managed by Colorado 

Parks and Wildlife. For more information, call 

719-738-2376, visit cpw.state.co.us/placestogo 

/parks/Lathrop, or check them out on facebook. 

The view of the Spanish Peaks from 

Martin Lake in Lathrop State Park.

page 36 


Red Rocks on the 

Cuchara 

by Bob Kennemer 

The same 290 million year old geologic formation 

(known as the Fountain Formation) that makes 

up the Boulder Flat Irons, Red Rocks Park, Roxborough 

State Park and Garden of the Gods along the 

Front Range can also be found right here in Huerfano 

County. 

For a taste of these unique red rock formations, 

head west out of La Veta on the Sulphur Springs 

Road for about nine miles. Near the Indian Trailhead, 

shelves of the red Fountain Formation can be 

seen high up on the right. Fortunate drivers may 

spot an occasional cougar as it rests on this lofty 

perch. Taking that right hand turn, drop down into 

Tracy Canyon to discover a wide variety of shapes 

and sizes of sandstone pillars and knobs. 

About a half mile down, the forested road 

opens up into a large meadow with an intermittent 

stream running through the middle. Straight ahead 

(looking east) the East Spanish Peak juts skyward. 

Off to the right, gentle forested hills rise gradually 

toward Raspberry Mountain, not quite visible. To 

the left, and circling back, the Fountain Formation 

emerges. This opening of the meadow is a great 

place to park and let the kids get out and play. 

Crossing the narrow stream to your left, a steep 

ridge is clearly visible, complete with towering ponderosa 

pines, firs, scrub oak, aspen, and pesky 

thorny locusts. Red dirt, cliffs, and smaller formations 

are all present here, but the cool stuff requires 

a short steep hike more to the west. 

Heading west/northwest, the elevation quickly 

rises. There are no formal trails here, but game trails 

provide several routes up the ridge. Note that in


this part of the San Isabel National Forest there are 

no facilities/services and with that, no fees. This is 

what the United States Forest Service calls a “dispersed 

camping area”, which means use previously-created 

sites or make one of your own. A few 

old campsites dot the northern end of the meadow. 

Use no-trace camping techniques and pack out 

what you pack in. 

As you head up hill, take a break and look back 

to the east. Both Spanish Peaks and Raspberry 

Mountain are now in view, but the allure of the red 

rock formations will urge you to keep heading west. 

Long pants are recommended for this “bushwhacking” 

part of the hike due to lack of a trail and heavy 

underbrush. 

The western ridge features several red rock 

towers, short cliffs, and mushroom-shaped blobs of 

sandstone. One could stay busy for days exploring 

the various taller formations and happily stumbling 

upon shorter ones hidden in the scrub. 

Returning to the meadow, the road continues 

downhill easterly and dead ends in 7/10 of a mile. 

Along this short drive, the creek runs to the left and 

a number of great camping spots can be found a 

short distance to the right. 

Tracy Canyon is home to deer, elk, cougar, black 

bear, western rattle snakes, and wild turkey. Exercise 

caution when camping there. The area has 

something for everyone; rock climbing, two-track 

mountain biking (stay on the roads please), picnicking, 

hunting, or just enjoying nature in a unique setting. 

Directions: La Veta is located 5 miles off Highway 160, 

west of Walsenburg. From La Veta, take Colorado Hwy 

12 south 1.5 miles to County Road 420. (This road is 

also US Forest Service Road #421. Locals refer to it as 

the Sulphur Springs Road or the Indian Creek Road). 

Turn right and follow the road for 5 miles as it cuts 

through Sulphur Springs Guest Ranch. Proceed another 

2 miles to the Indian Trail Trailhead. From this point on, 

a four-wheel drive vehicle is needed. Continue for another 

mile and turn right onto USFS Road #421. This 

is the Tracy Canyon Road. Follow it for 0.5 miles to the 

canyon floor and meadow. Suggested maps: USGS quads 

Cuchara and McCarty Park, San Isabel National Forest 

map.

page 40 


Pass Creek Pass divides geologic eras 

Once you’re in Gardner, start looking off to your 

left for Co Rd 550. Be aware that this is a dirt road 

heading up into the mountains with no real amenities 

along it, so excercise caution. Once on Co Rd 550, 

drive for about five miles, then turn left onto Co Rd 

570. Stay on that road for about 3.6 miles, it will turn 

into Cross Creek Road. Stay on that, turn slightly left, 

onto Co Rd 572, and you will be on Pass Creek Road. 

