Walsenburg
Walsenburg is the county seat of Huerfano County, Colorado, USA. Once called "La Plaza de los Leones," Walsenburg sits at an altitude of 6,171 feet (1,881 m) above sea level on the geological border between Colorado's Eastern Plains to the east and the Sangre de Cristo Mountains to the west. A major freight rail line goes right through downtown, with the trains blowing their horns and briefly halting traffic at five at-grade crossings all hours of the day and night.
Understand
Although it's an incorporated city with just over 3,000 residents (2019), Walsenburg has a rural, small-town atmosphere. It's surrounded by cattle ranches and housing subdivisions with large lots, in homes often occupied by the many retirees that live in the county. Walsenburg is often called a "crossroads town," because anyone traveling from Interstate 25 to the San Luis Valley or beyond turns west here, traveling on U.S. Highway 160 through downtown.
The Spanish Peaks, two adjacent, prominent mountains, lie just southwest of Walsenburg and are an important part of its identity. Huerfano County is home to numerous geological dikes, including one that marks much of Walsenburg's northern border, called "The Hogback."
Once an important coal-mining center, Walsenburg's economy now relies on real estate, retail, restaurants, tourism, government, and health care. Some residents commute to Pueblo for work.
Get in
By car
By bus
Greyhound has one bus in each direction (north, south) each day.
- 1 Greyhound, 111 W. 4th St (look for the bus stop sign at the red brick building.). Service north to Denver and south to Trinidad and beyond.
- 2 Bustang, 400 Main St (in Heritage Park at the old train depot), ☏ +1 719-845-1127, toll-free: 800-900-3011, transitinfo@sccog.net. Runs Monday through Friday. Two times a day. Service south to Aguilar and Trinidad and north to Colorado City and Pueblo.
- 3 Los Paisanos Autobuses, 455 US-85 (at TA Express (the truck stop) in Walsenburg's Northlands Neighborhood at I-25, exit 52), ☏ +1 915-532-1161. Runs daily. This bus company's Denver to El Paso and El Paso to Denver buses make a stop in Walsenburg's Northlands Neighborhood at the TA Express truck stop
See
Museum
- 1 Walsenburg Mining Museum, 112 W. 5th Street (behind the old courthouse in the old jail building), ☏ +1 719-738-1992. "The Walsenburg Mining Museum, housed in an 1896 jail, exhibits not only the stories of Huerfano County's mining camps, but memorabilia from such notable characters as Bob Ford (famous for killing Jesse James) and labor leader Mary 'Mother' Jones." Open from April to November.
Movie theater
- 1 Fox Theatre Walsenburg, 715 Main Street, info@foxtheatrewalsenburg.org. Movies on Friday and Saturday nights and Sunday matinees.
Parks
- 2 Lathrop State Park, 70 County Road 502 (4 miles west of Walsenburg on U.S. Highway 160), ☏ +1 719-738-2376, lathrop.park@state.co.us. Camping, hiking, fishing, programs, etc. The Hogback Trail is unique and provides great views of the surrounding mountains and valleys. See park website for fees.
Do
Festivals & events
- September Mountain Mining Days includes a parade, displays of antique and special cars, vendor booths, and other events.
- November The Parade of Lights on the Friday after Thanksgiving, on Main Street.
Golfing
3 Walsenburg Municipal Golf Course, 1399 County Road 502 (enter through Lathrop State Park; no park fee required if going directly to the golf course), ☏ +1 719-738-7230. 7AM to 6:30PM. Nine holes. See the "Eat" section below for detail on the golf course's restaurant.
Buy
There are several shops, including several antique stores, on and near Main Street.
- 1 Armida's Boutique, 526 Main Street, ☏ +1 719-738-3288. A popular and enduring women's clothing store.
- 2 Antique Avenue, 609 Main Street, ☏ +1 719-738-2393.
- 3 Walsenburg Mercantile, 408 Russell Avenue, ☏ +1 719-890-1240, MercantileWalsenburg@gmail.com. 7AM to 10PM. Over 30 individual shops and stalls, including artwork, crafts, food, health and beauty aids, and clothing.
Eat
The restaurants listed below are in addition to the Subway, Carls Jr., KFC, and Taco Bell locations in downtown Walsenburg and its Northlands neighborhood. Locals strongly advise against eating at the KFC/Taco Bell. There is also a second Subway and a Godfather's Pizza at the new Love's Travel Stop at Interstate 25's Exit 49. Love's Travel Stop's address is 99800 Interstate 25, Walsenburg.
Downtown
- 1 Alpine Rose Cafe, 522 Main St, ☏ +1 719-738-1157. American and Mexican food
- 2 Corine's Mexican Food, 822 South Main St (between 8th and 9th on Main), ☏ +1 719-738-1231. Su-Th 9AM-9PM, F Sa 9AM-10PM. Traditional Mexican food, including breakfast, lunch, and dinner
- 3 Chelsey's Wings, Burgers & Spirits, 118 West 6th St (in the former La Plaza Inn), ☏ +1 719 738-9928. Daily 11AM-9PM — bar open to 2AM on Friday and Saturday nights. A full bar with a family atmosphere. Rocky Mountain oysters are on the menu. 8-piece wings: $12.49.
