Top 10 Things to Do in La Junta, Colorado
La Junta sits at a genuine crossroads: the Santa Fe Trail, the Arkansas River, and the wide-open Comanche National Grassland all meet here in southeastern Colorado. That means an unusual amount to see and do for a town this size, from a reconstructed 1830s fort to one of the strangest wildlife events in the state. Here are our ten favorites, all a short drive from the front desk at La Junta Inn.
1. Walk through Bent’s Old Fort
Eight miles east, this full-size reconstruction of an 1830s adobe trading post is run by the National Park Service, with living-history interpreters, wagons, and a working blacksmith shop. It’s the single best half-day in the area.
2. See the Koshare Museum & Trading Post
Half a mile from the inn, the Koshare Museum is built around a striking round kiva and holds one of the country’s most significant collections of Southwestern and Native American art. Time your visit for a Koshare dance performance if you can.
3. Catch the tarantula migration at Vogel Canyon
For a few weeks from mid-September to mid-October, male tarantulas cross the trails south of town in the hundreds. Vogel Canyon, about 13 miles south in the Comanche National Grassland, is the place to see it, best in the couple of hours before sunset.
4. Find dinosaur tracks at Picketwire Canyonlands
Along the Purgatoire River sits the largest dinosaur trackway in North America, more than 1,300 prints pressed into ancient mud. It’s a rugged trip, so plan ahead, but there’s nothing else like it.
5. Dig into local history at the Otero Museum
This volunteer-run museum tells the story of La Junta itself, from railroad town to ranching country to Santa Fe Trail crossroads. A quiet, rewarding morning.
6. Hike and bird the Comanche National Grassland
The grassland’s trails, rock art, and prairie horizons are a birder’s and hiker’s dream, and the night skies out here are some of the darkest in Colorado.
7. Drive a stretch of the Santa Fe Trail
You’re on the historic mountain branch of the Trail. Follow the markers, read the waysides, and picture the wagon trains that once rolled through on their way west.
8. Fish or boat at John Martin Reservoir
About 30 minutes east, John Martin Reservoir State Park offers fishing, boating, camping, and some of the best waterfowl watching on the plains.
9. Take in a game
La Junta is a sports town. Catch the Tigers at Tiger Stadium or the Otero College Rattlers, all five minutes from the inn.
10. Eat well without leaving the property
Cap the day at the Yak & Yeti Lounge, our onsite bar and restaurant, or ask the front desk for a favorite local spot in town.
Make La Junta Inn your base. Every one of these is a short drive away, and we’re independent, pet-friendly, and open 24 hours. Check availability or call 719.383.3946.