Fun Travel in the Mountain West

The U.S Mountain West states offer some of the best and most diverse travel experiences in North America.

The mountain and desert geography gives every tourist abundant opportunities for great photos as well as terrific hiking adventures. In a lot of ways, the mountain west is all about the outdoors.

Yes, things have changes since the days of the Old West but most of the Old West towns, many you may already have heard of have survived and their history has survived with them as well. You'll still be able to taste the Old West lifestyle and add to it the great travel stops found in the big cities of Phoenix, Albuquerque, Las Vegas, Denver, Salt Lake City and more.

Below you'll find the kind of fun travel sites to add to your next road trip out west. We've listed interesting travel stops in the states of Arizona, Colorado and New Mexico. These are just a small sampling of sites. You'll find many additional western U.S. travel stops on this website westerntrips.blogspot.com  and also on www.tripsintohistory.com

Arizona
 
Arizona's old west includes towns such as Prescott, Yuma, Tucson, Tombstone, Benson and more. Arizona is the Grand Canyon state and in addition to the breathtaking views there you can enjoy a scenic train ride between Williams and the Grand Canyon South Rim on the famous Grand Canyon Railroad. Here you can ride along 45 miles of track laid back in the 1800's during the great mining days of Colorado.

Tucson's rich old west history will call for a stroll through Old Town with it's historic buildings. Old Tucson is Where the Spirit of the Old West Comes Alive! Just to the west of Tucson is the Old Tucson Studios where many a western movie was filmed. Old Tucson Studios today is a theme park just west of Tucson, adjacent to the Tucson Mountains and close to the western section of Saguaro National Park.

Prescott, which at one time was the capital of the old Arizona Territory, is rich in old west history and was a major destination of old Arizona stage coaches. 

Colorado

Aside from the mile high city of Denver, Colorado Springs and Pueblo...the state has a rich history of mining with many of these old mining towns still in existence. In the southwest portion of the state is Durango with it's beautiful mountains, horse back riding, and the historic Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. Ride this historic train on 45 miles of rails originally laid in 1882 between the mining town of Silverton and the railroad-built town of Durango.

Alamosa is a two and one half hour drive north of Santa Fe New Mexico which makes it a good addition while visiting in Santa Fe.

Where the early railroad laid rails to, in many instances, decided what towns prospered and what towns faded away. In the case of Alamosa, the real engine of growth was the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad which built to it in June of 1878 from Garland Colorado to the east and eventually continued onward. Alamosa, which means cottonwood in Spanish, is the place to stay when visiting nearby attractions including the Great Sand Dunes National Park which is located about thirty-eight miles northeast of town.

New Mexico 

Albuquerque, Santa Fe and Taos have long been popular travel destinations. Albuquerque which is the largest city in the state has a very interesting Old Town area, just west of present day downtown, and features many historic buildings and sites as well as a great selection of restaurants. Add to that the Sandia Peak Tramway just north of the city and you'll be assured a fun visit.

Santa Fe, the City Different, is the state capital with it's historic Plaza. Add to that Loretta Chapel, St Francis Basilica and terrific museums. Shopping is great and you'll find some of the finest dining and hotels in the state.

Taos is a city that inspires, amazes, and captures the hearts of all who visit this scenic mountain town. Taos has a scenic Plaza lines with shops and restaurants. Visit the old home of Kit Carson who called Taos his home. Today the home is a terrific museum displaying artifacts from Kit Carson and the old Taos days. Another good stop is the old Charles Bent House, once owned by the first governor of the New Mexico Territory, and now an interesting museum. Just north of town is the Taos Pueblo. Taos Pueblo is  a living Native American community located at the base of the beautiful Sangre de Cristo Mountains.  It is the only living Native American community designated both a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and a National Historic Landmark.

Mesilla is located next to Las Cruces and is both the most visited old community in southern New Mexico as well as one of the most historic. Mesilla's location placed it in the direct path of many historical events of the mid 1800's including the American Civil War. 

Mesilla's distance from the old Territorial capital at Santa Fe and the more populated northern New Mexico area meant that lawlessness was a major factor to contend with not to mention a running battle with various Apache tribes. Mesilla was also a stop during the days of the Butterfield Stage Route between St. Louis and San Francisco. 

Silver City sits atop a site that has been home to Native American, Hispanic and Anglo settlers for hundreds of years. The town was named Silver City because rich deposits of chloride silver were discovered just west of town during the 1870's. Silver City is the site of two historic district downtown hotels. One is named The Palace Hotel and the other The Murray Hotel. Lots of historic buildings including the unique Silver City Museum will be found along with good dining choices and shopping. 


(Photos and article copyright Western Trips)

Breckenridge Colorado Attractions / An Old Mining Town and Resort

 

A View of Breckenridge, Colorado

Breckenridge Colorado, a great place to visit anytime during the year, has it's roots back in the heydays of Colorado gold mining. The first settlers came into Summit County Colorado in 1859 during the time of the Pikes Peak Gold Rush. What was a base camp for the miners would turn into the town of Breckenridge.

As the California Gold Rush demonstrated, a mining camp can turn into a town virtually overnight. One year later in 1860 a post office was established to serve more than 8,000 people. Today Breckenridge has the distinction of being Colorado's largest historic district containing more than 350 historic structures.

Breckenridge as a Mining Town / Mine Sites to Visit

The town of Breckenridge was settled to serve the miners working the placer (surface) gold deposits and today there are fun activities for the entire family taking you back to the era of the gold mines.

Photo of old Country Boy Mine

The Country Boy Mine, opened in 1887, was one of the largest and most famous gold mines in Breckenridge. Take a  mine tour into a real gold mine at this historic restored mining site. While at the mine you can also pan for gold. Directions to the Country Boy Mine from downtown Breckenridge are as follows...From the center of town head North on Main Street.Take a right onto Wellington Road (Wellington Road is 1 block north of Ski Hill Road/Lincoln Avenue).Continue on Wellington Road east for 1 mile. Wellington Road becomes French Gulch Road.Veer right onto French Gulch Road continue for 1 mile.The mine is located on the right. For more information on the Country Boy Mine see website.....http://www.countryboymine.com/ 

Winter in Breckenridge

Another Breckenridge attraction is the Lomax Mine. The mine is located near downtown Breckenridge and was an active hydraulic placer mining operation in the 1860's. Visit this old mine today and an expert guides will take you way back in time to Breckenridge's early mining days. Step inside a miner’s cabin, see original hydraulic mining equipment and learn to pan for gold. For more information on the Lomax Mine see website.....http://breckheritage.com/lomax-placer-mine-tour-and-gold-panning-site/#

The Washington Mine was one of the area’s largest underground mines in the 1880's. The underground size of the mine was more than 10,000 square feet. Visitors to the Washington Mine today will see the methods, equipment, lifestyles and hardships of the hard rock mining era in Colorado's Summit County. Your tour of the Washington Mine will take you underground for a first hand mining experience. The kid's will learn how to pan for gold and any gold they find they can keep.