- 4 RegalBurg Delicatessan, 408 Russell Ave (inside the Walsenburg Mercantile), ☏ +1 719-890-1240. Daily 7AM-10PM. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, cheeses and meats by the pound, pastries, etc.
- 5 The StokeHouse, 408 Russell St (At the Walsenburg Mercantile), ☏ +1 719-890-1240. A full bar and restaurant, opened November 24, 2023. Information will be added here as it becomes available.
- 6 Tina's Family Cafe, 501 Walsen Ave (at the corner of Walsen Ave. and West Elm Street), ☏ +1 719-738-2030. Call for hours.
Northlands
Walsenburg's Northlands neighborhood is 2.5 miles north of downtown on Walsen Avenue at Interstate 25 exit 52.
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- 8 George's Drive Inn, 564 Hwy 85-87 (in Walsenburg's Northlands section, 2.5 miles north of downtown at Interstate 25 exit 52), ☏ +1 719-738-3030. Tu-Sa 6AM-3PM. Breakfast and lunch only.
East side
- 9 TC's Diner, 284 Highway 10 (just east of Interstate 25 on Highway 10 (East 5th St.)), ☏ +1 719-989-7141. M-F 11AM-7PM. Tasty American and Mexican food in a friendly atmosphere
At the golf course
- 10 Second St. Bar & Grill, 1399 County Rd 502, ☏ +1 719-738-2730. Daily 7AM-7PM (summer), 4PM-8PM (winter). American comfort food with a full bar. Call to ensure they're open
Drink
Coffee
- 1 Serendipity Specialty Retail & Coffee House, 528 Main Street (at the corner of East 6th and Main), ☏ +1 719-890-4471. Daily 7AM to 6PM.
Bars
- 2 Crafty Canary Brewery, 107 East 5th Street (a few steps east of the intersection of East 5th and Main, on the south side), ☏ +1 719-890-1113. A microbrewery specializing in ales, with a full bar.
- 3 Paco's Starlight Tavern, 110 W. 6th Street.
- 4 Silver Dollar, 112 W. 7th Street, ☏ +1 719-738-1644.
Sleep
Lodging
- 1 Anchor Motel, 1001 South Main Street, ☏ +1 719-738-2800.
- 2 Best Western Rambler, 457 US Highway 85 87 (in Walsenburg's Northlands section, 2.5 miles north of downtown at Interstate 25 exit 52), ☏ +1 719-738-1121, toll-free: + 1 800 780-7234. Check-in: 3PM. $121 and up.
- 3 The Lofts Downtown, 500 Main St., ☏ +1 719-251-3691, info@theloftsdt.com. In the same building as the Crafty Canary, a brewpub and bar. Five rooms available, ranging in price from $99 to $150.
- 4 Spanish Peaks Guesthouse (take County Road 330 south from Walsenburg seven miles; driveway on right). One guesthouse, seven miles south of Walsenburg on a dirt road, it accommodates one group of 6 guests in 3 bedrooms with 4 beds and 2 baths. $232 per night.
- 5 Whistlestop Lofts, 408 Russell St, ☏ +1 719-738-8009, info@theloftsdt.com. 15 lofts in the top two floors of the Walsenburg Mercantile. $99 to $115.
RV Camping
- 6 Walsenburg Golf Course RV Campground, 1399 County Road 502 (Access via Lathrop State Park (no pass required) or through Walsenburg via West 2nd Street then County Road 599.), ☏ +1 719-738-2730. Opened in June 2023: 10 RV sites with 50-, 30-, and 20-amp electric hookups and free high-speed Wi-Fi. Located next to the golf course restaurant and the golf course itself. It's adjacent to Lathrop State Park but not a part of the park, so no park pass is required, unless you also use the park. $36 / night.
- 7 Dakota Campground and RV Service Center, 1079 US Hwy 85/87, ☏ +1 719-738-9912. 31 RV sites and 10 tent sites; they can board guests' horses as well. They also do all types of RV repairs.
Camping
- 8 Lathrop State Park, 70 County Road 502, ☏ +1 719-738-2376. See the park website for fees and to make reservations.
Go next
- 16 miles west of Walsenburg is the sleepy hamlet of La Veta. An artsy town, you can visit the galleries along Main Street.
- Further up the canyon from La Veta lies Cuchara, an unincorporated town in a forested valley surrounded by the San Isabel National Forest and the Culebra Range, a sub-range of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Huerfano County's first county park, Cuchara Mountain Park, is here. A former ski resort, the alpine park now offers hiking and other activities. Cuchara has a one-block long 'downtown' section with some shops and restaurants. There are several trailheads along Highway 12 in Cuchara as well.
- Colorado State Highway 12 connects with U.S. Highway 160 north of La Veta and then goes south and then west to Trinidad. It passes through La Veta and Cuchara and then crosses Cucharas Pass (10,000 feet) before entering Las Animas County, eventually reaching its terminus in Trinidad.
| Routes through Walsenburg |
| Durango ← Alamosa ← | W  E |
→ Trinidad → Springfield |
| Colorado Springs ← Pueblo ← | N  S |
→ Trinidad → Santa Fe |