4
Days
Stay in 3 Friendly Places
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Springfield, Colorado
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Historical Everett Ranch
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La Junta, Colorado
Art on the Trail
Updated: Jun 4, 2019
Hike 4 Canyons
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Carrizo Canyon
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Picture Canyon
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Vogel Canyon
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Picket Wire Canyon
Explore Local Art
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Rock Art in Vogel Canyon
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Rock Art in Picket Wire Canyon
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Petroglyphs in Picture Canyon
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Koshare Museum & Dance Kiva
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Picketwire Theater
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Three Feathers Art Gallery
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The Hull Art Studio
Activity
Hike Carrizo Canyon
Lunch
Main Street Bistro
Pick up food before you leave for Carrizo Canyon and pack it in with you. There are picnic tables in specific areas of the canyon.Make sure to bring plenty of water, sunscreen, and protective clothing.
American Cuisine Breakfast, Lunch
Open 7 AM – 1:30 PM Monday to Friday
857 Main Street | Springfield, CO
(719) 529-0999
Activity
Hike Carrizo Canyon (Continued)
Dinner
Longhorn Steak House Café and Gift Shop
American, Steakhouse
Open 6 AM – 9 PM Monday – Saturday, 6 AM – 2 PM Sunday
400 Main Street | Springfield, CO
(719) 523-6554
Activity
Rural Expressions Art Studio
Art studio with open studio time to all visitors. Art classes and events available. Located on the Port to Plains Highway 287. Offers ceramics, canvas painting, crafts.
972 Main Street | Springfield CO
(719) 563-1018
Tuesday-Saturday 10 AM - 5 PM Monday 5 PM - 8 PM
Activity
Three Feathers Art
Three Feathers Art features the work of Bill "Three Feathers" Bunting. Bill was born and raised on the ranch his grandfather homesteaded in the canyon lands of Southeast Colorado. Bill has always had a strong interest in the history of Native Americans and the West. A self-taught artist, poet, and knife maker, much of Bill's work portrays his own interpretation of the past. From metal sculptures to handmade knives and spurs each piece is "one of a kind."
40340 Hwy 287 | Springfield, CO
(719) 529-0729
Lodging
Stage Stop Hotel
Historic Hotel
1033 Main Street | Springfield, CO
(719) 523-4737
stagestophotel.com
Breakfast
Kirk’s Kitchen
Café, American
Open 7 AM – 8 PM
973 Main Street | Springfield, CO
(719) 563-1012
Activity
Visit Las Animas Cemetery
Take a tour of Picture Canyon with Casey and Laneha Everett from the Everett Ranch. Picture Canyon has been a crossroads for travelers since people came to what is now known as southeast Colorado. With readily available water and mild winters, it provided fertile grounds and protection. The canyon is in southwest Baca County and borders Oklahoma. It houses petroglyphs, pictographs, a stunning equinox site and many clues for the debate over the pre-history, of America and pre-Columbian European visitors. The canyon also has picnic tables, good walking paths, good opportunities for birding and wildlife viewing, camping, and restroom facilities. Area history and WPA sites included on the tours on the way to the canyon.
Lunch
Subway
Casual counter-serve chain for build-your-own sandwiches & salads, with health-conscious options. Located inside the Loaf 'N Jug Convenience Store. Before leaving Springfield to travel to the Everett Ranch and begin your tour of Picture Canyon, make sure to pick up sandwiches to backpack into the canyon. Within Picture Canyon are a number of rest stops with picnic tables.
1100 Main Street | Springfield, CO 81073
(719) 523-4100
Activity
Visit Boggsville Cemetery
Dinner
Everett Ranch
As part of your visit to the historical Everett Ranch enjoy an evening meal from the kitchen or an outdoor barbeque. Check the schedules at the ranch for specifics.
(719) 643-5414
canyon-journeys.com
Activity
Everett Ranch
Spend the evening exploring the grounds and admiring the spectacular night skies of southeastern Colorado. Experience the most quiet you’ll ever hear.
(719) 643-5414
canyon-journeys.com
Lodging
Everett Ranch
Mar 1 – Oct 31: $125/night
Nov 1 – Feb 29: $100/night
2 Rooms available in the house for additional people in a group after the guesthouse is full. Rooms are $50/pp per night.
For ReservationsCall: (719) 643-5414, this is our home phone. Please leave a message and we will return your call.
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
We can accept personal check, cash, and credit cards through PayPal. If paying with a check we will reserve the room when the check clears the bank.
Breakfast
Brew Unto Others
At Brew Unto Others our customers have come to expect a friendly smile & an awesome cup of coffee! We're here to provide a place for our customers to come and just relax. Do some work or do nothing—we don't care, we just want you to feel at home. Ask a local what their favorite is and they'll most likely tell you to try one of our homemade cinnamon rolls! Also, on the menu are Fresh Salads, Panini Sandwiches on our Homemade Bread or a delicious Chicken Wrap for lunch! Come on in & sit for a while.