Follow Pass Creek Road through the mountains for 

stunning views of the 25 million year old intrusions 

on the east side, and 1.7 billion year old mountains 

on the west side. As you come down over the pass, 

hang a left at the fork in the road (should be about 17 

miles on the Pass Creek Road) and keep driving until 

you reach Highway 160. Turn left again, heading 

east, and follow the highway back to Walsenburg. If 

Oldies rock 

tours 

by Ruth Orr 

Okay, so maybe there aren’t any guitars, keyboards, 

or crazy haired men in tight leather, but the 

rock tours outlined here are worth screaming for anyway. 

We are lucky to live in an incredibly geologically 

diverse and historically rich area of the country. 

From the tops of our mountains and mesas to the bottoms 

of our valleys, we can read the history of our 

land in the rocks. Now, with the help of these trips, 

you can travel through 

time and see the 

processes that 

made our 

counties what 

they are today. 

Rock On- 

Gneiss guitar, 

man 

Red remnants of a long gone range 

The geologic history of the area is ancient. Between 

one and two billion years ago, huge beds of 

granite formed all over the area. A range of mountains 

known as the Ancestral Rockies uplifted in the 

same place the current Rocky Mountains are today. 

As they eroded, huge amounts of sediments were 

dropped in the low areas near the mountains. As 

they hardened, they formed the thick beds of red rock 

that gave Colorado its name. You can see these rocks 

if you drive along Highway 69 from Walsenburg to 

Gardner and look right, at the base of Greenhorn 

Mountain. They are also visible if you want to get 

out of the car and hike a bit. (For more info see the Red 

Rocks on the Cucharas Trip. ) 

As you drive along Highway 69, keep an eye out 

for the Gardner Butte on the right hand side of the 

road before you reach Gardner. About 27 million 

years ago, the Sangre de Cristo mountains were 

thrust upward, and the faulting caused breaks and 

cracks in the surrounding rock. Bubbles of magma 

pushed up, but failed to reach the surface. They 

slowly hardened into the Spanish Peaks, Mount 

Maestas, Silver Mountain, and the Sheep Mountains. 

Around the same time, smaller cracks in the rock allowed 

for Gardner Butte, Huerfano Butte, and the 

world-famous dikes around the new mountain systems. 

All the buttes are volcanic pugs, essentially 

magma blocks that hardned underground before 

they could successfully explode out onto the surface. 

The softer rock around them slowly eroded away, finally 

exposing the rock to the surface.

Gateway to Colorado 

3Midway between Albuquerque and Denver 

3Transportation hub for I-25, Burlington Northern/ Santa Fe Railway, 

Greyhound Bus Lines, and Amtrak 

3Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) fueling available 

3Perry Stokes Airport with a 5,500 ft, hard surface landing strip 

Come play in our big back yard 

3Skatepark plus dog-friendly city parks, pool, golf, soccer and at 8,593 ft. 

Trinidad’s very own Monument Lake 

3Adjacent to 2500-acre Trinidad Lake State Park with nine miles of trails 

and 800-acre Trinidad Lake 

3Fishing, hunting, cycling, hiking, camping; San Isabel National Forest 

with over one million acres of snow-capped mountain peaks and 

crystal mountain lakes, 

3Year-round fun: Trinidaddio Blues Fest, Santa Fe Trail Days, 

Trinidad Roundup Rodeo, Artocade, Triggers Semi-pro Baseball, 

Southern Colorado Repertoire Theatre, Apogaea Burning Man; 

as well as Saturday morning Farmers Markets, 

and First Friday Art Walk 

"The Raton Basin region is rich for Economic 

prosperity built upon a healthy rural lifestyle. 

Trinidad, being a part of the old Santa Fe Trail that 

trekked along a multi-state region, has made a trail 

for diverse cultural awareness, rich heritage and 

agriculture. The new trail is building stronger 

relationships along the way for community 

strength by embracing awareness to culture 

and heritage building new trails 

with technology and social 

endeavors.” 

Invest in the new west 

3Renewable Solar and Wind Energy - 

Tesla stations now available! 

3Colorado's first Space to Create 

3Farm-to-table Agri-business 

3Heritage and Culture Tourism 

3Cannabis \ Hemp Production 

and Sales active 

3Sales Tax 6.9%, Income Tax 4.63% 

Ask about our attractive 

Enterprise Zone Incentives 

Visit TLACED.Org or contact 

a board member of TLACED 

@ 719-422-5080 for questions 

or to become a part of 

this great new frontier.

page 42 

you miss the fork, don’t worry, follow the loop and 

merge going left, then stay on the right branch, turn 

right, and follow the road back out to Highway 160. 

Table top mountains...what’s the deal? 

Another trip option is to start out in Trinidad. 

Visit the Louden-Henritze Museum, located at 600 

Prospect Sreet within Trinidad State Junior College. 

Admission is free, so take the chance to head in and 

learn about the history of the area from the dinosaurs 

through the paleolithic people of the area. From 

Trinidad, drive south along I-25 to head past Fisher’s 

Peak and over Raton Pass. 