Visit the Red, White and Blue Fire House Museum.The all volunteer Breckenridge Fire department was founded in 1880. Towns during the 1800's, especially those mining towns that grew fast, were largely constructed of wood. Because of this the fire demon could strike at any time. Many of the California gold country mining towns that sprang up in the early 1850's, also built mostly of wooden structures, suffered devastating fires, some more than once.

The name for the Breckenridge Colorado museum and the fire department came from the fact that the department first established three different fire fighting companies. The Fire Museum displays an original human-powered ladder cart, a restored hose cart as well as fire fighting equipment and uniforms from the first companies. The Breckenridge Fire Department over all these decades was comprised of miners, teamsters, saloon keepers, local merchants and many others who worked side by side fighting fires. The Fire Museum is open year-round with tours conducted by modern firefighters.

Breckenridge restaurant

Breckenridge Colorado Today

Breckenridge is the oldest and largest town in Colorado's famous Summit County. Breckenridge has been referred to as the perfect mountain town. It is the largest downtown historic district in the state.

Through music, film, theater, visual arts, galleries, museums, historical sites, and educational programs, Breckenridge Colorado offers a perfect Colorado mountain
experience.

You may also enjoy additional Western Trips articles on Colorado vacation destinations found on the links below...

A Visit to Historic San Luis Colorado

Visit Historic Colorado / Cripple Creek 

Killdeer Mountain Four Bears Scenic Byway / ND

Attractions in Breckenridge cover the entire year. Summers in this mountain getaway find visitors  hiking, biking,  fishing and enjoying gold mine tours plus taking in the mild weather. Winter is a time of skiing and winter sports of all kinds. Breckenridge Colorado has a large world-class mountain with 155 trails and 31 lifts including the highest one in North America. No matter the season, a trip to this friendly town makes a perfect vacation or long weekend.

(Article and photos copyright Western Trips. Old Country Boy Mine photo in public domain.)

A Visit to Historic San Luis Colorado

San Luis Colorado with the motto: "The Oldest Town in Colorado" is a beautiful and historic place to visit. Nestled in scenic south central Colorado, a short distance north of the border with New Mexico, San Luis was a part of the New Mexico Territory until 1861 when the Colorado Territory was established. This was at the same time that Congress granted Kansas statehood.

Mural in San Luis Colorado

The Settlement of San Luis

As mentioned above, the settlement of San Luis was at one time within the New Mexico Territory when the U.S. took control in the late 1840's. Prior to that the settlement was within Spanish and later Mexican Nuevo Mexico. The Spanish explored into present day Colorado as early as 1540. The Mexican government only ruled the territory for a few decades in the 1800's before the Mexican American War. As a direct result of that war Mexico ceded the region.

San Luis today is primarily a Hispanic settlement that was originally populated in 1851. This would have been just a few years after the Mexican American War and still a part of the New Mexico Territory. Historically, this is also an area of the expedition of Zebulon Pike

Land grants attracted many people to today's southern Colorado although the settlers at first had to withstand raids from Ute Native Americans of which this land was a part of their ancestral grounds. Many tribes did inhabit Colorado at various times includung the Comanche, Cheyenne and Arapaho.

A good book regarding Colorado Territory history is The Rise of the Centennial State: Colorado Territory by author Eugene H. Berwanger.

The Chapel of All Saints on top of the mesa

Visit San Luis Colorado and the Colorado-New Mexico Border Region

A visit to San Luis is a perfect companion trip to several other northern New Mexico and Southern Colorado tourist destinations. San Luis is about 63 miles north of Taos New Mexico and about 45 miles south of the Great Sand Dunes National Park.

Shrine of the Stations of the Cross 

In addition to being the oldest town in Colorado San Luis has another thing to offer. Take a stroll up a part paved part dirt path up a hillside on the edge of San Luis Colorado and you'll be experiencing the truly unique Shrine of the Stations of the Cross. Here you will find a spot that reflects the culture of the area.

Walking on this path some 8,000 feet above sea level could be one of the most unique walks you'll take.  The route is about three quarters of a mile long. The Shrine of the Stations of the Cross is located on a mesa and along your walk you'll pass by a several bronze statues.These statues depict the last hours of the life of Christ. Each station along your journey up the mesa will highlight a different scene. On top of the mesa is the Spanish-Moorish styled Chapel of All Saints. The chapel towers over the valley.

You will pass fifteen different stations along the way with the last one depicting Christ's resurrection. Models of the sculptures are also in a collection at the Vatican in Rome Italy.

A view at the beginning of the walkway

The Sculptor

The sculptor of these unique bronze statues was Huberto Maestas. Works of Maestas are located throughout the world. His work is in both public and private collections.

His sculptures at the Shrine of the Stations of the Cross were made at two-thirds life size. The Crucifixion and the Resurrection statues are life size.

Many Historic and Fun Sites Near San Luis Colorado

As mentioned above, a visit to unique and scenic San Luis Colorado can be a good addition to the many other scenic and historic sites in the area. These include the historic site of Fort Garland Colorado, about 16 miles north of San Luis.

The art community of Arroyo Seco New Mexico is about a 64 mile drive south of San Luis and just a few miles south of it is beautiful Taos New Mexico.

Below are links to Western Trips photo articles covering a few more interesting sites near San Luis Colorado...

The Art and History of Arroyo Seco New Mexico

Historic Frontier Fort Garland Colorado

Entrance way to the Shrine of the Stations of the Cross

An interesting side note, and a topic that has been reported on in length, the San Luis Valley of southern Colorado is a UFO hot spot. At least it is to some observers. Many of the locals tell of UFO stories. Supposedly there have been documented UFO sightings in the valley as far back as the year 1600.  Today the San Luis Valley is considered a national UFO hot spot.

