Las Animas: Architecture, Mining History and Nature

A view from Simpson’s Rest takes in the entire Purgatoire River Valley. Elsewhere, the landscape also reveals striking forms: Fishers Peak connects the grasslands in the east with the foothills and mountains in the west, serving as an important wildlife corridor. The summit in Fishers Peak State Park reaches an elevation of 9,633 feet.

Along Highway 160, you can see the Great Dikes of Spanish Peaks Country: vertical volcanic formations radiating out from the mountains. The Highway of Legends National Scenic Byway is another option for a drive through Las Animas County. Along the route, you can see the Cretaceous-Paleogene Boundary at Trinidad Lake State Park. It marks the transition there from the Mesozoic to the Cenozoic. A 35-mile extension of the byway follows Huerfano/Las Animas County Road No. 46 through the San Isabel National Forest.

Trinidad Lake and Fishers Peak

Trinidad Lake covers 800 acres of water. Boating is permitted at Trinidad Lake State Park; the boat ramp and dock are seasonal. Both are on the north shore, near the Carpios Ridge Campground. The boat ramp can be reached via Highway 12. The Trinidad Lake Visitor Center is also on the north side of the reservoir, near the campground. Check the latest visitor information and seasonal facility details as you plan your trip.

If you’d like to include a short loop in your plans, the park has the Park View Self-Guided Trail: the loop is 0.6 miles long, fully paved, at least five feet wide, and has no grades steeper than five percent. At the Fishers Peak Trailhead, you’ll find parking, public restrooms, scenic picnic areas, and information boards. To reach Fishers Peak State Park, take Exit 11 from I-25 and head east to County Road 69-3, also known as the Santa Fe Trail. Check the latest visitor and access information before setting out.

Architecture and History

Trinidad brings together a variety of architectural landmarks. Completed in 1889, Temple Aaron is the last surviving example of more than 70 buildings in Trinidad designed by regional architect Isaac Hamilton Rapp in the Exotic Revival style. Its architecture reflects Turkish and Moorish influences. Temple Aaron Synagogue features an onion dome, minarets, and colorful stained-glass windows; it was designed in the Moorish Revival style.

The El Corazón de Trinidad Historic District, also known as the Trinidad Downtown Historic District, contains more than 140 original buildings from the late 19th century. Among them are 55 examples of Victorian commercial architecture in the western United States. The Las Animas County Courthouse offers another glimpse of the area’s built history: the three-story stone building was constructed in 1912, faced with sandstone, and decorated with ornamental terra cotta. Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Trinidad was founded in 1866 by Reverend P.J. Munnecon; its first place of worship was small and had a single nave.

The Trinidad History Museum explores the city’s history through interactive exhibits, from the early settlers to the 1930s. The history of mining can be explored in different ways at several sites. Cokedale’s mines, original buildings, and coke ovens have been preserved, even though production ended in 1947. The 40-acre Ludlow Tent Colony Site encompasses the site of the Ludlow tent colony and commemorates the event known as the Ludlow Massacre. At the Ludlow Massacre Memorial, interpretive panels and photographs tell the story of life in the mining towns, the events leading up to the conflict, the movement’s leaders, and the miners who lost their lives in the fight for safer working conditions and labor laws. The Southern Colorado Coal Miners Memorial & Museum offers programs for children, seminars, and events throughout the year.

Drives and Activities

There are also plenty of ways to explore actively. The Twisted Cedars Disc Golf Course near Cokedale has 27 holes and is five miles off Highway 12. For cycling, there’s a 23-mile gravel loop that runs west around the former mining towns of Cokedale and Sopris. Sopris now lies beneath Trinidad Lake. This ride and the seasonal activities at the lake offer different ways to spend your time, while the Highway of Legends combines scenery and regional history along the way.

When looking for hotels in Las Animas, you can organize your travel plans around the themes that interest you most: historic architecture, mining history, landscapes, or activities at Trinidad Lake.

Discover more destinations: Trinidad, Otero, Prowers County, La Plata, Morgan County, Mineral County, Delta, Costilla County.

For the main travel overview: Colorado.