Travel beneath the iconic Spanish Peaks on the Highway of Legends Scenic Byway. This loop will take you south of Pueblo, Colorado, on Interstate 25, Highway 12, and Route 160 from the 10,000-foot summit of Cuchara Pass to the high plains around Walsenburg.
You'll drive through historic cities and towns, former mining camps, and even a few ghost towns. You'll hear tales of the old West, with its covered wagon trains, railroads, and gun battles.
You will see Colorado's first state park, Walsenburg Lathrop State Park, and one of Colorado's most popular, Monument Lake.
The tour takes you to La Veta, where you can visit Francisco Fort. It was an early outpost for settlers in present-day Huerfano County. Today, it's a museum with a working blacksmith's shop, the state's most extensive collection of arrowheads, and some unexpected artifacts.
In Trinidad, Colorado, you will bisect the Santa Fe Trail—a trade route for Native American tribes that became a commercial highway, bringing goods between Missouri and Santa Fe.
In the plains South of Walsenburg, you will hear the story of the Ludlow massacre. The event in Ludlow sparked a nationwide conflict between working men and corporate power. Nearby, find out what famous gangster hid out in the 1920s in the small town of Aguilar.
Aguilar, today, is an access point to the Spanish Peak State Wildlife Area--one of many points of interest on this tour for wildlife viewing such as elk and bears in their natural habitats.
You'll find out about the ancient geologic changes that have formed the surrounding landscape over millennia. A local geologist will educate you on the geology of Southern Colorado—once dotted with volcanoes, which began developing 40 million years ago.
If you want to get out of your car and enjoy some of the region's famous recreation, the tour features hiking trail access points such as those at the Spring Creek Day Use Area in Cuchara. It also features tips on where the best fishing lakes are in the San Isabel National Forest.
You'll also learn about the coal and steel production that built America… starting here in Huerfano County. And you'll hear about the people who made it happen: coal miners, union laborers, and the mighty Mother Jones – the most dangerous grandmother in America.
The tour features many native people and the lives they lived here. There'll be legends, ghost stories, and even a few rumors. And finally – you'll hear tips about local hikes, museums, and parks where you can stop to stretch your legs.
Tour Sponsors This audio tour is brought to you by the Huerfano County Tourism Board and made possible by a Colorado Office of Tourism grant.
Find More Tours Near You If you enjoy this tour, check out
Los Caminos Antiguos and
Historic Downton Walsenburg.
In addition, you can find other tours in Colorado or wherever your travels may take you at
TravelStorys.com. Every place has a story.
Location: Colorado
Travel Type: Driving
Tour Duration: 2 hours
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