Pueblo: Discover Trails, Water and Culture

Liberty Point offers views of Pueblo Reservoir, Greenhorn Mountain and the Wet Mountain Range. In Pueblo County, the places described range from forest and park landscapes to water and trail activities. You can therefore organize your travel ideas around scenery, outdoor activities and culture.

Forests, Parks and Views

Rye Mountain Park is set in a ponderosa pine forest and was designed by landscape architect Arthur Carhart. The park also has several trails, picnic shelters and playgrounds. It offers opportunities to get active on the trails, take a break or spend time at the playgrounds.

The Pueblo County park network stretches from McHarg Park in Avondale to the scenic trails of Rye Mountain Park. This countywide perspective complements the specific features of each park: the views from Liberty Point, the pine forest at Rye Mountain Park and the park facilities and trails each appeal to different interests.

Water at the Lake and River

The 4,600-acre lake at Lake Pueblo State Park draws visitors for boating, fishing, jet skiing, sailboarding and waterskiing. East of the dam, the Arkansas River offers opportunities for floating, kayaking and canoeing. There are several types of water activities to choose from: the lake offers motorized and sailing activities, among others, while the river is suited to floating, kayaking and canoeing.

There are also land-based activities at Lake Pueblo State Park, including hiking, biking, picnicking and exploring nature. The mix of water and land activities makes the park appealing for different interests throughout the day, without requiring you to commit to just one way of getting around.

Trails for Different Activities

Pueblo Mountain Park has 8 miles of trails for hiking, snowshoeing, horseback riding and mountain biking. Two trails connect the park to the San Isabel National Forest. The Pueblo River Trail System offers more than 30 miles of scenic trails along the Arkansas River and Fountain Creek for running, walking and biking. The two trail networks differ in length, the activities mentioned and their surroundings.

Another option for gravel cycling is the more than 700 miles of unpaved roads in Pueblo County, which take you through a variety of landscapes. In contrast to the trails along the two rivers and in Pueblo Mountain Park, these roads are primarily for cycling. You can plan your outing based on whether you want to explore trails on foot, by bike or on horseback.

Nature and Cultural Experiences

The Nature & Wildlife Discovery Center has different areas of focus at its Mountain and River campuses. The Mountain Campus features a low ropes course. The River Campus offers public and private educational programs for all ages, both on and off site. Each year, the NWDC Raptor Center takes in more than 300 injured, sick and orphaned raptors.

The El Pueblo History Museum adds a cultural perspective, with exhibits about the region’s cultural and ethnic groups. These include “Borderlands of Southern Colorado” and “Steel City: 1980–2004”. Together with the nature and recreation offerings, these provide options that bring trails, wildlife and regional history side by side.

Discover more destinations: Pueblo, Chaffee, Kiowa, Custer, Huerfano County, Garfield, Pitkin, Park County.

For the broader travel overview: Colorado.