More Details to Come
Depart: Breakfast at 7AM at The Farmhouse Grill at Raccoon Creek with a departure time of 8AM
Overnight: Trinidad: We will be staying at the Holiday Inn Express, but there are some other lower cost options nearby.
Dinner: Tequila's Family Mexican Restaurant
The Highway of Legends, (Colorado State Highway 12) is an 82-mile National Scenic Byway in Southern Colorado that loops around the Spanish Peaks. The route connects the towns of Trinidad, Walsenburg and La Veta, offering a blend of dramatic volcanic geography, mining history and Native American Lore
Highlights of the trip include the "Wet Mountains" and beautiful Cucharas Pass.
The "Highway of Legends" earned its name because the landscape is so dramatic that nearly every peak, valley, and rock formation has a story attached to it. These legends are a blend of Indigenous creation myths, Spanish explorer accounts, and Wild West frontier lore.
Here are the most prominent legends associated with the route:
1. The Spanish Peaks (Wahatoya)
The Ute, Apache, and Comanche tribes called the Twin Peaks Wahatoya, meaning "Breasts of the Earth."
- The Legend: It was believed that the world began here. The mountains were considered the source of all life and the home of the gods. Clouds gathering around the summits were seen as spirits or "rain gods" communicating with the people below.
- The Origin: These peaks are geographically unique because they stand alone, rising abruptly from the plains. Their prominence made them a natural focal point for spiritual significance among Indigenous peoples.
2. The Devil’s Stairsteps
One of the most striking geological features along the byway is a series of massive, vertical rock walls (volcanic dikes) that look like giant steps climbing the mountain.
- The Legend: Local folklore suggests these were literally built by the Devil so he could climb out of the underworld to overlook the world. Some variations say he would sit atop the steps to plot his next move.
- The Origin: Geologically, these are radial dikes formed by magma being forced into vertical cracks in the earth. When the surrounding softer rock eroded away, these "stairs" were left behind.
3. The Lost Gold of the Huajatolla
For centuries, rumors have persisted of a massive hidden gold mine within the Spanish Peaks.
- The Legend: It is said that 16th-century Spanish Conquistadors discovered a rich vein of gold. They allegedly forced Indigenous people to mine it until a revolt occurred, leading the Spaniards to seal the mine and hide the entrance. Some say the gold is "cursed" and that anyone who gets too close to finding it will be met with sudden, violent storms.
- The Origin: This stems from the historical presence of Spanish explorers in the 1500s and 1800s. While small amounts of gold were found in the area, a "mother lode" has never been officially discovered.
4. The Purgatoire River (River of Lost Souls)
The river that runs near the southern end of the byway near Trinidad has a haunting name.
- The Legend: A group of Spanish soldiers reportedly traveled along the river without a priest. They disappeared entirely—some say they were killed in a skirmish, others say they were swallowed by the wilderness. Because they died without receiving "last rites," their souls were said to be trapped in Purgatory forever.
- The Origin: The Spanish named it El Río de las Ánimas Perdidas en Purgatorio (The River of the Souls Lost in Purgatory). French trappers later shortened it to Purgatoire, which English-speaking settlers famously mispronounced as "Picketwire."
5. Tarabino’s Treasure (The Cuchara Pass Ghost)
- The Legend: Near the summit of Cuchara Pass, travelers have reported seeing a ghostly figure or hearing the phantom sounds of a horse and carriage.
- The Origin: This is often linked to the "Wild West" era of the 1800s, when the pass was a dangerous route for stagecoaches and outlaws. The area was notorious for robberies, and many believe the "ghosts" are protectors of stolen loot buried in the hills.