Fisher’s Peak is part of Raton Mesa, a broad 

overarching group of mesas in the area. Their formation 

is credited to more igneous activity in the region 

from about the same time period as the 

mountains and buttes a bit further north. As mountain 

ranges lifted up, the Rio Grande Rift began tearing 

a hole in the continent to the west (the rift has 

since healed and is known as the San Luis Valley). 

Not all of the magma was trapped below the surface 

however, and some of it reached the top to spill out 

over the landscape. It cooled into hard basalt, resting 

in patches on top of softer rock below. Over time, the 

areas not capped by basalt eroded down, but the 

basalt protected the underlying rock and kept it 

standing up taller above the valleys below. You can 

see the flat tops protecting the towers beneath as you 

drive through the pass and look out south across the 

landscape. 


Everything is dead (almost) 

Once you’re in Raton, you’re in a prime position 

to see one of the most dramatic events in world history: 

The K-T mass extinction. Sixty-five million 

years ago, more than three quarters of all life on earth 

died. This was the end of the dinosaurs, and the 

event marks the boundary between the Tertiary and 

Cretaceous time periods. To witness it for yourself, 

head west on Moulton Avenue in Raton , then turn 

left onto Hill Street. Drive up to the intersection, then 

turn right onto the scenic highway. Follow that to the 

KT Boundary Trail parking lot, then follow signs for 

a short hike to the boundary. For such a huge event, 

the boundary can be hard to see: a thin layer of Iridium 

is all there is to mark it. There are signs in the 

area telling you where to look. Head back to the 

parking lot, turn left, and follow the scenic highway 

past the Hill Street turn off to the top of Goat Hill for 

some spectacular views of the region. 

Into a volcano 

For more igneous activity, start heading south 

out of Raton. Turn left onto US-64/Clayton Road 

and follow that road for about 28 miles. Turn left onto 

NM-325 N and follow that road for another 3 miles of 

so, and follow signs for Capulin Volcano National 

Monument. The cinder cone volcano has been dormant 

for the last 60,000 years or so, which means driving 

to the top and hiking around and into the crater 

is totally safe. From the top, on a clear day, you can 

see four or five different states, including New Mex- 

The distinctive flat top to Fisher’s Peak, 

which looms over Trinidad.


ico, Colorado, Oklahoma, Texas, and possibly 

Kansas. Be sure to stop at the visitor center for more 

information about the volcano and surrounding area. 

Gateway to the Spanish Peaks... 

and awesome views 

For the more adventurous spirits who want 

great views and awesome rocks away from tourists, 

consider this loop. Start in Trinidad (or anywhere 

south of Aguilar), make sure your gas tank is full, 

and drive north along I-25 until you reach exit 30, 

then follow County Road 63.1 in to the town of 

Aguilar. If you’re coming from the north, there is an 

exit at mile marker 34, but the views of the mountains 

are far more stunning coming in from the 

south. While in Aguilar, if it’s summertime, check 

out the Apishipa Valley Heritage Center at 151 Main 

Street. A small number of volunteers man the museum, 

but can’t be there all the time, so before you 

get into town, be sure to contact them ahead of time 

for an appointment. Email 

apishipahistorical@gmail.com or call 719-680-1393 

or 719-680-0528. The museum houses archaeological 

items, newspaper articles, old photos, school memorabilia, 

and more. 

Geology students look at the K-T Boundary on 

a field trip in southern Colorado. 

Off the tourist trail 

When you’re done with the museum, get ready 

to head up the road and into the wilderness. Drive 

west through Aguilar along Main Street until you 

get to the end of town, then hang a left on South San 

Antonio Avenue to follow the road around the corner 

and out of town. Enjoy your views of the Apishipa 

Valley as you drive, with the Spanish Peaks in 

the background. Keep an eye out for your turn: on 

the left side of the road is a rundown shack, directly 

Igneous dikes radiate like wagon wheel 

spokes from the Spanish Peaks

page 44 


Capulin Volcano at Capulin 

National Monument 

across the road is County 

Road 54.2. It should be about 

3.5 miles from Aguilar. Turn 

right onto the dirt road. 

From here out, most of the 

land around you is private 

property and open range, so 

there won’t be fences and 

there may be cows on or near 

the road. The second half of 

this loop involves lots of hills, 

so if it’s been rainy lately, 

consider rescheduling. There 

is almost no cell reception. 

Stay in the car and stay safe. 

Water, water, every 

where, but not a drop 

in sight 

As you drive, keep an 

eye out for local wildlife, and 

watch for the brilliant sandstone 

formations and rock 

dikes all along the sides. 

The sandstone is ancient 

and has a history most people 

don’t expect when looking 

at the high arid mountain 

environment it is found in. 

