Costilla County brings together a range of travel interests: the history of San Luis and Fort Garland, religious traditions, and seasonal activities at Mountain Home Reservoir SWA. Los Caminos Antiguos leads to San Luis, Colorado’s oldest continuously existing settlement, founded in 1851. San Luis is also considered Colorado’s oldest continuously inhabited town. This makes the town a clear point of reference for travelers interested in settlement history; at the reservoir, the season determines which fishing activity takes center stage.

Los Caminos Antiguos and Its Historical Connections

Los Caminos Antiguos also leads to Fort Garland, one of the San Luis Valley’s early military outposts. The route’s features include the San Luis People’s Ditch, which is connected to Colorado’s oldest water rights. The Plaza de San Luis de la Culebra Historic District also includes the San Luis People’s Ditch. In this way, water rights come up both as a feature of the route and in connection with a historic district.

Churches and Cultural Traditions

Capilla de Viejo San Acacio is Colorado’s oldest surviving church and an important part of the San Luis Valley’s Hispanic settlement history. It is connected to the tradition of acequia irrigation and to community leadership in the mayordomo tradition. These aspects offer a way to explore irrigation and community governance as well as the church’s architectural history.

At Fort Garland Museum, visitors can explore restored adobe buildings and exhibits about Kit Carson and the Buffalo Soldiers. Check the latest information about the museum’s offerings before your visit. A two-hour tour of some of San Luis’s attractions is also available.

Festivals and Events

The Feast of Santo Acacio is celebrated every year on May 8 with a procession, a Mass, and a benefit dinner. Over Memorial Day weekend, Fort Garland Museum hosts a three-day festival featuring reenactments, stories, songs, and dances. One celebration is tied to a fixed calendar date, while the other takes place over a holiday weekend. If you’re planning your trip around either event, check the latest dates and schedules in advance.

A Look at San Luis

The Shrine of the Stations of the Cross sits on San Pedro Mesa overlooking San Luis.

A Path to Sculptures and a Chapel

Visitors can follow a path about half a mile long to fifteen bronze sculptures of the Passion and Resurrection of Christ, as well as an adobe chapel on the hilltop. The approximate path length gives a concrete reference for planning without specifying a walking time.

Seasonal Activities at Mountain Home Reservoir SWA

Fishing opportunities at Mountain Home Reservoir SWA vary by season: the reservoir is stocked with trout throughout the summer and is open for ice fishing in winter. Fish stocking, conditions, and regulations can change; check the latest information before fishing. Campsites and restrooms are also available at the SWA. Availability may change, so it’s a good idea to check before your visit.

Explore more destinations: Fremont, Elbert County, Chaffee, Saguache County, Pueblo, La Plata, Custer, Otero

For the overview of the wider region: Colorado.