Road Trip Planning| Miles Kms | Item | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| 0.0 0.0 |
Hwy 12 at Hwy 160 intersection (11 miles W of Walsenburg. |
|
| 3.0 4.8 |
La Veta -Cuchara Valley Airport (07V) |
Small craft, including some jets. Perfect place for gliders. Fueling available. |
| 3.0 4.8 |
Photo |
View from airport looking into valley at La Veta |
| 3.2 5.1 |
Photo |
La Veta Valley overlook |
| 3.3 5.3 |
La Veta Valley Overlook |
Elevation 7013. RV Parks,dump station, lodging, fine restuarants,churches, gas stations, groceries, art galleries, post office, real estate, laundry, gift shops, bicycles for public in-town use, Cuchura-LaVeta Chamber of Commerce located in Fort Francisco Museum's gift shop. |
| 4.6 7.4 |
Fort Francisco Museum |
Historic buildings,including restored village school house and other significant sites. An original letter from President Abraham Lincoln is housed here. Kiosk. |
| 4.7 7.6 |
Photo |
Sunrise over the township |
| 4.8 7.7 |
Walking Nature Park |
Short walk includes native grasses, trees, plants, identified and prepared by students at La Veta High School Science class. |
| 4.9 7.9 |
Photo |
Most photgraphed fall foliage in La Veta |
| 5.0 8.0 |
Hunter House Bed and Breakfast |
Located at 115 W.Grand Avenue. Turn-of-the-century stucco home, rich in history. Full breakfast - Hunter's live on-site. Guides/Information of area provided. |
| 5.5 8.9 |
Grandote Peaks Golf Course |
Championship rated/teaching pro on-site. |
| 6.3 10.1 |
Indian Creek Trail |
Access to National Forest from cabins where trailhead begins. |
| 9.0 14.5 |
Profile Rock |
Geological outcropping and local legend. Abundant wildlife sightings of deer, antelope, bear, wild turkeys, Mt. sheep, Mt. goats, elk, Mt. lions,and many species of birds, including eagles are possible. The valley follows the Cuchara River and Hwy 12 crosses it numerous times. Keep your camera ready!! |
| 10.8 17.4 |
Photo |
View from pullout |
| 10.9 17.5 |
Devil Stairsteps |
Local legend. Pullout. |
| 14.0 22.5 |
Dakota Wall |
The erosion by wind, weather, and water through the years, cut an entrance into the outcropping. |
| 15.9 25.6 |
Photo |
View from highway, turn of the century cabin |
| 16.0 25.7 |
Cuchara Village |
Lodging, fine restaurants, guest ranch with horsebike riding & trail rides, chapel, trailheads,country store, gift shops, miniature golf, summer cabins, 8650 elevation, mountain bike trails, hiking, tennis, San Isabel National Forest access. Century-old ranches, houses, barns. |
| 18.0 29.0 |
Cuchara Mountain Ski Resort |
Winter Sports & recreational events. Fine restuarant. Ski shop. Downhill/cross country skiing. lodging. |
| 19.5 31.4 |
Photo |
Cuchura Valley Recreational Area |
| 19.6 31.5 |
Cuchura Valley Recreational Area |
National Forest access. Restrooms. Blue Lake 4 miles. Bear Lake 5 miles. Fishing. Hiking. Camping & picnic areas. Easy pullout. |
| 21.8 35.1 |
Photo |
Road to Aguilar from Cuchara Pass |
| 21.9 35.2 |
Cuchara Pass |
Elevation 9996. Easy pullouts. Entrance to National Forest, Cordova Pass (elevation 11,743), John B. Farley overlook of Cuchara Valley, Aspen groves/scenic Fall beauty, Blue Spruce Forest, trailheads, Mt. hiking/biking. Restrooms at Cordova Pass 6 miles East & picnic grounds. Access to I-25 to Aguilar is 35 miles. Abundant wildlife. |
| 24.4 39.3 |
Scenic Pullout |
This state highway is maintained and kept open year around. Pristeen wilderness, native grasses, with cattle,elk,horse and sheep ranching seen along the route. Wagon trail impressions can be seen at various sightings. Respect private property signs. |
| 28.8 46.3 |
Photo |
View of North Lake |
| 28.9 46.5 |
North Lake - State Wildlife Area |
Several easy pullouts. Fishing & boat dock. Various species of waterfowl (local & migrating)and birds can be spotted along Highway of Legends. Kiosk. |
| 30.5 49.1 |
Purgatoire River Headwaters |
Campgrounds 4.5 miles. Restrooms. Northfork Trailhead 4.7 miles. |
| 30.5 49.1 |
Photo |
View of road to Purgatoire River headwaters |
| 30.6 49.2 |
Photo |