After the Ancestral Rockies

page 46 

eroded away, a shallow inland sea crossed across the 

heart of the continent and our entire region was underwater. 

Thousands of feet of sand, silt, mud, clay, 

and marine fossils settled on the floor of the ocean, 

and over time gravity cemented them together into 

stone. It was this stone that was cracked open when 

the Spanish Peaks and their dikes came bubbling up 

from the mantle. Much of the stone has eroded away 

through the years, but outcroppings and boulders 

can be seen all along this drive. 


Mountains and meadows 

Continue following County Road 54.2 until there 

is a fork in the road. Stay right and turn onto County 

Rd 41.4, which turns into Co Road 313. Stay on 313 

for another few miles. From the turnoff onto the dirt 

road until your next major turn onto Co Rd 312 

should be about ten miles. The signal to turn is a rundown 

one-room schoolhouse at a fork in the road. 

Take a right hand turn onto Co Rd 312, and follow it 

up. Keep your eyes peeled for incredible views of the 

Spanish Peaks, the Wet Mountain Range, and Greenhorn 

Mountain as you drive down. Remember, this 

is all private property, so don’t go wandering off even 

if there isn’t a fence near the road. Stay on Co Rd 312, 

also known as Rouse Road, until you come to an intersection 

with Co Rd 310. Stay right and continue 

heading down out of the mountains on 310. Don’t 

turn off 310 and it will take you all the way back to I- 

25. You can turn left for Walsenburg or right to head 

back to Trinidad from there. 

A mountain, and, a meadow


Grab some grub and a wink 

Walsenburg 

Grub 

A&W 

719-738-3960 

455 US Hwy 85-87 

Alpine Rose Cafe 

522 Main St. 

719-738-1157 

Daily specials of 

Mexican - American 

food. Breakfast 

anytime. 

Baudino’s Meat 

Market & Deli 

108 W 6th St 

Fresh cut meat, italian 

sausage, ribs, 

fresh pasta, 

potato,and crab 

salad. Hot deli, cold 

cut sandwiches to 

order. 

719-890-1199 

Carl's Jr. 

700 Main St. 

719-738-1002 

Corines 

719-738-1231 

822 Main St. 

Tina’s Family 

Restaurant 

501 Walsen Ave. 

719-890-1650 

It’s a family affairhomemade 

foodbreakfast 

all day.. 

First Choice Market 

Walsenburg’s First 

Super Market 

801 Walsen Avenue 

719-738-3200 

Camping supplies 

and foods, bakery, 

deli, pizzeria, cold 

beer, fine cigars, 

movie rentals, Western 

Union, stamps, 

sporting goods and 

licenses, UPS dropspot, 

and U-haul. 

George's 

564 US Hwy 85-87 

719-738-3030 

Takeout available, 

serving breakfast 

until 11am and lunch 

until 3pm, Tues - Sat. 

Huerfano Cafe 

902 W. 7th St. 

719-738-2041 

Breakfast, lunch and 

dinner. Mexican- 

American food. 

Takeout available. 

La Plaza Inn 

719-738-5700 

118 W. 6th St. 

www.laplazainnwalsenburg.com 

Fine dining at the 

Bistro or a casual 

lunch at The Library 

Café, outdoor patio, 

meeting room. 

Mike’s Coffee Barn 

719-738-3318 

304 W. 7th St. 

New Century Asian 

Style Food 


719-738-4878 

Safeway 

222 W. 7th, 

719-738-3301 

Convenient location 

for travelers heading 

east or west on Hwy 

160. Large store, 

large selection, large 

package sizes. 

Bagged ice, dry ice. 

7th Street Deli 

136 W. 7th St. 

719-738-2173 

Subway 

228 Main St. 

719-738-1332 

Taco Bell / Kentucky 

Fried Chicken 

457-A US Hwy 85-87 

719-738-2480 

Wink 

Alpha Motel 


719-738-2890 

Anchor Motel 

1001 Main St. 

719-738-2800 

Color TV, queen 

beds, AAA. 

Best Western 

Rambler 

457 US Hwy 85-87 

719-738-1121 

http://bestwesterncolorado.com/hotels/best 

-western-rambler 

Budget Host Motel 

& RV Park 

553 US Hwy 85-87 

719-738-3800 

Dakota Campgrounds 

& BIRCO 

R.V. Service Center 

719-738-9912 

1079 US Hwy 85-87 

La Plaza Inn 

118 W. 6th St. 

719-738-5700 

laplazainnwalsenburg.com 

Eleven unique guest 

rooms, each with private 

baths and highspeed 

Internet. Ideal 

for business and 

leisure travelers, 

alike. Ideal for banquets, 

weddings, retreats 

and holidays. 

