Costilla County: History, Culture and Nature

Los Caminos Antiguos leads to San Luis and Fort Garland; other themes range from Hispanic settlement history and religious traditions to seasonal fishing. This can help you decide whether historic places, culture or time by the water will shape your stay.

History along Los Caminos Antiguos

Los Caminos Antiguos leads to San Luis, founded in 1851 and considered Colorado’s oldest continuously existing settlement. San Luis is also the state’s oldest continuously inhabited town. These two descriptions emphasize different things: one highlights the long history of settlement, while the other focuses on the town’s enduring character.

Los Caminos Antiguos also includes the San Luis People’s Ditch, which is associated with Colorado’s oldest water rights. The ditch is also part of the Plaza de San Luis de la Culebra Historic District. The Capilla de Viejo San Acacio reveals another aspect of the area’s history: it is considered Colorado’s oldest surviving church and an important part of the San Luis Valley’s Hispanic settlement history. It is associated with the tradition of acequia irrigation and community leadership according to the mayordomo tradition.

Fort Garland and its history

Fort Garland is also a destination along Los Caminos Antiguos. In the San Luis Valley, it served as a military post from its construction in 1858 until 1883. At the Fort Garland Museum, visitors can explore restored adobe buildings and exhibits about Kit Carson and the Buffalo Soldiers. The buildings and exhibits offer different points of connection: the restored architecture on the one hand, and the two exhibit topics on the other.

Over Memorial Day weekend, the museum hosts a three-day festival featuring reenactments, stories, songs and dances. If you would like to plan your trip around this program, check the specific event dates in advance. This lets you plan around the festival dates without making your visit dependent on a particular weekend.

Religious sites and tours

The Shrine of the Stations of the Cross is on San Pedro Mesa, overlooking San Luis. Visitors can follow a trail about half a mile long to fifteen bronze sculptures depicting the Passion and Resurrection of Christ, as well as an adobe chapel on the hilltop. The approximate trail length and number of sculptures give a concrete sense of what this experience involves, without reducing the religious significance of the stations to the distance walked.

The Feast of Santo Acacio is celebrated every year on May 8 with a procession, Mass and benefit dinner. Since dates and arrangements can matter when planning a trip, it is a good idea to check the latest information before your visit. A two-hour tour of some of the sights is also offered in San Luis. Guided Sacred Circle Tours can be tailored to specific interests and time constraints; the group’s interests and the time available determine the scope of the tour.

Water and landscape

Camping sites and restrooms are available at Mountain Home Reservoir SWA. The reservoir offers two seasonal fishing opportunities: it is open for ice fishing in winter and stocked with trout throughout the summer. These facilities and the opportunity for ice fishing may be important for planning; check the current availability of facilities and conditions at the reservoir before your visit.

Rito Seco runs for 0.75 miles through the Rito Seco Park expansion area. La Vega, meanwhile, continues to be used as a communal pasture.

Explore more destinations: Moffat County, San Miguel, Lake County, San Juan County, Montezuma County, Logan, Teller County, Ouray County

For the main travel overview: Colorado.