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.
- 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.
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, ✉[email protected]. 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, ✉[email protected]. 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. 7:00 AM to 6:30 PM. 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.
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.
Downtown
- 1 Alpine Rose Cafe, 522 Main Street, ☏ 1 719 738-1157. American and Mexican food
- 2 CoCo's Kitchen, 1000 South Main Street, ☏ 1 719 717-2093. Monday-Friday 9AM to 3PM (opens at 11AM on Monday). Salads, sandwiches, and wraps with a South Florida influence
- 3 Corine's Mexican Food, 822 South Main Street (Between 8th and 9th on Main), ☏ 1 719-738-1231. Sunday-Thursday 9AM to 9PM, Friday Saturday 9AM to 10PM. Traditional Mexican food, including breakfast, lunch, and dinner
- 4 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.), ☏ 1 719 890-1651. 7AM to 3PM. Diner fare
- 5 New Century, 520 Walsen Ave., ☏ 1 719 738-4878. Monday to Saturday 10:30AM to 9PM, Sunday 10:30AM to 8PM. Chinese food
- 6 La Plaza Inn Restaurant (The Library Cafe), 118 W. 6th St., ☏ 1 719-738-5700. Tu-Sa 11AM-8PM. You can eat on the shaded, outdoor patio, weather permitting. Reservations accepted for dinner.
- 7 Rollin’ Smoke Garage BBQ, 110 E. 5th St. (Less than one block east of Main St. on East 5th), ☏ 1 719 890-1072. Thursday 11AM to 8PM, Friday & Saturday 11AM to 9PM, Sunday 11AM to 4PM. Full bar; sometimes they have live music
- 8 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.
- 9 A & W, 455 US Highway 85-87 (inside the convenience store at the truck stop). Daily 10:30AM to 9PM.
- 10 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.), ☏ 1 719 738-3030. 6AM to 3PM. Breakfast and lunch only.
East side
- 11 TC's Diner, 284 Highway 10 (Just east of Interstate 25 on Highway 10 (East 5th St.)), ☏ 1 719 989-7141. Monday-Friday 11AM to 7PM. Closed weekends. Tasty American and Mexican food in a friendly atmosphere
At the golf course
- 12 Second St. Bar & Grill, 1399 County Road 502, ☏ 1 719 738-2730. Daily 7AM to 7PM. American comfort food with a full bar.
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. They serve food carried over from the Rollin' Smoke Garage BBQ across the street
- 3 Paco's Starlight Tavern, 110 W. 6th Street.
- 4 Rosa's Cantina, 620 Main Street, ☏ 1 719 738-2015. Smoking patio in back. Popular with locals. Friendly barmaids.
- 5 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 La Plaza Inn, 118 W. 6th St., ☏ 1 719-738-5700, ✉[email protected]. Check-in: 3PM. No pets, no smoking on the property. The room rate includes a hearty breakfast, but it's not served until 8:30AM. There's also a fine dining restaurant and a lobby bar on the property. The owner is in the process of changing the name to La Plaza Historic Hotel & Restaurant. $88-158.
- 4 The Lofts Downtown, 500 Main St., ☏ 1 719 251-3691, ✉[email protected]. In the same building as the Crafty Canary, a brewpub and bar. Five rooms available, ranging in price from $99 to $150.
- 5 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.
Camping
- 6 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.
- 7 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 |