119 S Main Street | Lamar, CO
(719) 336-1331
brewuntootherscoffee.com
Activity
Koshare Museum & Dancers
From live performances to painting parties, guided tours, food samplings, and engaging hands-on events, events at the Koshare Museum bring to life a world full of inspiration, artistic expression, and educational exploration.
115 W 18th Street | La Junta, CO
(719) 384-4411
koshares.com
Activity
Gallery 313 & Frankmore Photography and Design
Enjoy viewing Gordon’s fantastic award-winning photography and Mary’s oil and acrylic paintings. Learn more about La Junta’s newest photography studio featuring photographer, Shawna Frankmore, who specializes in sports, senior, family and children photography on location or in the studio. Shawna expertises also allows her to offer digital design for announcements, photo gifts, and awards.
313 Santa Fe Avenue | La Junta, CO
Lunch
The Barista
Serving a variety of specialty coffees, teas and beverages. Made to order salads and sandwiches to eat in or carry out. Hand packed ice cream available year-round. Catering available. Located in the La Junta Business District Downtown.
204 Santa Fe Avenue | La Junta, CO
(719) 384-2133
Activity
Hike Vogel Canyon
Vogel Canyon is a beautiful sandstone canyon spattered with pinon pine and shortgrass prairie. It was carved out by a tributary of the Purgatoire River and has three permanent springs located at the bottom of the canyon. This area offers some of the best hiking near La Junta with four short trails of easy to moderate difficulty. The sandstone walls of the canyon feature Native American rock art dating from the 1200s to the 1700s.
Dinner
The Railyard Bar & Grill
The Railyard stands proudly across the street from La Junta Railroad Station on the Junction of Highway 50 and Colorado, the busiest street in the area. The Railyard's interior showcases numerous railroad signs as well as an authentic railroad crossing signal and other rail-related memorabilia. It is sparkling clean from the cheerfully lit ceiling down to the original beautiful hard wood floors. The selection of spirits features many high-end liquors you won't find anywhere within 60 miles, and they of course carry plenty of excellent Colorado beers as well as national brands.
Activity
Visit the Eads Pioneer Cemetery
A historical community theater group formed over 50 years ago. The Picketwire Theater is a historical school renovated into a stunning theater including a large stage, comfortable auditorium seating, and an architectural stunning balcony. Visit the theater and schedule your plans around four yearly performances.
802 San Juan Avenue | La Junta, CO
(719) 384-8320
picketwireplayers.org
Lodging
Hampton Inn La Junta
An 11-minute walk from the Arkansas River, this modern hotel is also a 2.6-mile drive from the Koshare Indian Museum and a 9.5-mile drive from Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site.
27800 US-50 | La Junta, CO 81050
(719) 384-4444
Breakfast
Village Inn
One of the best places around to catch a hearty breakfast. The space offers quaint decor and the food is hearty.
Continue west for 4 miles on Hwy 96 to Ordway. Turn right (north) at the Junction of Hwy 96 and Hwy 71 and travel 3 miles north on Hwy 71. The cemetery is on your left.
Another cemetery awaits you there.
190 Colorado Street | Sugar City, Colorado
Activity
Hike Picketwire Canyon
For an unforgettable experience, explore Picketwire (Purgatoire) Canyonlands on the Comanche National Grasslands south of La Junta. These primitive canyons are home to the largest known set of dinosaur tracks in North America, Native American rock art, early Hispanic settlements and a historic ranch. A variety of wildlife inhabits the area, including deer, antelope, coyote, snakes, lizards and birds.
Lunch
Copper Kitchen
Pick up sandwiches before heading out to the Picketwire Canyonlands. There are picnic tables located along the route. Stop for lunch and enjoy your sandwiches from the Copper Kitchen while you watch nature’s beauty.
116 Colorado Avenue | La Junta, CO 81050
(719) 384-7508
Activity
Hike Picketwire Canyon (Continued)
On the rock walls here: rock art, known as petroglyphs, carved into boulders here more than a thousand years ago by predecessors to Native American tribes. The area is known as Picketwire Canyon, a name that comes from a corrupted, Anglicized version of the word Purgatorio, or Purgatory. It got that name when Spanish conquistadors died here, without last rites, more than 400 years ago.
Dinner
Boss Hogg’s Saloon & Restaurant
This bar and grill features American cuisine including chicken fried stead, catfish, and a multitude of steak options. There’s a full bar, salad bar, full wait staff, and authentic heavy wood furniture. Kid friendly for the entire family. Serves local brew from the Durango Brewing Company (Dean Brewery).
808 E 3rd Street | La Junta, CO
(719) 384-7879
Lodging
Hampton Inn, La Junta
An 11-minute walk from the Arkansas River, this modern hotel is also a 2.6-mile drive from the Koshare Indian Museum and a 9.5-mile drive from Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site.
27800 US-50 | La Junta, CO 81050
(719) 384-4444