Boasting a population of just under 15,000, Las Animas county is a borderland between Colorado’s jutting mountains and picture-perfect plains in the southeastern portion of Colorado. The county takes its name from the Spanish name of the Purgatoire River, originally called El Río de las Ánimas Perdidas en el Purgatorio, which means “River of the Lost Souls in Purgatory.”
Truly a geographic frontier, this county has a total area of 4,775 square miles, making it the largest county in Colorado (by area). The bustling city of Trinidad is the county seat and is one of the most preserved, historic downtowns in Colorado. Recently, it has undergone a dramatic resurgence with the opening of Colorado’s 42nd state park—Fishers Peak— and the Creative District’s new Space to Create. Come and meet the people who put the “heart” into the Corazon de Trinidad before you head out to explore the rest of the county.
Drive the Highway of Legends National Scenic Byway to see eye-popping geological wonders like Cretaceous-Paleogene Boundary at Trinidad Lake State Park and the Spanish Peaks’ radial dykes. Enjoy a laid-back game of golf on Trinidad’s historic Municipal Golf Course (est. 1915) or a stroll along the Purgatoire Riverwalk. Las Animas County’s mesas, mountains, rivers, and lakes also yield an abundance of recreational opportunities for hunting, hiking, cycling, fishing, and more.
Jump off the I-25 interstate and explore Las Animas County!
