While most Coloradans associate the United States Forest Service with mountain areas, this federal agency also administers a collection of grasslands on the plains of southeastern Colorado.  The federal government acquired these lands in the 1930s, after the drought and devastation of the Dust Bowl era caused hundreds of farmers to abandon their fields.  Many original homesteaders found that conventional crop farming practices on small, 160 parcels were simply not feasible.  

But these homesteaders were not the first inhabitants of the area.  Documented evidence of humans in the area dates back about 3,000 years, when people traveled through the region in search of wildlife.  Settled habitation occurred about 1,000 years ago.  In more recent times, Plains Indians including the Comanche, Kiowa, Cheyenne, Arapaho and Apache tribes conducted bison hunts in the area.  These people left behind evidence of their cultures, still visible today in the many rock art sites found in the canyons of the Comanche National Grassland.  

The first Europeans to explore the area were the Spanish, who came in the 1500s.  Fur trappers and traders began arriving in the 19th century and substantial numbers of settlers began populating the area by the late 1800s, many arriving via the Mountain Route of the Santa Fe Trail.


Four areas of the Comanche National Grassland are particularly significant for how they illustrate this diverse human history:

The Santa Fe National Historic Trail was the first of America's trans-Mississippi routes, linking Franklin, Missouri to Santa Fe, New Mexico.  The longest segment of the Santa Fe Trail on public land in the state of Colorado occurs on the Comanche National Grassland. The integrity of the Santa Fe Trail is evident in the visible wagon ruts at Iron Springs. The landscape surrounding the Santa Fe Trail along Highway 350 has received only minimal development and is very similar to what Trail travelers saw during the 1800s. This allows visitors to easily imagine the hardships and beauty associated with travel along the Trail.  

Vogel Canyon Historic District retains the scenic beauty and natural resources that have drawn people to the canyon for thousands of years. Prehistoric rock shelters and rock art sites in the canyon are interpreted which helps visitors understand prehistoric life in the canyon. 

The setting of Rourke Ranch Historic District has changed very little since Eugene Rourke first settled in the area in 1871. The architecturally significant main house, stable, barn and dog house are well preserved. Interpretative panels showing the Rourke family and telling their stories helps visitors envision early life on the ranch. 

Picket Wire Canyonlands also retains the scenic beauty and setting that has attracted people to the canyon throughout human history of the area. There are hundreds of prehistoric habitation and rock art sites and several historic homesteads that the public can discover on its own. Because of its remote setting, many prehistoric and historic sites are extremely well preserved. 

All areas on the Timpas Unit of the Comanche National Grassland are open to the public throughout the year. Whether hiking, biking, or horseback riding, visitors can easily view the historic resources along the Picket Wire Canyon Trail.  For visitors who prefer a more structured visit, the Comanche National Grassland offers guided auto tours into the canyon.  For the Rourke Ranch Historic District and Picket Wire Canyonlands, the Forest Service has issued a dawn to dusk closure order. Overnight use is prohibited in the canyon which helps protect sites by limiting access.  

For more information on a guided tour please contact the Timpas Unit at 719-384-2181.

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Fun Facts to Know and Tell: 
In addition to a rich cultural history, the Comanche National Grassland contains one of the world's most extensive and best-preserved collections of dinosaur tracks.

The name Comanche is from Spanish, which took it from Ute kïmanchi, kïmachi for "enemy, foreigner."

Back when highways had names instead of numbers, State Highway 350 was called the National Old Trails Highway, a transcontinental route between New York City and Los Angeles.  In 1908 the Colorado State Legislature appropriated $2,000 to mark the Old Santa Fe Trail route between Holly and Raton Pass with 31 signs, the first official state highway signs marking routes outside urban areas. Route numbers came into existence in the mid 1920s.

In addition to a rich cultural history, the Comanche National Grassland contains one of the world's most extensive and best-preserved collections of dinosaur tracks. The name Comanche is from Spanish, which took it from Ute kïmanchi, kïmachi for "enemy, foreigner." Back when highways had names instead of numbers, State Highway 350 was called the National Old Trails Highway, a transcontinental route between New York City and Los Angeles.  In 1908 the Colorado State Legislature appropriated $2,000 to mark the Old Santa Fe Trail route between Holly and Raton Pass with 31 signs, the first official state highway signs marking routes outside urban areas. Route numbers came into existence in the mid 1920s.

Other Places to Visit:
Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site  
Boggsville  
Bent's Old Fort

Best Times to Visit: 
Early summer and late August through October are particularly good times to visit the grasslands.  

Byways:
Santa Fe Trail Scenic & Historic Byway (one of America's Byways®)