Trinidad, Colorado

Explore the great outdoors and take in some of the best that Trinidad’s natural beauty has to offer at the Trinidad Lake State Park. The mild climate and gorgeous large lake make water sports the ideal activity at the park. Meanwhile, avid fishers can try their hand at catching brown and rainbow trout, channel catfish, walleye, largemouth bass, crappie and bluegill. Visitors can enjoy all kinds of boating on the open waters, while those who prefer land based activities can explore miles and miles of winding trails that go through ancient lands with interesting local histories. Nature enthusiasts will love the beautiful scenery that the Trinidad Lake State Park provides.

32610 Colorado 12, Trinidad, Colorado 81082

Eager to explore Trinidad’s past and its significance in American West history? Head down to the Trinidad History Museum, a popular tourist attraction, which is comprised of several different sites all along a single block in the town’s historic district. Site included in the Trinidad History Museum include the Bloom Mansion, which is an outstanding example of Second Empire architecture, and the Baca House, which evokes the lifestyle of a prominent family from the 1870s. Also included is the Santa Fe Trail Museum, the Barglow Building, and the Baca-Bloom Heritage Gardens. Included in the buildings are several exhibits, the original furnishings and replicas or refurbished items from the previous owners.

312 East Main Trinidad, Trinidad, Colorado 81082, Phone: 719-846-7217

Activities and Attractions for Couples:

Whether you’re pressed for time or have a leisurely visit ahead of you in Trinidad, one of the best ways to get a crash course on Trinidad’s history and the best of its architecture is by taking a ride on the city’s trolley. There are two different kinds of tours available with the Trinidad Trolley, both of which will take you to interesting architectural spots in the city as well as historically significant attractions as well. Some stops along the trolley’s tour include the Ava Maria Shrine, the Mt. San Rafael Hospital, a mural created by Sister Augusta Zimmer of the Sisters of Charity, and the Louden-Henritze Archaeology Museum.

Trinidad Trolley, 309 Nevada Avenue, Trinidad, Colorado

Opened in 1981, the AR Mitchell Memorial Museum of Western Art proudly displays collectibles, artifacts, Native American art, Hispanic traditional art, religious art and more from within its humble horseshoe-shaped mezzanine. The museum is fondly referred to as the Mitch by locals, and has become an important venue in which art, culture, history and tourism collide in southeastern Colorado. The primary art work displayed in the museum is by Arthur Roy Mitchell, but visitors can also appreciate work by Oliver E. Aultman, Almerod Newman, Benjamin Wittick and more. In every piece, visitors are bound to get a feel of what life in the American West was like.

150 E. Main Street, Trinidad, Colorado 81082, Phone: 719-846-4224

Dedicated to hundreds of miners and their contribution to the growth of Colorado, the Southern Colorado Coal Miners Memorial was made by Ben Johnson. The life-size memorial was cast in bronze and has the names of active, past, retired and deceased coal miners, ensuring that their memories live on beyond their time in the coal mining industry. The monument is located in the historic district of Trinidad along West Main Street, and is a great place to make a quick stop before heading to the next attraction in your itinerary. Featuring the names of coal miners from 18 states, the memorial was commissioned by the Trinidad-Las Animas County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Coal Miners Memorial Committee.

West Main Street, Trinidad, Colorado

What to do if you are traveling with kids:

Sitting behind the parking lot of a chain grocery store in Trinidad is a small but beautiful piece of railroad history, the Steam Engine 638. Only a small sign near the front of the train hints to the significance of Steam Engine 638 as the last coal-burning steam engine to be used by the Colorado and Southern Railroad. The train was built in 1906 and served as a supply train, lugging heavy goods such as coal, cattle and many other kinds of agricultural goods across the state. In 1963, the train was officially retired and now sits as a lonely but culturally rich tribute to the Wild West’s busy railroads.

Purgatoire Drive, Trinidad, Colorado

Rising above a majestic sandstone bluff to the north of Trinidad is Simpson’s Rest, an iconic landmark for the town popularized by the giant lighted sign erected on its top. Named after a restless and charming frontiersman, one of the first settlers in Trinidad, George S. Simpson, Simpson’s Rest is now a popular city park beloved by visitors and locals alike. The journey to the top of Simpson’s Rest makes a great afternoon trek as the road is narrow and features challenging terrain. Getting to the top of the bluff makes it all worth it, however, as those who persevere get to enjoy a fantastic view of the town of Trinidad with mountain vistas serving as its back drop.