Rio Cucharas Inn 

77 CR 504 (Hwy 160 

west of Walsenburg) 

719-738-1282 

www.riocucharasinn.com 

Sands Motel 

533 W. 7th St. 

719-738-3827 

Spanish Peaks Inn 

22808 US Hwy 160 

719-738-2167 

Vacation Rental Home 

719-251-2752 

vacationinwalsenburg@ 

gmail.com 

La Veta 

Grub 

Alys' Restaurant 

604 S Oak 

719-742-3742 

www.alysrestaurant.com 

Ranked number one 

of ten restaurants in 

La Veta by Trip Advisor.com. 

By reservation 

only. 

Charlie’s Market 

212/214 Main St. 

742-3651 

Deerprint Wine & 

Bistro 

106 E Francisco 

719-472-4957 

Serving select wines 

and beers accompanied 

by fine cheeses 

and salami. 

Bobcats Deli 

107 E. Francisco St. 

719-742-3569 

Paradise Coffee 

305 Main St. 

719-742-3680 

www.paradisecoffeelaveta.com 

Panini’s for breakfast 

or lunch, salads, 

sweets, and all kinds 

of wonderful hot and 

cold beverages. 

Menu on website. 

You can do both at 

La Plaza in Walsenburg

page 48 

Ryus Avenue Bakery 

129 W. Ryus Avenue 

719-742-3830 

www.lavetabakery.com 

Sammie's 

124 N. Main St. 

719-742-5435 

Valley Legends 

Restaurant 

923 S. Oak Street 

719-742-5533 

Wink 

1899 B&B Inn 

314 S. Main St. 

719-742-5599 

www.the1899inn.com 

Adagio House (Vintage 

House) 

818 S. Oak 

505-466-8385 

Go to www.flipkey.com 

then enter “La Veta” 

Circle the Wagons 

RV Park 

126 W. 2nd St. 

719-742-3233 

www.circlethewagons 

rvpark.com 

Nice clean campground 

with 43 hook 

up sites with 14-50 

amp & 29-30 amp 

sites and a tent area. 

Laundry & shower/ 

bathroom facilities. 

Free wifi and dogark. 

Many shade 

rees. 

Hardings Corner 

&B 

40 W. Grand Ave 

19-742-5423 

ww.hardingscornerbandb.com 

I Love Lucy's Place 

RV Park 

226 W. Grand 

719-742-3252 

ilovelucysplace.com 

Small family owned 

business with 27 

shaded spaces, full 

hook-ups and green 

grass. Pet friendly, and 

tenters welcome. Kids 

under 12 stay for free! 

Inn at the Spanish 

Peaks B&B 

310 E. Francisco 

719-742-5313 

www.innatthespanishpeaks.com 

Sammie's Motel 

and RV Park 

124 N. Main St. 

719-742-5425 

Sulphur Springs 

Ranch 

421 Country Rd. 

719-742-5111 

sulphurspingsranch.com 

The Olive Tree B&B 

902 S. Oak 

719-742-5778, 

719-251-5788, 

719-214-1128 

www.theolivetreebandB.com 

The Ranch House 

Inn 

1012 Cherry St. 

719-742-5234 

www.theranchhouseinn.com 

Luxury guest retreat 

with an exclusive private 

suite across for 

Grandote Golf 

Course. Each roo 

has its own theme; 

mtorcycle, fishing, 

golf, vintage. 

Two Fox Cabins & 

RV Park 

404 Oak St. 

719-742-0260 

Whether you are 

looking for a romantic 

long weekend, a 

family vacation, or 

just a few days 

away from the hectic 

city lifestyle, you 

will relax in comfort, 

Two Fox Cabins 

your "base of operations" 

will put you 

right in the center of 

the action. Cabins 

and RV sites. 

The Warehouse Suite 

200 S. Main, 2nd Floor 

719-742-5278 

thewarehousesuite.com 


Cuchara 

Grub 

Cuchara Country 

Store 

34 Cuchara Ave 

719-742-3450 

www.dogbarcuchara.com 

/dbshops.html 

Food staples, 

snacks, candy, pop 

and other last minute 

grocery items, fishing 

licenses and 

supplies, and games, 

puzzles and crafts, 

gifts and souvenirs. 

Cuchara Kitchen 

Cucharas River Valley 

cuisine: healthy 

local southwest 

food. Breakfast, 

lunch and early dinner, 

Wed-Sun 8 am 

to 6 pm. On the 

boardwalk next to 

Cuchara Inn. 

The Dog Bar 

34 Cuchara Ave. 

719-742-6366 

www.dogbarcuchara.com 

The historic Dog Bar 

& Grill has been a favorite 

in the Cuchara 

Valley for more than 

32 years. The Dog 

Bar is a place to connect 

with new and 

old friends, enjoy a 

full menu of delicious 

entrees and 

beverages and enjoy 

the best live entertainment 

in the area. 

