EXPLORE THE AREA
The Cuchara Valley and surrounding area has something for everyone!
Hiking: Hiking is one of the greatest outdoor activities because people of all ages and abilities can enjoy it together. Take your family and your dog and enjoy the beautiful outdoors! We have a lot of trails to hike in and around Cuchara, from easy, to moderate or difficult. Some of the favorites are the Spring Creek Trail, Dikes Trail and West Spanish Peak Trail. Try out some of the other trails in the surrounding area, there’s the Wahatoya Trail & Northfork Trail and more!
Fishing: Grab your fishing pole and try your luck at one of our high mountain lakes, Blue Lake & Bear Lake, North Lake & Monument Lake are all great fishing. You can also check out the Wahatoya Lake & Daigre Lake in LaVeta or the Martin Lake & Horseshoe Lake at Lathrop State Park near Walsenburg.
Horseback Riding: Take a horseback tour of the magnificent Yellow Pine Guest Ranch near Cuchara. They have horseback rides daily, but you’ll need a reservation.
Sight Seeing: There is no shortage of lovely sights to see here in the Cuchara Valley. Drive either direction on Highway 12, take any Huerfano County road or San Isabel National Forest road to see an amazing variety of wildlife and geological formations. Besides all the scenic beauty you could see huge herds of elk, mule deer, antelope, mountain goats and bighorn sheep. Don’t be surprised to see a Black bear or red fox, mountain lions & bobcats, wild turkey and many species of local & migratory birds. Or just kick back at the cabin and something will probably walk by!
Bird Watching: Cuchara Valley offers a pristine, high-elevation habitat with migration stopover spots for many species of birds.
Bring your binoculars and add to your bird list! The Spanish Peaks area is one of the designated Birding Trails of Colorado.
Off Road/ATV: Take an off road adventure into the mountains with friends and family. Check out the Indian Creek Trail or
Trinchera Peak Trail.
Hunting: Cuchara and the surrounding area offers plenty of hunting opportunities in the The San Isabel National Forest & Bureau of Land Management. Elk, Mule Deer, Pronghorn, Black Bear and Small Game.
Museums: If you’re a history buff or just want something fun to do, be sure to stop by the Francisco Fort Museum in LaVeta. The museum is full of rich local history and pioneer history with a wide variety of artifacts. Be sure to see the saloon from old LaVeta’s Main Street with the bullet scarred bar owned by Bob Ford after he shot Jesse James.
Another interesting local museum is the Walsenburg Mining Museum. Located in the old historical Huerfano County Jail with exhibits of the local Mining Camps and stories and memorabilia of other local history.
Golfing: Come play Grandote Peaks Golf Club located in Laveta – one of the finest mountain courses in Colorado. This beautiful Weiskopf/Morrish course layout is located at the base of majestic Spanish Peaks with spectacular views of the Sangre de Cristo mountains. Also while you’re in the area play Walsenburg Golf Course just west of the town of Walsenburg located next to the Lathrop State Park.
Disc Golf: Cuchara Mountain Park has a beautiful Disc Golf Course that's challenging and fun for everyone.
Mini Golf: Fun for the whole family is the Bear’s Den Mini Golf right in the village of Cuchara. Each hole features local landmarks making it an interesting and fun course!
Tennis & Pickleball: Enjoy playing tennis at the Cuchara Community Center that’s located about a block from the Cuchara Village or a game of Pickleball at the courts in LaVeta.
Annual Festivals and Events: There are many things going on all the time in the Cuchara Valley. Please click on this link to see the detailed Bachman and Associates Community Calendar of ongoing events. Here’s a few of the big events we have each year in the valley.
Cuchara: You don’t want to miss Cuchara’s Annual 4th of July Parade. This 4th of July event is family and dog-friendly…some serious fun in downtown Cuchara! Parade, BBQ's, Cornhole Tournament, Live Music, Fun Run and more.
LaVeta: The festives for the 4th of July in LaVeta include the annual Independance Day Parade, Art in the Park, Ranch Rodeo & Mud Bog. Later in July, Fort Fransisco Museum has a fun 2 day event called Fort Francisco Days. In the fall is the LaVeta October Fest & the Spanish Peaks Celtic Music Festival.
Day Trips
With our centralized location, many southern Colorado attractions are easily reached from the Cuchara Valley.
Great Sand Dunes National Monument: Where mountains of Sand Dunes meet the Sangre De Cristo Mountains, this is a must see day trip! Go to the Sand Dunes and play in the Medano Creek , or hike up to the top of the Dunes, take your jeep into the back country, or just stop at the visitors center and learn about how the Sand Dunes were formed. It is fascinating!
Colorado Gators Reptile Park: A very unique family attraction where alligators live at 7,500 feet!
Sand Dunes Swimming Pool: Locally known as the “Hooper Pool” because it’s near the town of Hooper. This wonderful hot springs pool has several swimming options including: the large outdoor pool with diving boards & the Green House adult pools with a poolside beer & wine bar. Bring your suit!
Fort Garland Museum: Lengendary frontiersman, Kit Carson once commanded Fort Garland and had a garrison of over 100 men serving to protect the early settlers of the San Luis Valley.
Shrine of the Stations of the Cross: Visit the oldest town in Colorado, San Luis. Take a short hike among the Stations up to the top to visit the lovely chapel, “Our Lady of Guadalupe”. Stations of the Cross is a place of prayer and solace open to members of all faiths and good will.
Taos, New Mexico: Take a trip down to Taos and have fun shopping, visiting art galleries seeing historical sites and
the Taos Indian Pueblo.
Bishop Castle: Another unique and inspiring site to see, a castle built entirely by 1 man. Jim Bishop has spent the past 60 years building his castle in the mountains. It’s the largest self-built castle in the U.S.!
Royal Gorge Bridge & Park: Home of America’s highest suspension bridge & zip line. The park features a sky coaster ride, gondola ride, zip line, theater, visitor center and more. A fun day trip for the whole family!
Mission Wolf: A non-profit educational wolf santuary located in the mountains near Westcliffe, CO. Housing up to 40 wolves and wolfdog crosses. The mission is to promote a better understanding of wolves.
Lathrop State Park: Enjoy swimming, fishing, biking and boating in the first State Park in Colorado. Just down the road from Cuchara.
Trinidad: Take a drive over to Trinidad for the day. Explore the history, go to the museums, ride the Trolley, shop the art gallerys and pot shops, eat a nice meal or visit Trinidad Lake State Park.
Golfing: Trinidad – Trinidad Golf Course, Colorado City – Hollydot Golf Course, Pueblo – Walking StickGolf Course, Elmwood Golf Course, Desert Hawk at Pueblo West, Alamosa – Cattails Golf Course.