 If you're in the area and into UFO's make sure to check out the UFO Watchtower in Hooper Colorado. This is a rectangular shaped tower standing ten feet above ground that can accommodate sixty people at a time. There have also been about the same number of sightings, cigar shaped strange objects with lights, since the tower's opening. Hooper Colorado is located about 59 miles northwest of San Luis Colorado and about 20 miles north of Alamosa Colorado.

(Article and photos copyright 2013 Western Trips)



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Historic Antonito Colorado

Steam Train Hotel, Antonito, CO

Like so many settlements in Colorado, historic Antonito owes it's early growth to the arrival of the railroad.

 Located in the southern part of the San Luis Valley and at an elevation of 7,888 feet, the town was once on the mainline of the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad. The once sheep herding camp of San Antonio Junction, the settlement incorporated as Antonito Colorado in 1889. The change in names occurred about the same time that the railroad built it's line south from Alamosa Colorado to Antonito.

Today, Antonito Colorado is a tourist destination as well as a railroad shipping point.  The popular Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad runs between Antonito and Chama New Mexico. Antonito actually served as the switching point between the regular gauge Denver & Rio Grande Railroad that went north to Alamosa and the narrow gauge railroad running down to Chama.

The Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad

Vacations in Colorado always offer unique and scenic adventures. The Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad has been one of these adventures for years and you can access the train from Antonito.

The Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad, originally built in 1880, offers all day excursions on their narrow gauge train powered by a coal burning steam locomotive. The route the train travels is a very scenic one which is common in this beautiful area of northern New Mexico and southern Colorado. Terrific views are offered of the San Juan and Sangre de Cristo Mountain Ranges. Along it's route, this scenic railroad runs over the 10,000 foot Cumbres Pass.

Cumbres & Toltec steam locomotive

The Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad offers excursions from the train depot in Chama New Mexico as well as the depot in Antonito Colorado. Trains depart each morning from both depots. Passengers can ride all the way between both towns or return to where they departed on the other train at Osier, an old stagecoach stop, where lunch is served. The steam locomotives used by the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad are engines that once worked on this line and on the Denver & Rio Grande Western.

The 1911 Steam Train Hotel

Located on main Street in the center of Antonito is the Steam Train Hotel. Many people stay at this charming old red brick hotel in conjunction with their excursion on the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad. The Steam Train Hotel overlooks the spot that Indiana Jones jumped off the steam train and ran into the movie set film home of the Jones family in the blockbuster film Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade


Renovations were made in 2010 and accommodations include everything from basic singles to doubles with kitchenettes to entire two bedroom family suites.

Each hotel room is individually decorated with antiques that are tasteful but comfortable. You will feel as though you stepped back in time, as luxury is present at every turn.

Our Lady of Guadalupe Church

Colorado's Oldest Church

Just a two mile drive north of Antonito is the settlement on Conejos. Here you will find Our Lady of Guadalupe Church.

Our Lady of Guadalupe Church was founded in 1856 and it’s parish is the oldest in Colorado. The very first church on the site was constructed of logs put plastered with adobe. In 1863 a larger adobe church was built. Renovations took place through the years but the building was burned down in 1926 by an electrical fire. The walls and towers were saved but new brick towers and a brick entrance were built in 1948. When you visit the church you’ll see a niche above the front entrance up near the roof line containing the statue of the Virgin of Guadalupe. This is the original statue brought by the first settlers of the area.

Below are links to Western Trips articles about more southern Colorado trip destinations...

Historic Fort Garland

Beautiful Manitou Springs Colorado

A Visit to Mesa Verde National Park

Antonito CO Train Depot

Los Caminos Antiguos Scenic Byway 

Running directly through Antonito Colorado is the Los Caminos Antiguos Scenic Byway. This 129 mile long connection of highways. The name of this scenic byway in Spanish means “the ancient road” and it is true that this roadway winds itself through an area that was once home to the ancient Indians of the southwest as well as the territory of Nuevo Mexico which was once ruled by Spain.

Travel on the Los Caminos Antiguos Scenic Byway for an opportunity to explore the culture and traditions of some of Colorado’s oldest communities.

You’ll view the spectacular San Juan and Sangre de Cristo Mountain ranges as well as the high, fertile San Luis Valley which is today Colorado’s largest agricultural area. Also, along this highway among other interesting stops you’ll explore the town of San Luis Colorado and the Shrine of the Stations of the Cross, the historic frontier military outpost of Fort Garland, Alamosa Colorado and it's Rio Grande Scenic Railroad and the Great Sand Dunes National Park, the site of the highest sand dunes in North America.

Authentic frontier carbines exhibit, Fort Garland, CO

For more information on Colorado's Los Caminos Antiguos Scenic Byway and a map of the route see website www.coloradodot.info/travel/scenic-byways/south-central/los-caminos.

The entire region of southern Colorado and northern New Mexico is filled with a tremendous amount of historic sites, National Parks, National Monuments, wildlife refuges, and museums. Vacations in Colorado offer something for everyone. If you have an opportunity to travel southern Colorado you'll find many fun and educational sites to add to your road trip planner.


(Article and photos copyright 2013 Western Trips)



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Frontier Forts / Fort Garland Colorado

Restored adobe structures from parade ground

Western Trips had the opportunity to explore the southern Colorado military outpost of Fort Garland. Fort Garland was established in 1858, about a decade after the U.S. took possession of the southwest from Mexico, to protect settlers in the San Luis Valley. This area of Colorado is a particularly scenic part of a very scenic state. Fort Garland is also just south of towering Blanca Peak which has an elevation of 14,345 feet. Blanca Peak is the highest peak in all of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains.

Southern Colorado's Unique Tourist Sites

Fort Garland is an excellent addition to your southern Colorado trip planner and it's near to several other popular tourist destinations. This old frontier fort has a vast array of 1800's artifacts including a large collection of frontier firearms and furnished barracks as they would have looked in the 1800's.

Fort Garland is located about 25 miles east of Alamosa Colorado, 78 miles north of Taos New Mexico and about 90 miles southwest of Pueblo Colorado.

