Settled in 1880, Walsenburg sits at the gateway to the Cuchara Valley. Originally named Plaza de Los Leones when it was founded in 1862, the town became Walsenburg in 1870, after community leader Fred Walsen opened a large general store, started the area's first coal mine and incorporated the town's 320-acre site.

Today, visitors to Walsenburg can find a lot more than a general store. The town is home to Lanthrop State Park, where plenty of lakes offer opportunities for swimming, boating, wind surfing and fishing. And nearby, San Isabel National Forest, the Spanish Peaks and the Sangre de Cristo Mountains offer hiking and biking trails as well as beautiful scenery.

Photo Courtesy of Lori Sheldon,
Walsenburg Wild Waters

Vacationers who want their scenery with a dose of history can travel the Highway of Legends. A scenic state and national byway since the 1980s, the route highlights areas important to Colorado's history.

Or stay closer to town and take a fun break at Walsenburg's new water park. With two giant slides, a diving pool, and multiple fountains, sprays and water-dumping buckets, the park is a great way to cool down after a hot day of summer sightseeing. Visitors can also stop by Walsenburg's museums to learn about the town's coal mining history and get a closer look at some of its remaining historic buildings.

Walsenburg is near: Cuchara Valley Area & Trinidad