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

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.

Greyhound, 111 W. 4th St (look for the bus stop sign at the red brick building.), 37.6251°, -104.7831°. Service north to Denver and south to Trinidad and beyond.
Bustang, 400 Main St. (in Heritage Park at the old train depot), 37.6256°, -104.781°, 719-845-1127, transitinfo@sccog.net. Runs Monday through Friday. Two times a day.. Service south to Aguilar and Trinidad and north to Colorado City and Pueblo.

See

Museum

Walsenburg Mining Museum, 112 W. 5th Street (Behind the old courthouse in the old jail building), 37.6246°, -104.7823°, +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. 2020-06-19

Movie theater

Fox Theatre Walsenburg, 715 Main Street, 37.6222°, -104.7802°, info@foxtheatrewalsenburg.org. Movies on Friday and Saturday nights and Sunday matinees. 2020-06-17

Parks

Lathrop State Park, 70 County Road 502 (4 miles west of Walsenburg on U.S. Highway 160), 37.6026°, -104.8329°, +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 2020-06-17

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

Walsenburg Municipal Golf Course, 1399 County Road 502 (Enter through Lathrop State Park; no park fee required if going directly to the golf course.), 37.6159°, -104.8261°, +1 719 738-7230. 7:00 AM to 6:30 PM. Nine holes. See the "Eat" section below for detail on the golf course's restaurant. 2020-06-18

Buy

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

Armida's Boutique, 526 Main Street, 37.6239°, -104.7808°, +1 719 738-3288. A popular and enduring women's clothing store. 2020-06-19
Antique Avenue, 609 Main Street, 37.6231°, -104.7807°, +1 719 738-2393. 2020-06-17
Walsenburg Mercantile, 408 Russell Avenue, 37.6258°, -104.7800°, +1 719 890-1240, MercantileWalsenburg@gmail.com. 7 AM to 10 PM. Over 30 individual shops and stalls, including artwork, crafts, food, health and beauty aids, and clothing. 2022-07-25

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. 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, Colorado.

Downtown

Alpine Rose Cafe, 522 Main Street, 37.6241°, -104.7809°, +1 719 738-1157. American and Mexican food 2020-06-16
Loves Saves the Day (formerly CoCo's Kitchen), 1000 South Main Street, 37.6197°, -104.7785°, +1 719 717-2093. Monday-Friday 9AM to 3PM (opens at 11AM on Monday). Salads, sandwiches, and wraps with a South Florida influence 2021-10-13
Corine's Mexican Food, 822 South Main Street (Between 8th and 9th on Main), 37.6213°, -104.7794°, +1 719-738-1231. Sunday-Thursday 9AM to 9PM, Friday Saturday 9AM to 10PM. Traditional Mexican food, including breakfast, lunch, and dinner 2020-06-16
H&H Cafe, 902 W. 7th St. (At the corner of West 7th Street (Highway 160) and Ash Avenue, on the west side of town.), 37.6187°, -104.7932°, +1 719 890-1651. 7AM to 3PM. Diner fare 2020-06-16
RegalBurg Delicatessan, 408 Russell Avenue (inside the Walsenburg Mercantile), 37.6258°, -104.7800°, +1 719 890-1240. everyday 7AM to 10PM. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, cheeses and meats by the pound, pastries, etc. 2022-12-28
Tina's Family Cafe, 501 Walsen Ave. (At the corner of Walsen Ave. and West Elm Street), 37.6315°, -104.7868°, +1 719-738-2030. Call for hours. 2020-06-16

Northlands

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

A & W, 455 US Highway 85-87 (inside the convenience store at the truck stop), 37.6535°, -104.7940°. Daily 10:30AM to 9PM. 2020-06-16
George's Drive Inn, 564 Hwy 85-87 (Located in Walsenburg's Northlands section, 2.5 miles north of downtown at Interstate 25 exit 52.), 37.6526°, -104.7920°, +1 719 738-3030. 6AM to 3PM. Breakfast and lunch only. 2020-06-16

East side

TC's Diner, 284 Highway 10 (Just east of Interstate 25 on Highway 10 (East 5th St.)), 37.6319°, -104.7667°, +1 719 989-7141. Monday-Friday 11AM to 7PM. Closed weekends. Tasty American and Mexican food in a friendly atmosphere 2020-06-16

At the golf course

Second St. Bar & Grill, 1399 County Road 502, 37.6161°, -104.8252°, +1 719 738-2730. Daily 7AM to 7PM. American comfort food with a full bar. 2020-09-26

Drink

Coffee

Serendipity Specialty Retail & Coffee House, 528 Main Street (At the corner of East 6th and Main), 37.6238°, -104.7808°, +1 719 890-4471. Daily 7AM to 6PM.

Bars

Crafty Canary Brewery, 107 East 5th Street (A few steps east of the intersection of East 5th and Main, on the south side), 37.6247°, -104.7809°, +1 719 890-1113. A microbrewery specializing in ales, with a full bar. 2020-06-17
Paco's Starlight Tavern, 110 W. 6th Street, 37.6236°, -104.7814°. 2020-06-17
Silver Dollar, 112 W. 7th Street, 37.6226°, -104.7810°, +1 719 738-1644. 2020-06-17

Sleep

Lodging

Anchor Motel, 1001 South Main Street, 37.6192°, -104.7788°, +1 719 738-2800. 2020-06-17
Best Western Rambler, 457 US Highway 85 87 (in Walsenburg's Northlands section, 2.5 miles north of downtown at Interstate 25 exit 52.), 37.6547°, -104.7940°, +1 719-738-1121. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: undefined. $121 and up 2020-06-16
The Lofts Downtown, 500 Main St., 37.6245°, -104.7812°, +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 2020-06-16
Spanish Peaks Guesthouse, 37.5356°, -104.7836°. 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 2020-06-16
Whistlestop Lofts, 408 Russell St, 37.6259°, 104.7801°, (719) 738-8009, info@theloftsdt.com. 15 lofts in the top two floors of the Walsenburg Mercantile. $99 to $115 2023-03-30

Camping

Dakota Campground and RV Service Center, 1079 US Hwy 85/87, 37.6451°, -104.7903°, +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. 2020-06-18
Lathrop State Park, 70 County Road 502, 37.6025°, -104.8330°, +1 719 738-2376. See the park website for fees and to make reservations 2020-06-18

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.

Walsenburg - city in and county seat of Huerfano County, Colorado, United States