Posted in Colorado February 06, 2018 by

This One Small Colorado Town Has More Outdoor Attractions Than Any Other Place In The State

When you think about enjoying the great outdoors of Colorado, which region comes to mind? Let me guess: the mountains, right? If this was your answer (as it once was mine), you are overlooking an entire part of the state, which includes this small southeastern Colorado town and its many outdoor attractions:

We’re aware that these uncertain times are limiting many aspects of life as we all practice social and physical distancing. While we’re continuing to feature destinations that make our state wonderful, we don’t expect or encourage you to go check them out immediately. We believe that supporting local attractions is important now more than ever and we hope our articles inspire your future adventures! And on that note, please nominate your favorite local business that could use some love right now: https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/nominate/
Welcome to La Junta, Colorado; a historic southeastern community that is home to both 7,000 residents and some surprising outdoor attractions that are often overlooked.
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Translating to "the junction," La Junta was founded to be just that: a resting spot and trading post along the iconic Santa Fe Trail that quickly grew and expanded thanks to both its WW2-era Army Air Force Training Base and Otero Junior College.
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Just what outdoor goodness is there to do in La Junta? For starters, there is the famous Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site...
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The first historic site in Colorado to ever receive the distinction as a National Historic Landmark is Bent's Old Fort. Built in 1833 near La Junta, Bent's Old Fort was at one time the only major white American settlement on the Santa Fe Trail between Missouri and Mexico.
...exciting Picketwire Canyon...
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Located just south of La Junta, the Picketwire Canyon is a geologic site housed in the beautiful Comanche National Grassland that consists of more than 100 dinosaur track-ways and a whopping 1,500 individual footprints, making it the largest track site for dinosaurs in the United States!
...and peaceful Comanche National Grassland.
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Consisting of prairie grasslands and Canyons, Comanche National Grassland is comprised of a whopping 463,373 acres, which makes for not only a peaceful spot to stroll, but also a peaceful place to hike, bike, watch for animals, photograph, and more.
(In addition to these 3 iconic outdoor spots, La Junta is also home to a number of parks, pools, and museums, like the highly rated Koshare Indian Museum, pictured.)
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To learn more about La Junta and its outdoor attractions, visit La Junta Tourism’s website.