Overlooked beauty, history and eats: Trinidad is a Colorado town to love in summer
It is an easy town to locate, impossible to miss at the southernmost end of Interstate 25 in Colorado. Trinidad’s identity, however, is much harder to pinpoint.
Look around and you’ll see plenty of symbols of industries past and present. Walk up and down the red-brick Main Street, and you’ll come to understand a town built on mining. Yes, the coal boom built Trinidad — accompanied by the railroad boom that replaced the old Santa Fe Trail as the mode of transit.
But the trail is far from forgotten today. Trinidad was the crossroads for that pioneer path, representing both the promise and the pain of the broader West, the lives made and lost.
Ranching prevailed around here too. That was long before the modern economy turned its attention to recreational marijuana. Amid that industry’s proliferation around Colorado and across the state line in New Mexico, officials have spoken of yet another boom and bust.
And so here we are now in a town still colorful, still looking back but also looking forward. People are looking up — up to the high cliffs of Fishers Peak. After generations in private hands, Trinidad’s biggest, boldest landmark is finally public land. That’s a clear hint at a future of tourism. Take a closer look around:
Get cultured
Trinidad History Museum is the first stop for a deeper dive into the important events that shaped this region and state. You might go pay your respects at the Southern Colorado Coal Miners Memorial. You might also drive 15 minutes north to the Ludlow Massacre Site, marking a nightmare that changed labor in America.
Trinidad maintained faith, as beautifully displayed by Temple Aaron. The edifice of pink sandstone and cornices stands on a neighborhood hilltop, considered the oldest synagogue in Colorado. It was the design of a highly influential architect, Isaac Hamilton Rapp. His other grand works around town include Zion’s Lutheran Church and First Baptist Church.
Corazon Gallery is among stops on Main Street, lined by boutiques and shops celebrating the local flair. The A.R. Mitchell Museum of Western Art celebrates the captivating works of Arthur Roy Mitchell. And the Art Cartopia Museum celebrates a much different kind of creativity. Trust us, you haven’t seen vehicles like this.
Go play
Trinidad Lake is a great, often-missed oasis for fishing, boating and camping. Across the interstate is the new state park: Fishers Peak, where 13-plus miles of trail are making their summer debut. The scenic network offers short and long outings — including a mountain bike-only downhill section called Poison Canyon.
Highway of Legends is a vastly underrated drive. You could make a full day of the 82 miles, stopping for photos at quaint towns, lakes and viewpoints. From Trinidad, the road peaks above 11,000 feet. Another drive to consider: south across the border to Raton, N.M. Sugarite Canyon State Park is another overlooked paradise of lakes, trails and mining history.
Grab a bite
Rino’s is the creation of a Trinidad native who left as a youngster with dreams of musical fame. He touched that fame. But eventually, Frank Cordova came home to open an Italian restaurant complete with singing waiters. You might catch him belting a number one night, still going strong in his 80s.
Nana and Nano’s Pasta House is another trusted name in Italian cuisine. They also offer quicker bites: sandwiches with carefully selected meats and cheeses.
Speaking of meats, Trinidad Smokehouse is the place. They’ve got you covered if you’re craving a burger or barbecue. If it’s pizza on your mind, Bella Luna is the spot.
Towering pine trees cast shadows over Fishers Peak Trail-Osita Ridge Section at Fishers Peak State Park on Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2022, in Trinidad, Colo. (The Gazette, Parker Seibold)
Fishers Peak towers over Colorado’s newest state park on Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2022. For decades, residents of Trinidad and the surrounding area have wondered if they would ever get to access the massive piece of rock protruding from the earth. Trial plans include access to the peak.
Monument Lake had a picturesque view of a couple of peaks and can be seen on the Highway of Legends between Stonewall and Trinidad.
Frank Cordova, 78, owner of Rino’s Italian Restaurant and Steakhouse, holds Skylar Taylor’s hand as he sings for his guests at his restaurant in Trinidad, Colorado., on Feb. 23, 2022. Taylor was celebrating her 23rd birthday and drove up from Albuquerque with her mother Tara Taylor to celebrate at Rino’s. Cordova and his brother Bob spent over 20 years in Las Vegas in the music industry and are known as the “original singing waiters” of Las Vegas. In 2002 they brought a sprinkle of Las Vegas back to their hometown of Trinidad and Frank continues to perform musical performers for his guests. (Chancey Bush /The Gazette)
Rino’s Italian Restaurant and Steakhouse is in an 1880s church building on Main Street in Trinidad.
Inside the sanctuary of historic Temple Aaron in Trinidad, Colo., on Feb. 23, 2022. Temple Aaron is the oldest Jewish synagogue in Colorado.
A basket of kippah head coverings sits inside the sanctuary of historic Temple Aaron in Trinidad.
The historic Temple Aaron in Trinidad.
Chancey Bush
Temple Aaron is being considered for National Historic Landmark designation — a move that advocates hope will bring even more attention and support to the house of worship in Trinidad.
Highway of Legends
Length: 82 miles
Crossing: Walsenburg, La Veta, Cuchara, Trinidad
Incorporating: U.S. 160, Colorado 12
The lore is in the rocks, in formations that go by names such as Devil’s Staircase. That is among the dikes radiating from the Spanish Peaks, known as “the breasts of the world.” Also on Colorado 12 en route to La Veta, there rises a sentinel butte that native people knew as a guardian. On the opposite end of 12 — over the underrated Cuchara and Cordova passes — Cokedale is a curious point of interest. The row of crumbling archways are remnants of coal operations here.
Sunflowers frame the sun as it rises over Trinidad Lake State Park Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2020, in sourthern Colorado. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock)
ABOVE: Students at Fisher Elementary in Trinidad look at a car decorated with an assortment of eyes on Thursday. A group that will be participating in this weekend’s ArtoCade brought 12 cars to the elementary school. The art car festival finishes Saturday in downtown Trinidad. It has become the second largest art car event in the nation, following only Houston.
Rides on the wild side
Two embellished cars made with glass and beads wait in a garage for the Artocade Parade in Trinidad, Colorado. The art car parade in Trinidad’s historic downtown is the second largest art car event in the nation, following Houston, Texas. (Hannah Tran, The Gazette)