Fort Garland infantry barracks interior

One of several unique travel sites near Fort Garland is the Great Sand Dunes National Park which is about a 29 mile drive west and northwest of the fort. Another is Pike's Stockade which was built by Zebulon Pike in 1807.The site is four miles east of Sanford Colorado via Colorado Hwy 136. Pike raised the American flag at this fort in Spanish territory during his second expedition into the Louisiana Territory. The site is a National Historic Landmark.

The link below is our Western Trips photo article on the Great Sand Dunes National Park.

The Great Sand Dunes

 Another fun family activity nearby in Alamosa Colorado is the Rio Grande Scenic Railroad. This excursion train rides from Alamosa to La Veta Colorado and a connection to the Cumbres and Toltec Railway which offers scenic rides to Chama New Mexico. The Rio Grande Scenic Railroad route takes you through fascinating mountain country that's not seen from the highway.

Display of 1800's carbines

Fort Garland and the San Luis Valley

Fort Garland is considered the gateway to the San Luis Valley. The San Luis Valley is an agricultural area about 125 miles long and 50 miles wide. The highly productive valley receives it's irrigation from the Rio Grande and from artesian wells which makes it the most productive agricultural valley in all of Colorado. Lettuce, barley and Red McClure potatoes are some of the main crops shipped out of the San Luis Valley.

The San Luis Valley is a unique region. The valley lies in elevations above 7,000 feet and in many respects is a high desert but lies above aquifers. The valley had been occupied for centuries by Native Americans and then by the Spaniards. By the end of the 1800's most of the valley had been cultivated by the many settlers who arrived from the east after the end of the Mexican American War.

Fort Garland and the Sangre de Cristo Land Grant

Fort Garland has a very rich history which has been preserved and on display at the fort museum. The fort itself was built on land leased from the Sangre de Cristo Land Grant which was part of a system to reward land during the times of Spanish and Mexican occupation of North America. At the time of their occupation of the southwest, Colorado was part of Nuevo Mexico with it's capital being in Santa Fe.

View toward Blanca Peak

Land grants were important to the Spaniards and Mexicans for several reasons. First, served as a catalyst to help settle a region. Land grants also served a military purpose. Land owners were expected to ride along the borders of their property to show ownership, commit to improvements, and  pledge to defend the land against foreign attacks as both the Spanish and Mexican Governments did not have the military forces capable of defending their outermost territories.

As it turned out after the Americans took over this territory as well as California, there were many disputes regarding the land grants awarded simply because the Spanish and Mexican systems were so different than the American method of land ownership. It's interesting to note that there still remains disputes of land ownership in the U.S. as a direct result from these early Spanish and Mexican land grants.

In particular, the Mexican's who inherited the Spanish administration after 1821, allowed for French, British, and American born men to own  land so that they essentially became the large landowners in Mexico.  All that was required of the land recipients was to pledge to defend Mexico against American westward expansion.

Fort Garland and Kit Carson

As an active U.S. military fort, it leased land from the historic Sangre de Cristo Land Grant. - See more at: http://www.historycolorado.org/museums/history-fort-0#sthash.JPKjcwJ8.dpuf

When Fort Garland was established by the War Department in 1858, the area where the fort would be established was in the Territory of New Mexico. Fort was built to replace Fort Massachusetts which had been built six miles to it's north. Fort Massachusetts happened to be built in what was soon determined to be a poor defensible position therefore the establishment of Fort Garland was needed as a replacement. The fort was named after the Commander of the Department of New Mexico, John Garland.

Cavalry Officer's hat exhibit

Fort Garland, whose buildings were constructed in adobe architecture, at one time was commanded by the legendary Kit Carson who occupied the fort with his regiment of New Mexico Volunteers. Carson commanded Fort Garland from 1866 to 1867, not long after the conclusion of the American Civil War.While commanding the fort, Kit Carson was credited with making peace with the Ute Indians of the region.

Kit Carson died just one year after his Fort Garland command ended. Carson died in 1868 at nearby Fort Lyon at the age of only 58 of what was described as a abdominal aortic aneurysm. He was buried near his home in Taos New Mexico. 

Visitors to Taos today can take a tour of the old Kit Carson home which is also a museum. The home and museum is located just a short walk east of the Taos Plaza. Kit Carson's grave site is a short walk northeast of the home.

Below are links to a Western Trips photo articles regarding Kit Carson and Taos New Mexico. 

Kit Carson and Taos New Mexico 

Kit Carson and a Trip Through the Navajo Nation

Fort Garland frontier pipe and tobacco exhibit

Fort Garland and the Civil War

During the Civil War Fort Garland was utilized as an enlistment point for Colorado Union Volunteers. Some of the troops put together at Fort Garland fought in the key Battle of Glorieta Pass, a site just to the east of Santa Fe New Mexico and along present day Interstate 25.

The battle was key in that it turned back General Henry Sibley and his Confederates who were attempting to travel north and attack the important Fort Union along the old Santa Fe Trail. Up to thae point of the battle, Sibley had occupied both Albuquerque and Santa Fe. The Union victory at Glorieta Pass checked the Confederate advance and forced their eventual withdrawal from all of New Mexico Territory.

Fort Garland is located at a point in southern Colorado that makes it very easy to combine a visit their to other fine tourist destinations. Taos New Mexico is just 78 miles to the south. Santa Fe New Mexico is just another 65 miles south of Taos and to the west is Alamosa Colorado with the Great Sand Dunes National Park and two very popular National Wildlife Refuges and the Rio Grande Scenic Railroad.

(Article and photos copyright 2013 Western Trips)


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Where the Southwest Meets the Rockies

If your western road trip takes you to southern Colorado you'll be traveling in an area of the U.S. where the Great Southwest meets the Rocky Mountains. One town in particular you'll want to add to your trip planner is Alamosa Colorado.

Downtown  Alamosa Colorado

Alamosa Colorado is located about 85 miles north of Taos New Mexico and about 70 miles west of Walsenburg Colorado on Interstate 25 via U.S. Hwy 160. Alamosa is also a two and one half hour drive north of Santa Fe New Mexico which makes it a good addition while vacationing in Santa Fe.