Check out their website 

for a list of 

events and a the live 

Cucharacam - a live 

view down Main 

Street, Cuchara. 

The Timbers Restaurant 

& Tavern 


719-742-3838 

www.timberscuchara.com 

Wink 

Cuchara Cabins 

and Condo Rentals 


877-7CABINS (722- 

2467) 

719-742-3340 

emiracleworker@ 

gmail.com 

www.cuchara.com 

Our accommodations 

provide a wide range 

of options, from a 

simple inexpensive 

getaway to lodging 

for large groups. 

Open year-round. 

Cuchara Inn & Wellness 

Center 

73 Cuchara Ave. East 

719-742-3685 

thecucharainn.com 

Cuchara Mountain 

Escape 

33 Park Road 

719-742-3121 

info@CucharaMountainEscape.com 

www.CucharaMountainEscape.com 

Cuchara Vacation 

Rentals 

35 Spruce Trail 

719-742-3960 

719-989-8121 

cucharavacation 

rentals.com 

Dodgeton Creek Inn 

137 Cuchara Ave. E. 

719-742-5169 

www.dodgetoncreekinn.com 

Yellow Pine Guest 

Ranch 

15880 Colo. Hwy 12 

719-742-3528 

www.yellowpine.us 

Trinidad 

Grub 

Bella Luna Pizzeria 

121 West Main 

719-846-2750 

Bob & Earl's Café 

118 Robinson 

(on Hwy 12) 

719-846-0144 

Brix Sports Bar and 

Grill 

231 East Main 

719-422-8273 

brixsportsbar.com 

Burger King 

1920 Freedom Road 

719-846-9445 

The Café at Danielson's 

135 East Main 

719-846-7119 

Chef Liu's Chinese 

Restaurant & Lounge 

1423 Santa Fe Drive 

719-846-3333 

Clubhouse Grille 

1417 Nolan Drive (at 

the golf course) 

719-422-8188 

Corner Shop Cafe 

107 East Main 

719-845-9999 

El Rancho 

1901 Santa Fe Trail 

719-846-9049 

Fabilis Wings 

103 West Main 

719-846-7298 

Family Seed II 

525 San Juan 

719-845-8057 

Great Wall Chinese 

Restaurant and 

Lounge 

321 State 

719-846-1688 

Green Chili Grill 

731 Main Street 

719-846-4012 

I Love Sugar Candy 

and Sweet Shoppe 

259 N. Commercial 

719-846 2000 

www.ILoveSugar 

Shoppe.com 

Kentucky Fried 

Chicken/Taco Bell 

212 Nevada 

719-846-7723

Lee's Bar-B-Q 

25 San Pedro 

19-846-7621 

McDonald's 

22 Nevada 

719-846-3322 

Nana and Nano's 

Deli & Pasta House 

418 West Main 

719-846-2696 

Authentic Italian deli 

and restaurant. 

Olé's Cantina 

2833 Toupal Dr. (in 

La Quinta Inn & 

Suites Wellness 

Hotel) 

719-845-0102 

Gourmet pizza and 

beer selection. 

Peaks Restaurant & 

Lounge 

3130 Santa Fe Trail (in 

the Holiday Inn) 

719-845-8400 

Primero Café & 

Catering 

911 Robinson Ave. (at 

Mt. Carmel Wellness 

& Community Center) 

719-846-4765 

Pizza Hut/ Wing Street 


719-846-8236 

Ristras Restaurant 

and Cantina 

516 Elm 

719-845-8226 

Ristras Trinidad.com 

Rino's Italian Restaurant 

& Steakhouse 

400 East Main 

719-845-0949 

www.rinostrinidad.com 

Safeway 

457 W Main St. 

719-846-2246 

Downtown location 

convenient for travelers 

heading north 

or south on interstate 

25. Large store, 

large selection, large 

package sizes. 

Bagged ice, dry ice. 

Sonic Drive-In 

642 West Main 

719-845-0402 

Tequila's 


719-846-3514 

Tony’s Diner 

734 East Main 

719-859-0081 

Tutti Scoops Old 

World Ice Cream 

202 North Commercial 

719-854-8508 

Walmart 

Just off I-25 on the 

southern edge of 

Trinidad. 

2921 Toupal Dr. 

Trinidad 

719-846-4477. 

Wendy's Old-Fashioned 

Hamburger 


(I-25 & Exit 11) 

719-845-9143 

Café What A’ Grind 

341 North Commercial 

719-846-0505 

Wifi. Gourmet 

coffees; Breakfast, 

lunch and dinner 

specials; decadent 

desserts. 

