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Identification & Gathering: Colorado > Pueblo Area

Quick Facts

Prairie Trail

Beginning Elevation:	4,375 Feet (1363.8 Meters)
Difficulty:	Moderate
Elevation Gain:	50 Feet (15.6 Meters)
Ending Elevation:	4,375 Feet (1363.8 Meters)
Handicapped Accessible:	No
Length, Round Trip:	3 Miles (5.0 Kilometers)
Recommended Season:	Late Fall
Usage:	Heavy in Spring and Fall
Vehicle Accessibility:	Passenger Vehicle

General Description

This tread leads southwest from the Barlow & Sanderson Stage Road then curves toward the east and heads into Vogel Canyon. It intersects first with the Mesa Trail then the Canyon Trail. It then turns north toward the picnic area.

Directions from La Junta: Drive south on Highway 109 for 13 miles to County Road 802. Turn right (west) on to 802 and travel one mile to a sign for Vogel Canyon. Turn left (south) and drive two miles to the picnic area.

		Current Conditions & Trip Reports
		Add your own trip Report! Newly re-released feature. One of the most popular features on Wildernet, trip reports allow you to share your experiences with others. This is an invaluable resource for determining what to expect on your outdoor adventure, so please participate! To prevent spamming, you must be a registered user of Wildernet in order to submit a trip report Filed By: Tom Schwab (Colorado Springs, CO) Number of People Encountered: 0-10 ppl Recommend to a Friend: Neutral Report: I parked at the turnout describing the stage road - on the way to the picnic area - and hiked west. The point at which the Plains Trail branches off the old stage road needs to be marked by a cairn or signpost. Four-wheeled vehicles have obscured the trail with their tracks. For now, anyone hiking the trail as I did should look to their left, after about a mile, for a metal stile crossing a fence. This marks the point where the Mesa Trail joins the Plains Trail.

Recreation Opportunities

Activity		Remarks	On Site
	Geology	Prairie Trail	Yes
	Hiking & Walking	Prairie Trail	Yes
	Horseback Riding	Prairie Trail	Yes
	Bird Identification	Prairie Trail	Yes
	Picnicking	Vogel Canyon Picnic Area	Yes
	Viewing Scenery	Prairie Trail	Yes

Related Activities

Canyon Trail - This trail leads 1.75 miles through Vogel Canyon and connects with the Prairie and Mesa Trails.

Mesa Trail - This trail leads 2.25 miles west connecting the Canyon Trail to the Prairie Trail at Vogel Canyon Picnic Area.

Overlook Trail - This trail leads one mile roundtrip to an overlook of Vogel Canyon and is wheelchair accessible.

Vogel Canyon Picnic Area - Vogel Canyon Picnic Area provides an opportunity for families and individuals to spend a day hiking, picnicking, viewing scenery and inspecting archaeological sites.