Golf looks a little different down here. Grandote Peaks is a championship course nestled at the base of the Spanish Peaks in La Veta, with sweeping mountain views and a setting worth traveling for.

Whether La Veta is the destination for your golf trip or you're fitting in a round between adventures, this is mountain golf with a distinctly Southern Colorado backdrop.

Not ready to put the clubs away? Make a weekend of it with a round at the 9-hole Walsenburg Golf Course, just 15 minutes from La Veta. Explore Walsenburg Golf Course

Just outside La Veta, Cuchara Mountain Park is a community-run mountain playground built for year-round adventure. In warmer months, explore mountain trails, play a round of 18-hole disc golf, or simply take in the fresh mountain air and spectacular views. When winter arrives, the mountain transforms with lift-served skiing and snowboarding, backcountry skiing and touring, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and snow play.

A little mountain, a lot of adventure—and a whole lot of community spirit.

The Spanish Peaks and surrounding mountains offer plenty of opportunities to trade pavement for dirt and explore Southern Colorado's high country. Hike the peaks—just shy of 14,000 feet—or wander through forested trails and along dramatic dike walls, with breathtaking views stretching across the Cuchara Valley and out over the Eastern Plains.

When you’re ready to cool off, cast a line in one of the area's lakes and enjoy a little more time outside.

Pack your boots. Bring your fishing pole. We'll have a beer waiting when you get back.

Explore La Veta Trails

Just outside nearby Walsenburg, Lathrop State Park sits in the shadow of the Spanish Peaks. Colorado's first state park offers two lakes for fishing, boating and swimming, along with miles of trails for hiking and biking and plenty of open space to take in the mountain scenery.

Spend the day exploring the shoreline, wandering the trails or relaxing by the water, then stay a little longer with camping beneath the stars. With the Spanish Peaks rising above the park, Lathrop is an easy way to add a little lake time and mountain air to your La Veta weekend.

Mountains aren't the only thing worth exploring down here.

Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve is home to the tallest dunes in North America, surrounded by grasslands, wetlands, forests, alpine lakes and the Sangre de Cristo Mountains.

Climb the dunes, try sand sledding, explore Medano Creek when conditions allow, or stay until dark to experience the stars in an International Dark Sky Park. It's an unforgettable addition to a Southern Colorado road trip.

Also visit Zapata Falls, a scenic 30-foot waterfall tucked into a narrow rocky canyon near Great Sand Dunes National Park. A short, moderately challenging hike leads to the falls, with a refreshing creek crossing along the way.

Explore Zapata Falls

The Highway of Legends is more than a scenic drive—it’s a journey through the stories, geology and history of Southern Colorado. This 82-mile National Scenic Byway winds between Walsenburg and Trinidad, passing through historic mountain communities, the San Isabel National Forest, the Spanish Peaks and dramatic formations like the Great Dikes, Dakota Wall and Devil’s Stairsteps.

Make the drive even better with the free self-guided audio tour. Download it before you go, then let GPS guide you through local stories, legends and points of interest along the route as you drive. Roll the windows down, take your time and let the road do the rest.

A historic boutique stay in downtown La Veta, close to Main Street, local shops, restaurants and Mountain Merman Brewing Company.

Cozy cabin accommodations in La Veta near the Cucharas River, offering an easy home base for exploring town and the surrounding mountains.

Looking for a place to park and stay awhile? La Veta Pines offers full-hookup RV sites, plenty of shade and a friendly, small-town atmosphere, all within town limits and walking distance of downtown La Veta.

Nestled at the foot of the Spanish Peaks along the Cuchara River, We RV Champions offers full-hookup RV sites, cozy cabins and vintage campers. Relax by the river and make it your home base for exploring La Veta and Southern Colorado.

A mountain stay in the Cuchara Valley and an ideal basecamp for exploring Cuchara Mountain Park, the Highway of Legends and the surrounding mountains.

A cabin-style bed and breakfast in Cuchara for travelers looking to slow down and stay closer to the mountains. Great food, and unbeatable hospitality will make this feel like a second home.

For a true mountain-camping experience, head up to the Blue Lake and Bear Lake campgrounds in the San Isabel National Forest. At more than 10,000 feet, these rustic campgrounds put you close to two small, stocked mountain lakes, fishing, hiking trails and spectacular views of the surrounding peaks.

Explore Blue & Bear Camping

Prefer a few more comforts? Lathrop State Park offers 103 campsites for tents, RVs and trailers, with two lakes, miles of trails, showers and electrical sites—all beneath the Spanish Peaks.

Take a stroll through historic downtown La Veta and see what catches your eye. Browse local gift shops, art galleries, boutiques and bookstores, discover work from the town’s creative community, and find plenty of unexpected treasures along the way.

And don’t miss Charlie’s Market for an old-fashioned ice cream from their classic soda fountain—a La Veta tradition since 1937.

Come hungry. La Veta may be small, but there’s more to eat and drink than you might expect. From cozy cafés and bakeries to locally owned restaurants, mountain-town bars and spots serving everything from New Mexican favorites to international flavors, there’s plenty to discover. Grab breakfast before a day on the trails, linger over dinner, or find a patio and watch the mountains change color.

Head up to Cuchara for a taste of mountain-town dining. Grab a meal or a drink, settle in with views of the surrounding peaks, and enjoy the slower pace of this historic mountain community.

And yes, there’s good beer here, too.

You might not expect a town this small to have much of a music and arts scene. You’d be surprised. Throughout the summer, catch free live music on the patio at Mountain Merman or find an eclectic lineup at the La Veta Mercantile. You might even happen upon a show at the Francisco Center for the Performing Arts, a charming 75-seat theater where talented local performers bring plays, musicals, concerts and more to life.

Keep an eye on the calendar…you never know what you’ll find happening in the mountains.

A historic boutique stay in downtown La Veta, close to Main Street, local shops, restaurants and Mountain Merman Brewing Company.

Explore La Veta Inn

Cozy cabin accommodations in La Veta near the Cucharas River, offering an easy home base for exploring town and the surrounding mountains.

Explore Two Fox Cabins

Looking for a place to park and stay awhile? La Veta Pines offers full-hookup RV sites, plenty of shade and a friendly, small-town atmosphere, all within town limits and walking distance of downtown La Veta.

Explore La Veta Pines

Nestled at the foot of the Spanish Peaks along the Cuchara River, We RV Champions offers full-hookup RV sites, cozy cabins and vintage campers. Relax by the river and make it your home base for exploring La Veta and Southern Colorado.

Explore We RV Champions

A mountain stay in the Cuchara Valley and an ideal basecamp for exploring Cuchara Mountain Park, the Highway of Legends and the surrounding mountains.

Explore Cuchara Lokal

A cabin-style bed and breakfast in Cuchara for travelers looking to slow down and stay closer to the mountains.

Explore Cucharas River B&B