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.

By car

 * I-25 (north and south) is the major interstate leading in and out of the city.
 * U.S. Highway 160 connects Walsenburg to Alamosa and Durango to the west.
 * Colorado State Highway 10 connects Walsenburg to La Junta.

By bus
Greyhound has one bus in each direction (north, south) each day.

Festivals & events

 * May Walsenburg Porchfest, held the last Saturday in May. Concerts, yard sales, mural painting, etc.
 * 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.

Buy
There are several shops, including several antique stores, on and near Main Street.



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




Northlands
Walsenburg's Northlands neighborhood is 2.5 miles north of downtown on Walsen Avenue at Interstate 25 exit 52.

RV Camping




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.