The Railroad Made Alamosa

Alamosa Colorado is one of those many towns in the western U.S. who owes it's original growth to the railroad. Where the early railroad built to, in many instances, determined what towns prospered and what towns did not. In the case of Alamosa, the real engine of growth was the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad which built to it in June of 1878 from Garland Colorado to the east and eventually continued onward. To emphasize the importance of the railroad to Alamosa, the town today calls itself  "the town that grew overnight". The Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad changed a tent settlement to a solid town literally overnight. It's said that whole buildings were transported to Alamosa on rail cars and the town incorporated in August of 1878.

Historic Alamosa Colorado train depot

Alamosa in the San Luis Valley

Alamosa Colorado is located in the San Luis Valley where agriculture is the major economic catalyst. The San Luis Valley is about 125 miles long and about 50 miles wide. To the east are the towering Sangre de Cristo Range and to the west are the San Juan Mountains. At one time the valley was inhabited by both the Comanche and Ute Indians who hunted game such as deer and elk.

The Spaniard, Diego de Vargas, was the first European to enter the valley. Lieutenant Zebulon Pike’ s expedition traveled through the San Luis Valley while still a Spanish territory in 1806-1807. After the end of the Spanish American War in the 1840's the region became a territory of the United States.

This valley receives it's irrigation from the Rio Grande and from artesian wells which makes it the most productive agricultural valley in all of Colorado. Lettuce, barley and Red McClure potatoes are some of the main crops shipped out of the San Luis Valley.

The San Luis Valley is a unique region. The valley lies in elevations above 7,000 feet and in many respects is a high desert but lies above aquifers. By the end of the 1800's most of the valley had been cultivated. 

When the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad built into town it made Alamosa a major shipping point for the valley's crops.

Rio Grande Scenic Railroad locomotive

Attractions In and Near Alamosa Colorado

Alamosa, which means cottonwood in Spanish, is the place to stay when visiting nearby attractions including the Great Sand Dunes National Park which is located about thirty-eight miles northeast of town. These are the tallest sand dunes in America and if you've never visited this area you'll want to add it to your western vacation planner. Camping is allowed inside the park and there are room accommodations just outside the park entrance.

Another very popular attraction in Alamosa itself is the Rio Grande Scenic Railroad. This excursion train rides from Alamosa to La Veta Colorado and a connection to the Cumbres and Toltec Railway which offers scenic rides to Chama New Mexico. The Rio Grande Scenic Railroad route takes you through fascinating mountain country that's not seen from the highway.

Vintage rail cars at Alamosa railyard

The Alamosa National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1962 as a haven for migratory birds and other wildlife. The refuge is over 11,000 acres in size. According to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, the refuge consists of wet meadows, river oxbows and riparian corridor primarily within the flood plain of the Rio Grande, and dry uplands vegetated with greasewood and saltbush. These areas support songbirds, water birds, raptors, mule deer, beaver and coyotes.

The Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1953 particularly as a haven for waterfowl. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service state that the refuge is a major stopover for migrating greater sandhill cranes moving between their wintering area around Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge in New Mexico and breeding grounds in the northern United States and southern Canada. There is also a great number of elk seen in this refuge. As is the case with the valley's agriculture, the water provided by the Rio Grande and the underground aquifers make both the Alamosa National Wildlife Refuge and the Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge possible.

While searching for oil during the 1930's, hot water was struck near Hooper Colorado to the north of Alamosa. Today the Alamosa area offers visitors a very unique mineral water swimming pool. The Sand Dunes Swimming Pool and RV Park offers a 150,000 gallon pool where underground hot springs water enters the pool at 118 degrees Fahrenheit and is maintained in the pool between 98 and 100 degrees. There is an adjoining 24 person therapy pool whose temperature stays a consistent 108 to 109 degrees.  The pool also offers an excellent snack bar, family fun, relaxation and rejuvenation and it's just 20 miles from Alamosa. It's a great stop to add to your itinerary when visiting all of the other attractions in and around Alamosa Colorado.

Great Sand Dunes National Park

The links below are to three Western Trips photo articles that make good companion trips with a visit to Alamosa Colorado...

Great Sand Dunes National Park

A Visit to the Cave Dwellings at Mesa Verde

The Great Sand Dunes National park is just about a 45 minute drive northeast of Alamosa Colorado. Mesa Verde national park is just west of Durango Colorado which is another must stop while in southern Colorado and about 180 miles west of Alamosa. The drive from Alamosa to Mesa Verde is about three and a half hours.

(Article and photos copyright 2013 Western Trips)

Best Mountain Bike Trails / The Great Divide Mountain Bike Route

If you're searching for a high adventure western trip and you have the physical ability and the time to prepare and partake in it, an absolutely spectacular mountain bike route in the western U.S. is available to serious cycle enthusiasts and is among the best mountain biking trails.

Boreas Pass, Central Colorado

The Great Divide Mountain Bike Route also referred to as the Great Divide Route or by some, the Continental Divide Trail is one of a kind. Whatever name you prefer to call it, it's one very unique mountain bike route and the longest off-pavement route in the world.

One big reason this is a popular route for adventurous road bikers is that you can literally ride the trail from Canada to Mexico and the scenery along the way is obviously both diverse and spectacular.

The bike route geography varies from scrub desert to alpine mountain. Elevations also vary to a large degree. Over the vast majority of this bike route, the cyclist will either be ascending or descending. The cycle tail literally offers something different each day and I think this is one of attributes that make this route one of the best mountain biking routes you'll discover.

Being about 2,500 miles in length, the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route is the world's longest. I should point out that there's an excellent book published about the trail. Cycling the Great Divide, by author Michael McCoy, gives an excellent description of the trail and is a good read if you plan on either taking on the entire trail or just a portion of it.

About 80% of the bike route is made up of county, Forest Service, and Bureau of Land Management dirt and gravel roads. The remainder is a combination of paved roads, four wheel drive tracks and single track trails.

A north to south route along the Great Divide goes through a variety of climates. For those starting out in the northern section, the window of cycling this portion runs from about mid June to the end of September. The best authority on learning about and enjoying riding the Great Divide Bike Route is the Adventure Cycling Association. The Adventure Cycling Association is credited with establishing the bike route. The association offers maps, information about services available along the way and invaluable tips that will help make your journey both safe and as comfortable as possible.The association also suggests that would be trail cyclists also consult U.S. Forest Service maps as well.

