Visit La Junta

04/29/2026

Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site is northeast of La Junta near Eads, and it is not an easy place to visit, nor should it be. On November 29, 1864, Colonel John Chivington led US troops in an attack on a peaceful encampment of Cheyenne and Arapaho people who had been promised protection. The site is preserved by the NPS as a place of mourning, truth-telling, and ongoing healing.

Open Thursday – Monday, 9AM – 4PM.

Have you visited? Share your experience in the comments. ⬇️

04/28/2026

From 1821 to 1880, the Santa Fe Trail stretched nearly 900 miles from Independence, Missouri to Santa Fe, New Mexico. But, before it became a trade route for Euro-American commerce, it was already part of a Native American trade network. The lands through which the trail passed were the homelands and hunting grounds of many Native nations — the Comanche, the Kiowa, the southern Cheyenne and Arapaho, the Plains Apache, the Osage, the Ute, and the Pueblo peoples, among others.

If you’re looking for a road trip with real depth, history you can touch, landscapes that haven’t changed much in 200 years, and a quieter corner of Colorado that most people drive past without stopping — the Santa Fe Trail through La Junta is worth your time.

📍 La Junta, Colorado
🌐 visitlajunta.net

04/22/2026

Happy Earth Day everyone!!! 🌎🌱🌳

04/21/2026

One of our most treasured tourism assets…

04/20/2026

If you’re looking to get outside more this year, add La Junta to your road trip itinerary.

04/14/2026

Here in La Junta, Colorado, we’re so fortunate to be surrounded by stunning natural beauty. Today, we're sharing some easy principles to help us preserve the land for future generations.

What are some ways you practice trail etiquette?

04/10/2026

Dinosaur tracks, petroglyphs, expansive grasslands… La Junta, Colorado has so much to offer. Come explore!

04/06/2026

What's the significance of Bent's Old Fort? For decades, Bent's Old Fort was the sole permanent settlement on the Santa Fe Trail - the trail between Missouri and the Mexican border. It was a lifeline for traders, trappers, and Plains tribes alike.

Originally built in 1833-34 by brothers Charles and William Bent and Ceran St. Vrain. If you're into Colorado history, this is a must visit.

Find out how to visit the reconstruction: https://visitlajunta.net/experience/bents-old-fort-national-historic-site/

04/03/2026

La Junta, Colorado is one of the top birding destinations in all of Colorado. The region sits in a sweet spot where open grasslands, the Arkansas River, and dramatic pinyon-juniper canyons all meet. Over 235 bird species have been identified in the Comanche National Grassland alone!

What birds have you spotted in southeastern Colorado?? 🦉🦆🪺🐦‍⬛🕊️

03/30/2026

Vogel Canyon, located 13 miles south of La Junta on the Santa Fe Trail scenic byway in southeast Colorado, offers a rich historical experience in addition to its natural beauty.

Learn more about exploring ➡️

Southeast Colorado's Vogel Canyon was etched by the Purgatoire River 13 miles south of La Junta along the Sante Fe Trail Scenic and Historic Byway.

03/23/2026

When did you last see the Milky Way with your own eyes? Not a photo, not a screensaver, the real thing?

For most Americans, that experience is becoming rare. Eighty percent of people in this country now live under a hazy umbrella of light pollution. Lucky for us, La Junta sits in the heart of one of Colorado's most spectacular dark-sky corridors. The Comanche National Grassland is an ideal location to view the night sky with the naked eye. No light pollution exists, so the stars are bright and clear!

03/21/2026

Need a sign to plan that weekend trip? This is it. La Junta is the perfect escape — rich history, wide open spaces, incredible wildlife, and a community that genuinely loves visitors. Just a few hours from Denver or Albuquerque. We'll see you soon!