Whistle Stop Sub 

Shop 

313 Nevada 

719-846-6633 

Wonderful House 

Chinese Restaurant 

415 University 

719-845-1888 

Wink 

Budget Host Inn and 

RV Park. 

Santa Fe Trail (I 25 

and exit 11). 

719-846-3307 

Budget Summit Inn 

and RV Park 


(I 25 & exit 11) 

719-846-2251 


Cawthon Motel 

&RV Park 


719-846-3303 

Days Inn and Suites 

900 West Adams 

(I25 and Exit 13a). 

719-846-2215 

Frontier Motel 

815 Goddard Ave. 

(I25 and Exit 15) 

719-846-2261 

Holiday Inn Hotel and 

Suites. 

1330 Santa Fe Trail Dr. 

719-845-8400 x11 

La Quinta Inn & 

Suites Wellness Hotel 

2833 Toupal Drive 

719-845-0102 

719-497-8000 

Quality Inn Trinidad 

3125 Toupal Drive 

(I25 and Exit 11) 

Trails End Motel 

616 East Main 

719-846-4425 

Trinidad Super 8 


(I25 & Exit 15) 

719-846-8280 

Royce Ranch B&B 

10,000 County Rd. 

43.6 

719-845-0353 

www.royceranch.com 

Stone Mansion B&B 

212 East 2nd Street. 

719-845-1625 

www.stonemansionbb.com 

Tarabino Inn and 

Gallery. 

310 East 2nd Street. 

719-846-2115 

www.tarabinoinn.com 

Up Hwy 12 

Grub and a Wink 

Picketwire Lodge & 

Store 

7600 Colorado 12 

719-868-2265 

Stonewall Shopping 

Bag & RV Park 

6689 Highway 12 

719-868-2285 

Country General 

Store with restaurant, 

bull liquor 

store, fishing tackle, 

groceries and 

convenience items. 

Camping supplies, 

laundromat, RV park 

with full hookups, 

including wireless 

internet. Rental cabins 

and motel rooms. 

Hunting and Fishing 

Licenses, ATM. 

Ringo's Super 

Trading Post 

23386 Hwy12, in 

Segundo 

719-846-7874 

Along 

Cordova 

Pass Road- 

Grub 

Ringo's Food 

Market 

213 East Main, in 

Aguilar 

719-941-4450 

The Hole in the Wall at 

Roughnecks Saloon 

214 Main St. 

719-941-4001 

Aguilar 

Spanish Peaks Inn 

719-941-4288 

92590 County Rd. 41 

6/10, Gulnare 

Weekend live western 

bands, community 

activities and 

fun, RV Park. 

Gardner 

Grub 

Wildflower Cafe. 

Usually closed Sundays 

and Mondays. 

Raton 

Grub 

Alfonsos 

409 Clayton Rd 

575-445-8022 

All Seasons Family 

Restaurant 

1616 Cedar Street 

575-445-9889 

www.allseasonsfamily 

restaurantgift.com 

Arby’s 

415 Clayton Road 

575-445-8078 

www.arbys.com 

Asian Buffet 

1274. S Second Street 

575-445-9518 

Cedar Rail; Campground 

Top of Raton Pass Exit 

#460 on I-25 

575-445-8500 

www.cedarrailrvpark.c 

om 

Crystal Café & 

Lounge 

1021 S Second Street 

575-445-9461 

Dairy Queen 


575-445-5396 

www.dairyqueen.com 

Denny’s Restaurant 


575-445-1386 

www.dennys.com 

El Matador 

1012 S. Second Street 

575-445-9575 

Enchanted Grounds 

Espresso Bar 

111 Park Avenue 

575-445-2219 

Green Chile Grill 


575-445-3567 

Joeseppis 

134 N Second Street 

575-445-3781

page 50 

K-Bob’s Steakhouse 

122/ S Second Street 

575-445-2548 

www.kbobusa.com 

KOA KAmpground 

1330 S Second St 

575-445-3488 

www.ratonkoa.com 

La Cosina Restaurant 

745 S. Third Street 

575-4459675 

McDonald’s 

419 Clayton Rd 

575-445-9675 

Mr. C’s BBQ Catering 

1216 S Fifth Street 

575-445-5569 

Mulligans at Best 

Western 


575-445-5555 

bwratonhotel.com 

Oasis Restaurant 


575-445-2221 

Pappas Sweet Shop 

Restaurant 


545-445-9811 

Pizza Hut 


575-445-5508 

www.pizzahut.com 

Sonic Drive-In 


575-445-9601 

www.sonicdrivein.com 

Subway 


575-445-9290 

www.subway.com 

Vermejo Park Ranch 

40 miles west of 

Raton on Hwy 555 

575-445-3097 

1-877-288-7637 

Sands Restaurant 


575-445-5508 

www.sandsrestaurantraton.com 

reservations@vermejo.com 

www.vermejoparkranch.com 

Ultimate outdoor adventure 

vacation destination, 

luxury dining 

and accomodations. 

on 590,000 acres. 

