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Cuchara Pass Coming up into Colorado from New Mexico over Raton Pass, the first opportunity you’ll have to ride a good, windy, mountain road is Cuchara Pass on CO 12. Going westward and then north, CO 12 runs from Trinidad up to La Veta and is known as the Highway of Legends. These legends were born of the dominating, unique geological features of the area. At La Veta you’ll hit US 160, which you can then take west over La Veta Pass toward Alamosa, the Great Sand Dunes, and points west. Coming out of Trinidad you’ll quickly come up the town of Cokedale. Rows of old coking ovens remain, along with a mill, to hint at the area's past prosperity. Next, you’ll pass through farmland that is quickly being overwhelmed with oil and gas drilling. Then you head up the pass and drop down into Cuchara. Cuchara is home to a small ski area so there are accommodations and eateries beyond what you would normally find in such a small, out-of-the-way town. On Friday and Saturday nights Cuchara is a happening place and a good time. Check out the Dog Bar. There are several campgrounds along CO 12 but only one is close to the highway, Monument Lake Park, which is owned by Trinidad and operated by a licensee. The park also offers cabins, a lodge, and small shops. North of the summit there are a couple other campgrounds but they are five miles or more up a gravel road with a lot of washboard. If that doesn't bother you, they're nice campgrounds and very quiet so far away from the highway. Click on a thumbnail for a larger image; arrow through the photos; click the large image to close it. Below are the coking ovens and mill at Cokedale: 
Further along, on the south side of the pass, you’ll rise out of the valley (first photo) and pass some interesting rock formations (second photo). You’ll pass Monument Lake on the way up: 
At the Cuchara Pass summit, looking south, east toward the gravel roads that go on from there, and north. Then the town of Cuchara and on down to La Veta: 
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