Northern New Mexico scenery

The Great Divide bike route is known to be divided into five sections. The Canadian section that goes to Banff Alberta runs through several beautiful Canadian national parks. With the addition of the Canadian bike route, the entire bike route now is over 2,700 miles in length. The bike route in Canada also offers 114 miles of virgin riding through British Columbia's Flathead and Wigwam River valleys.

On the other end of the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route, the trail enters New Mexico in the San Juan Mountains and travels through the Carson National Forest. This is a very spectacular part of the bike route in as much as the rock colors are very beautiful. The mountain route then passes the small village of Abiquiu. This was at one time the home of the famous 20th century artist, Georgia O'Keeffe.

Further south you'll pass over the Jemez Mountains, east of Santa Fe, and through the town of Cuba New Mexico. After this segment, the bike route passes Chaco Mesa and the Cibolo National Forest. The landscape is of pinon studded plateaus,  arroyos, tall volcanic plugs, and abandoned ranches.

Map of Gila National Forest, New Mexico

The last town on the southern section is Silver City New Mexico and beyond that lies essentially about 100 miles of desert before reaching the Mexican border.

The southern end of the route is Antelope Wells NM, right on the U.S. border with Mexico. NM Hwy 81 links it with Interstate 10 to the north.

As mentioned above, the Adventure Cycling Association is the authority about anything you wish to know about the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route.

The association's stated goal is to inspire people of all ages to travel by bicycle. They can help you explore this great country and the fascinating Great Divide route for fitness, fun, and self-discovery.

You may also enjoy our Western Trips article on the White Pass Scenic Byway in Central Washington state.


(Boreas Pass and Gila National. Forest map are from the public domain. New Mexico mountain photo is from author's private collection. Article copyright Western Trips)

Mesa Verde National Park and the Anasazi / A Western Trip

What is Mesa Verde? In Spanish, the term means "green table". No doubt, what is today Mesa Verde National Park was indeed first viewed by the Spanish explorers who traversed this area in the very southwest corner of Colorado and which at one time, centuries ago, was home to what we refer to as the Anasazi.

 It's also a great place to explore today as part of your western U.S. road trip. Located not far from the "four corners" area, Mesa Verde park makes an excellent addition to your western vacation planner. Mesa Verde is located between Durango and Cortez Colorado, both two good towns to also add to your summer vacation itinerary.

The Founding of Mesa Verde National Park

Mesa Verde National Park was established on June 29, 1906 by President Theodore Roosevelt, a President who did quite a lot to foster the growth of the National Park system. The cliff dwellings at Mesa Verde National Park are an invaluable display of North American Indian culture. They are considered among the best preserved of all cave dwellings found in the American southwest. Mesa Verde in Colorado is a showcase of how the pueblo Indians lived over a span of some 700 years. The showcase is so incredible, when you first view the cliff dwellings, you may very well ask yourself how they were ever constructed. The very size and craftsmanship that would have to go into their construction is mind boggling.

The Anasazi

Historians believe that about 1,400 years ago, the people who lived in what we call today the "four corners" (where the boundaries of Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Arizona meet) moved up to the present site of Mesa Verde.

These people are referred to as the Anasazi. Since about 1936, archeologists used the term to describe these ancient Native Americans. There is some debate about the meaning of Anasazi. In Navajo, the term is spelled as 'anaasazi" which translates to "enemy ancestor" which is not what the use of the term implies today. Nevertheless, the term was coined in the 1800's and started to be used regularly around 1936. While some once believed that the people who lived in these magnificent cliff dwellings simply disappeared, in actuality they are considered the forefathers of the more modern day pueblo Indians who eventually moved to the south.

What we know mostly about the Anasazi was garnered from their petroglyphs and pictographs on rock walls. The petroglyphs are found in many places in the American southwest in addition to Mesa Verde National Park.

Both Bandelier National Monument and Petroglyph National Monument, both in New Mexico, are good examples. Originally thought to be a nomadic people, the Anasazi eventually built a close knit society comprised of cliff dwellings and free standing stone structures several stories high. They also became accomplished farmers. Far from being a primitive group of people, the Anasazi raised crops such as squash and went on to produce baskets, pottery and weaving items that evolved from cord to cotton. Over the centuries, the Anasazi developed the bow and arrow which was a better hunting weapon than a spear.

The structures the Anasazi built were quite impressive as the photos on this page illustrate. Multi-storied structures could contain hundreds of rooms. As you can see, the structures were built on rock ledges.

Why Did The Anasazi Leave?

The biggest question that's asked regarding the Anasazi is...why did these people abandon their highly crafted cliff dwellings and move to the south into today's New Mexico and Arizona? 

As you can imagine, there have been many different answers proffered. Archeologists have discussed issues such as drought  and sanitation problems.

Possibly their move south was a result of warfare. One probable explanation may have been that the Anasazi simply outgrew their dwellings and needed to move to more open spaces.

There's also some evidence that the migration away from the Mesa Verde area may have occurred over hundreds of years and took place family by family as opposed to one mass movement. That being said, the prevailing story among many historians and archeologists seems to be that a severe drought caused the exodus. This may be just one of those curiosities that will never be answered for certain.

The modern pueblo people can claim to be direct descendents of the Anasazi, although as mentioned above, there is some dispute among tribes as to the meaning of the term. The modern puebloans built a culture along the same lines as the ancient ones. Stone and adobe structures are the mainstay. A history of active agriculture also binds the two groups together. The Spaniards discovered these Native Americans with their multi-storied family houses and gave them the name "pueblo", which in Spanish refers to a village. When you travel and vacation in New Mexico, you will see the adobe architecture just about everywhere.

Today's modern adobe styled structures are built with thick walls made of wood frame, concrete block or a combination of both. The original true adobe structures were built primarily of mud and straw. One benefit of essentially using the earth itself as a building material was that it kept the inside temperature relatively constant or within a general range. The downside to this type of construction was that, over time, it would deteriorate to the point of collapsing. As an example, New Mexico was and is home to many original adobe structures such as churches or missions which did indeed fall down.

The centuries old civilization of the Anasazi and their descendents in the American southwest is a fascinating subject to read about and a great area of the United States to visit.

The religion, culture, pueblo living, and the arts and crafts that have been passed down over the centuries offers the visitor or tourist a chance to learn much more about the people who inhabited the southwest long before the Spanish Conquistadors landed on the continent.

