Culebra Canyon

Culebra Canyon is a name tied to the country around San Luis, the small town in Costilla County that is generally described as the oldest continuously inhabited settlement in Colorado. The name does not point to a single, signed canyon with a famous overlook. It belongs to the valley of Culebra Creek, which drains the western slopes of the Culebra Range and runs past San Luis, and the landscape here is better described as a mountain foothill valley than as a dramatic gorge.

Culebra means snake in Spanish, and the place name goes back to the first Hispanic colonists. They founded San Luis de la Culebra in 1851 and soon dug the San Luis People's Ditch, which carried water from Culebra Creek to their fields. The ditch holds what is described as the oldest water right in Colorado, and it is still in use. The creek is therefore as much a part of the cultural story as of the scenery; the farms, the village layout and the traditions of the community all grew from the water that comes off the Sangre de Cristo Mountains.

Visitors who come to the area will find open high-desert country in the San Luis Valley, with the mountain wall of the Culebra Range rising to the east. The terrain is quiet and sparsely populated, with long views, big skies and little development. There is no entry fee for the natural setting, and many of the lands on the surrounding slopes are private, so staying on public roads and respecting fences is important.

The best way to understand the setting is to combine it with the town. The San Luis Plaza and the San Luis Historic District, a short distance away, hold the old church, the plaza and the buildings that tell the human side of the story. San Luis State Park and the Rio Grande National Forest, nearby, offer more room for walking and wildlife viewing. Colorado Highway 159 is the main route in.

Travelers should plan ahead, because services in the area are limited and distances between towns are long. Fill the fuel tank and bring water and food. The setting suits people who like quiet landscapes, history and cultural heritage more than structured tours, and it works well as a calm stop on a longer drive through southern Colorado.