Campground at Purgatoire River Headwaters |
| 31.7 51.0 |
North Entrance of Monument Lake |
Large pullout. |
| 32.7 52.6 |
Monument Lake - South Entrance |
Local Legend. Camping,fishing,restuarant,restrooms,picnic grounds, cabins. |
| 37.1 59.7 |
Stonewall |
Cabins,grocery,cafe,restrooms,RV park,Dump station,laundry,fishing,guest ranch,gift shop. |
| 38.2 61.5 |
Photo |
Herd of Elk |
| 38.3 61.6 |
Picketwire |
Lodging,grocery,fishing,gameroom,gas, church. Highway of Legends follows Purgatoire River eastward. Numerous plazas along route where families settled to farm and ranch, usually with a central church whose bell would toll announcing events, holidays or impending danger. |
| 41.4 66.6 |
New Elk Coalmine |
Last operating coalmine closed in late 1990's. |
| 42.1 67.8 |
San Isidro & St Francis Catholic Church |
Convent and church |
| 42.5 68.4 |
Covered Bridge |
Local legend. Two houses had been built on bridge. Junction at County Road #217. Gravel road travels West through backcountry ranch lands, connecting with Hwy 12 at North Lake. |
| 44.5 71.6 |
Bosque del Oso Wildlife Area - West Entrance |
Numerous canyons and access roads. Not a through road. Scrub oak, cottonwood trees along the river. In the Fall, the scrub oak trees along Highway 12 look like a patchwork quilt. Abundunt wildlife sightings. Fishing & camping. Restrooms. |
| 48.2 77.6 |
Weston |
Small township - once a plaza. Church,grocery,store,post office. |
| 48.5 78.0 |
Bosque del Oso Wildlife Area - East Entrance |
Not a through route. Camping,fishing, hiking, with numerous canyons to explore. Restrooms. |
| 51.3 82.6 |
Plaza Church |
Pullout |
| 51.7 83.2 |
Primero Plaza |
Primero school/plaza |
| 52.7 84.8 |
Pullouts |
Several places to pullout whether traveling East or West. View of Purgatoire River and area. |
| 53.3 85.8 |
High Country Goat Dairy |
View operational goat dairy. Goat cheese for sale. |
| 53.5 86.1 |
State Wildlife Area |
Off-road viewing. Gravel/dirt road. |
| 55.3 89.0 |
Segungo Plaza |
Family-owned grocery, gas pump, meat market, churches, old train tressel, local artist gift stores, viewing of dark black coal outcroppings in numerous hillsides and along highway. Structural examples of adobe,rock, & stucco ranch houses and barns. |
| 60.5 97.4 |
Valdez Plaza |
After passing through the plaza, one can first view Fisher's Peak over Trinidad, Co. Near Long's Canyon Wildlife Observation Area. |
| 60.7 97.7 |
Spanish Peaks State Wildlife Observation Area |
This entire area is rich in early settlement lore and history. Along the highway route, numerous old roadbeds and railway beds can be viewed. |
| 62.4 100.4 |
Cokedale National Historical District |
The coking ovens can be viewed South of the highway. The camp was built in 1907 as a model mining camp. Easy pullouts and entrance to Reilly Canyon. Kiosk. |
| 62.9 101.2 |
Slag Mounds |
Coal mining produced slag that was stored on the North side of the highway. Legend notes that parents forbade the children from the area as smoke could be seen rising from within the mounds and they feared the children would fall into hell itself! |
| 65.9 106.1 |
Trinidad Lake State Park |
Camping,fishing,overlooks,pullouts,boat docks, visitor's center, restrooms, wildlife/bird observations. Much filming along this highway of commercial and music videos and movie making companies. Kiosk. |
| 66.6 107.2 |
Trinidad Lake - Dam Entrance |
South shore. pullout. Piedmont area. Corp of Engineers Headquarters.Fishing.Camping, picnic area. |
| 67.3 108.3 |
Jansen Plaza |
Below the lake dam area. Houses and waterways built zero baseline to highway. |
| 68.7 110.6 |
Corazon Plaza |
Located just outside Trinidad. Grocery, auto repair, cafe. |
| 69.9 112.5 |
Trinidad Welcome Center |
Local Chamber of Commerce information. Restrooms and coffee. War memorial. Located at Highway 12 and University Street. Exit from I-25 at 14A to Cuchara from the North or Exit 14A to Welcome Center and Trinidad State Junior College from the South.
Speed Limits on Hwy 12 vary from 65 to 20mph.
Ample spaces available in RV/Campgrounds. -e |