As you can see from the Mesa Verde photos above, the scenery is very unique. I think you'll find your trip to Mesa Verde National Park in Colorado a fascinating visit and probably quite unlike any you've taken in the past.

 (Photos from author's private collection. Images of kachinas are public domain. Article copyright Western Trips)


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Great Sand Dunes National Park

Great Sand Dunes National. Park and Preserve

I have traveled all over the state of Colorado and as I'm sure you know this is a wonderful part of the country for a western vacation. The tourist destinations are almost endless as is the picturesque scenery.

From the Rocky Mountain National Park to the beauty of Manitou Springs and Miramont, your Colorado vacation will be a fascinating experience.

Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve is located 35 miles northeast of Alamosa, Colorado. This is in the southern part of the state relatively near the New Mexico border.

Getting to the Great Sand Dunes National Park

Some tips for your Colorado trip planner. If you're traveling from the Denver area, Colorado Springs, or Pueblo, the best route is south on Interstate-25 to Walsenburg, then west on US 160 and then north on State Highway 150. If you're looking for a more mountainous trip from Denver  you can travel US 285 south, then on State Highway 17 south, then County Lane 6 east from Mosca. Many people also drive up from Santa Fe and Taos New Mexico. From Santa Fe drive north on US 285 to Alamosa Colorado. From Alamosa, you can take either U.S. Highway 160 east and State Highway 150 north, or State Highway 17 north and County Lane 6 east from Mosca. Mileages are about 240 from the Denver area and 185 from Santa Fe.

There are so many companion trips to add to your Great Sand Dunes visit that they're almost too many to list. Before any of these however I would recommend staying at the Colorado dunes until sunset. Sometimes you can see what many say are the best sunset views anywhere. I did this during my visit to the Dunes and it was well worth it.

The Area of the Great Sand Dunes


What we do know about the Great Sand Dunes in Colorado is that they were first noticed by the Native Americans in the area. The names and languages of these earliest natives are not known, more recent American Indian tribes were quite familiar with the area when the Spaniards first arrived over 400 years ago.

As an example, the traditional Ute Indian word for the Great Sand Dunes is Sowapophe-uvehe, "the land that moves back and forth". Jicarilla Apaches who settled in northern New Mexico  called the Dunes Sei-anyedi, meaning, "it goes up and down." The Navajo consider Blanca Peak which is just southeast of the Dunes one of their four sacred mountains.

Sangre de Cristo Mountain Range

The Great Sand Dunes National Monument was created in the 1930's during the Great Depression.

Many other National Parks and Monuments were created during that period. When the park was originally created it only covered the dunes themselves. What is important to the dunes however is the surrounding area. For the dunes to survive, care must be taken to protect the surrounding watershed and for this reason the park was expanded to include the adjacent area and mountains..

By the year 2004 the park also included a preserve. The preserve was then joined with the Great Sand Dunes Monument and was then the combined area was named a full-fledged National Park in September 2004.


This geologic wonderland contains about 39 square miles of massive sand dunes, some 750 feet high. The Great Sand Dunes National Park also includes alpine lakes and tundra, six mountain peaks in the Sangre de Cristo Mountain Range over 13,000' in elevation as seen in the photo above right. Among the trees you will see are spruce pine aspen and cottonwoods.

The Only National Park that Changes it's Shape

 The Great San Dunes National Park and Preserve is also one of the only National Parks in the U.S. that is constantly changing. This of course is the nature of sand dunes everywhere.

These sand  dunes were formed from sand and soil deposits of the Rio Grande River and it's tributaries. Over the ages, westerly winds picked up sand particles from the river flood plain.  The wind naturally lost power when trying to cross the Sangre de Cristo Mountains and as a result deposited sand on the east side of the range. The wind continues and so does the process that has been going on for some 440,000 years according to geologists. The dunes not only change shape on a fairly daily basis but they are also growing. This is one of the attributes of the Great Sand Dunes that make a visit there so special.

Railroad Side Trips

An excellent companion trip before or after visiting the Great Sand Dunes National Park. One is the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad. The line was constructed in 1880 and is the most outstanding and best known example of steam-era mountain narrow gauge railroading in North America. The scenery along the tracks which wind through the mountains is spectacular. One of the unique things about the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad  is that many of its original buildings remain along the route. The rail line runs between Chama New Mexico and Antonito Colorado.

If your Colorado trip takes you north after visiting the Great Sand Dunes you might find a stop at Manitou Springs, just a few short miles west of Colorado Springs, a fun adventure.

Manitou Springs is where you can ride the Pikes Peak Cog Railway to the top of the mountain and is also home to many very historic sites such as the Miramont Castle picture left.



(Article and photos copyright Western Trips) 

Location of Great Sand Dunes National Park on map below

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Miramont Castle / Manitou Springs Colorado

Photo courtesy C. Petersen

Miramont Castle located in the beautiful Colorado town of Manitou Springs was originally built in 1895 as a private home for Father Jean Baptist Francolon, a French-born Catholic priest. Manitou Springs which is located in the Pikes Peak area of Colorado is just a few miles west of Colorado Springs.

The 14,000 square foot home has a rich history in this old resort town at the base of the Rocky Mountains. The castles architecture is a mixture of several styles including English Tudor and Byzantine. Guided tours are available. Tourists can see its antique-filled grand drawing room, formal dining room, solarium and chapel. It's a very unique tour in a very historic structure. You'll also be able to hear it's century old clock that sounds on the hour.

The Castle has experienced many uses and transformations. It has been used as a private home for a wealthy French priest and his mother to a state of dilapidation. At one time Miramont Castle was used as a sanitarium for tuberculosis patients. Like many other places in the western U.S., the dry climate of Manitou Springs was thought to be helpful to people with the condition. Santa Fe New Mexico was another destination because of it's climate for people suffering with tuberculosis.

Thanks to the efforts of the Manitou Springs Historical Society the home has now been restored to it's original splendor..The home was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1977 and is currently operated by the non-profit Manitou Springs Historical Society.