Wink 

America’s Best Value 

Sands 


575-445-2737 

1-800-518-2581 

www.americasnestvalueinn.com 

Best Western Raton 

Hotel 


575-445-5555 

1-800-255-8879 

bwratonhotel.com 

Budget Host Raton 

136 Canyon Drive 

575-445-3655 

1-800-283-4678 

www.budgethost.com 

Colt Motel 


545-445-2305 

www.coltmotel.com 

El Kapp Motel; 


575-445-2791 

Hearts Desire B&B 

301 S. Third Street 

575-445-1000 

heartsdesireraton.com 

Holiday Inn Express 

Hotel and Suites 

101 Card Avenue 

575-445-1500 

www.ratonsfinest.com 

Maverick Motel 


575-445-3792 

Microtel Inn and 

Suites 


575-445-9100 

1-888-771-7171 

www.microtelinn.com/ 

Raton 


Motel 6 


575-445-2777 

1-800-466-8356 

www.motel6/RatonNM 

NRA Whittington 

Center 

34025 US-64 

4 miles west of I-25 

on US Hwy 64 West 

575-445-3615 

www.nrawc.org 

Home to the nation’s 

premier hunting, 

shooting, and 

outdoor recreation 

facility. Founded in 

1973, the Center offers 

ranges for every 

kind of shooting discipline, 

a shotgun 

center, a firearms 

museum, specialized 

firearms training, 

guided and unguided 

hunts, RV 

and tent camping, 

plus an adventure 

camp for younger 

shooters and wildlife 

adventurers. 

Oasis Motel 


575-445-2766 

Quality Inn 


575-445-4200 

1-8000-221-2222 

www.qualityinn.com 

Raton Pass Inn 

308 Canyon Drive 

575-445-3641 

ratonpassinn.com 

Raton RV Park 


575-445-8530 

Robin Hood Motel 


575-445-5577 

1-80-782-0598 

www.robinhoodmotelusa.com 

Super 8 


575-445-2355 

1-800-800-8000 

Sugarite Canyon 

State Park 

Northeast of Raton. 

Exit 452 off I-25, East 

for 3 miles on Hwy 72, 

north on NM 526. 

575-445-5607 

1-877-664-7787 

www.emnrd.state.nm. 

us/SPD/ 

Abundance of 

wildlife, birds, butterflies, 

and wildflowers 

among the lakes, 

creeks, forests, and 

meadows. Fishing, 

boating, hiking, horseback 

riding, hunting, 

and camping. Travel 

adventure plus: canoe 

from New Mexico into 

Colorado on Lake 

Maloya! 

Summerland RV Park 


575-445-9536 

Texan Motel; 


575-445-3647 

Travel Motel 


757-445-5503 

Vermejo Park Ranch 

40 miles west of 

Raton on Hwy 555 

575-445-3097 

1-877-288-7637 

vermejoparkranch.com 

Outdoor adventure 

vacation destination 

on 590,000 acres. 

Capulin/ 

Des Moines 

Wink 

Capulin RV Park 

27 miles east of Raton 

on Hwy 64/87 

575-278-2921 

capulinrvpark.com 

Mandala Center 

96 Mandala Road 

575-278-3002 

mandalacenter.org 

Non-profit retreat 

facility in the 

remote and beautiful 

setting of Northeastern 

New Mexico. 

Opportunities 

for spiritual growth, 

personal and professional 

development, 

health and wellness, 

and creative expression. 

Reflect, renew, 

rejoice! 

35 miles east of 

Raton NM on US 

highway 87/64 right 

after mile marker 383 

coming east or 384 

coming west from 

Clayton NM. 

Cimarron 

Grub/ Wink 

Express UUBar 

Ranches 

1115 Highway 21 

575-376-2035 

expressuubar.com 

fishing/hunting retreats, 

eco-tours, 

cabin lodging/meals. 

Historic St. James 

Hotel and Restaurant 

617 South Collision 

888-376-2664 

575-376-3664 

front.desk@exstjames.com 

www.exstjames.com 

said to be haunted.... 

Springer 

Grub 

Elida’s Cafe 

801 Railroad Ave 

575-483-2985 

Minnie’s Dairy Delite 

42 US Hwy 56 

575-483-2813 

2 Feathers Cafe 

309 Maxwell Ave. 

Wink 

Broken Arrow Motel 

811 Maxwell Avenue 

575-483-6481 

Oasis Hotel 

1001 Railroad Ave 

575-483-6457

2016 Mtns & Mesas with covers

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