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.

Long before La Veta became the mountain town you see today, there was Francisco Fort. Built in 1862 by Colonel John Francisco, the adobe trading post became a gateway for people, goods, and stories moving through the Spanish Peaks country. The town grew up around it, and the Fort went on to serve as a post office, storehouse, hotel, and home.

Today, the Fort is a museum open to the public and is filled with the stories and artifacts of the people who made this place what it is — from pioneer and Hispanic heritage to Native American history, mining, agriculture, railroads, and frontier life. Explore the historic buildings and collections, step into the saloon, and see the blacksmith shop where demonstrations bring the past to life.

The Spanish Peaks are hard to miss — two dramatic, ancient volcanic peaks rising more than 12,000 feet above the surrounding plains. And they’re only part of the story. Radiating from the mountains are hundreds of miles of ancient volcanic dikes, great walls of rock left standing as the softer surrounding landscape eroded away.

Come get a closer look. Hike the trails, explore the backcountry by 4-wheel drive, or saddle up for a horseback ride through the Spanish Peaks country. However you find your way out there, the geology is fascinating and impossible to miss.

In La Veta and the surrounding Spanish Peaks country, the night sky is part of the landscape. At Cuchara Mountain Park, an ongoing Dark Sky Initiative is working to protect that darkness and preserve the spectacular view of the stars for generations to come. The park is pursuing International Dark Sky Park certification and is committed to responsible outdoor lighting, dark-sky education, and year-round opportunities to experience the night sky.

On a clear night, escape the lights and watch the Milky Way stretch across the sky above the mountains. Bring a blanket, give your eyes a few minutes to adjust, and look up.

Keep an eye on Cuchara Mountain Park’s website and social media for summer stargazing events and night-sky programs.