Miramont Castle Today

Today, the Miramont Castle is a museum representing the Victorian era. Each room is an example of life during the era in which Father Francolon built the castle. Rooms are rarely built square in the castle. One room you'll visit has an amazing 16 walls. Don't miss the secret passageway that runs the total length of the second floor. The Miramont Castle was built into the side of a mountain and slopes with it. The front entrance is located on the first floor and the rear entrance is on the fourth floor just outside the interesting gift shop. There is also a chimney from one of the many fireplaces (the largest sandstone fireplace in the US) that passes through the mountain itself.

Pikes Peak, Wikipedia

As you might expect with a large structure this old, there have been many reports of ghost sightings from both visitors and employees of Miramont Castle. Many people have reported the sighting of men, women and children dressed in Victorian era clothing. Some have sighted Victorian dressed women in mirrors they have looked into. Other visitors have sighted a young child holding a doll. Voices have been heard and objects have been reported moved with no explanation how. High Tea is served at the Miramont Castle during the afternoon and some say that this is the time that ghosts and/or odd happenings usually occur. Speaking of High Tea, Miramont Castle does offer homemade scones served with Devonshire cream, infused butters, and preserves. Also an assortment of vegetables, a fruit flute, a variety of Victorian-style sandwiches, and a sampling of many lovely desserts. It's a part of the castle you will want to spend a bit of time at. A reservation is required to attend the teas.


Emma Crawford Coffin Race

In all of Colorado Manitou Springs has one of the most unique festivals in the west.  I heard about an annual event that some might think a bit strange. It certainly sounds like one of a kind. The town hosts an annual event called the Emma Crawford Festival. The festival includes the "Emma Crawford Coffin Race". It seems that in Manitou Springs in the year 1929 the coffin of a young woman buried at the top of Red Mountain in 1891 was uncovered by erosion and then washed down the side of the mountain. The festival is schedules the weekend before Halloween. Part of the festival involves a coffin race and other events, such as ghost walks. It's not everyday you can witness a live coffin race. The evening before the race, Miramont Castle hosts to an annual wake for Emma. It is perhaps fitting that a place that once served as a sanatarium for tuberculosis patients should also hold an annual event in tribute to a young woman who died from the condition.

Pikes Peak Locomotive, circa 1900

The Emma Crawford Wake allows attendees to step back in time to attend a fictitious wake for the deceased. The festival puts on a buffet of Victorian cuisine and costumed actors who portray people of that era. Father Francolon and his mother are portrayed as they host the wake in their home. The wake is not totally accurate on a historical standpoint since the priest came to Manitou Springs months after Emma's death and the castle wasn't constructed until a few years later. However, this event is not about historical accuracy.  It really about reliving the Victorian era and paying tribute to a young lady whose misfortune is the basis for putting on the festival. 

Miramont Castle Artifacts

There are museums within this Miramont Castle museum. The High Country Artists Association and other local artists have established an ongoing and rotating display of their original works which you will find in the Great Hall. Many of their framed paintings are for sale. Another area of the castle includes antique and vintage fire department equipment from the Pikes Peak area. It's most popular exhibit is an antique hose cart, the oldest piece of fire equipment registered with the Colorado State Firefighters Association, owned by the Manitou Springs Volunteer Fire Department since 1880.  Other  authentic memorabilia and photographs of a bygone era surround it.Miramont castle is located at 9 Capitol Hill Avenue.

Photo, courtesy C. Petersen

When you travel to Manitou Springs Colorado you will want to walk through the Cliff House which is a magnificent hotel with a lot of history. The hotel just like Manitou Springs itself had it's start with the gold mining boom in 1850's Colorado. The hotel began as an inn with about a dozen or so rooms. The mining boom of course brought many people to the area and tents had to be erected next to the inn just to accommodate the overflow crowd.

 Eventually the mining boom started to dwindle and the business at the inn declined as well. By the year 1876 the hotel was having a particularly hard time. During the next several years interest in the town’s ancient mineral springs was starting to grow. For most likely a thousand years the water springs had come to the surface from underground limestone aquifers that both carbonated the water and filled it with minerals. The water was cool, good-tasting and had a high concentration of minerals. American Indians had been drinking it straight from the springs for hundreds of years.  The cool and mineral rich water was thought by many including the Native Americans to have healing powers. The mineral water and the Rocky Mountain climate made Manitou Springs quite a popular area.

A man by the name of Edward E. Nichols came to Manitou Springs in the late 1870's to try to treat his tuberculosis as many other people did. Nichols made Manitou Springs his home after he was able to beat the affliction.  He ended up serving as mayor and in 1886 purchased the hotel which he renamed the Cliff House. He invested heavily in the hotel and made it into a sophisticated resort which drew thousands of people to both his hotel and to Manitou Springs because of the beneficial health effects of the carbonated and mineralized spring water. As it turned out, Nichols Cliff House became a popular  destination for the well-to-do and guests included Theodore Roosevelt, Ferdinand, Crown Prince of Austria; William Henry Jackson; Charles Dickens Jr.; P.T. Barnum; Thomas Edison; Clark Gable; F. W. Woolworth; and, J. Paul Getty.

Links to two additional Western Trips photo articles you'll find interesting include the old Montezuma Castle mineral springs spa in Las Vegas New Mexico and the Santa Fe Trail Wagon Ruts visible at Fort Union National Monument in northern New Mexico.

Visiting The Cliff House

The Cliff House today is a beautiful Victorian Alpine retreat along the foothills of Pikes Peak. Inside and out, the Cliff House is a first class Colorado resort and one of the best things to do is sitting on the large porch and enjoying the scenery. The resort is located at 306 Canon Avenue near the center of town. This is a must see during your Manitou Springs vacation.

When you travel through Colorado Springs either coming or going from Manitou Springs there is another magnificent structure you may want to visit. Glen Eyrie is a 67-room English Tudor-style castle in Colorado Springs with 24 fireplaces. The house was built by General William Jackson Palmer, the founder of Colorado Springs. Glen Eyrie is on the National Register of Historic Places. The general public is allowed on its grounds Monday through Thursday (9-4) to visit its bookstore, located at the Carriage House, or to hike its many trails. The location is 3820 N. 30th St., Colorado Springs Colorado. 

Two interesting companion side trips in the same general area of Colorado is the old mining town of Cripple Creek and the site of the Colorado Coalfield War in Ludlow. Cripple Creek is a short drive west into the mountains and Ludlow is south of Colorado Springs  just off Interstate-25.


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