Prairie Canyons Trail
I Thought Eastern Colorado was supposed to be Flat
“That’s funny,” first-time visitors often say when they venture south of La Junta. “I thought Eastern Colorado was supposed to be flat.” Flat it’s not, south of the Arkansas River, where the land folds in upon itself and twists into a maze of rimrock canyons filled with juniper and pinyon pine. In this arid forest is found wildlife more typical of the desert Southwest, like horned lizards, Cassin’s Kingbirds, roadrunners, rattlesnakes and Rufous-crowned Sparrows. The geography here is harsh and spectacular, and the people are far-flung but friendly. Of all the wonderful places hidden in Southeast Colorado, this trail might just run right past the most surprises.