8 Attractions to Explore Near Cimarron National Grassland

Point of Rocks, located in Morton County, Kansas, is a prominent geological feature that holds historical and cultural significance. Rising abruptly from the surrounding prairie, Point of Rocks is a distinctive rock formation that served as a landmark and navigational aid for travelers along the historic Santa Fe Trail in the 19th century.

Two Buttes Reservoir is a shrinking man made lake located within the Two Buttes SWA near Two Buttes, Colorado.The 1909 dam is significant for its engineering and as an intact example of a turn-of-the-century earthen dam. The dam was built before machinery with horses, mules and hand labor. Two Buttes State Wildlife Area lies at the foot of the dam.

The Comanche National Grassland includes over 440, 000 acres in southeastern Colorado. Here, you can explore southeastern Colorado's rich history. Over 1300 visible tracks in the picturesque Picketwire Canyon make it one of the largest documented dinosaur trackways in North America. The natural beauty of Comanche is another draw, with short grass, rugged canyons, and rolling bluffs.

Picture Canyon, located in the Comanche National Grassland in southeastern Colorado, was named for its prehistoric rock art. There is evidence of prehistoric inhabitation of sites in Picture Canyon by Paleo-Indian, Archaic and Post-Archaic cultures, from about 12,000 years ago to 400 years ago. In addition to rock art, there are also carvings in walls that are used to identify the entry into fall and spring equinoxes.

The Amache National Historic Site is located in Prowers County, Colorado. It was established in 1965 to preserve the site of the Amache Internment Camp, which was used to imprison Japanese Americans during World War II. Today, the site is open to the public and features a variety of interpretive exhibits. Visitors can also explore the remains of the camp, including the foundations of buildings and surfaces where internees wrote messages on the ground.

Carrizo Canyon is a canyon in San Diego County, California. The canyon has water year round and a two mile hiking trail that encircles the area. Although the canyon is not deep, it is a beautiful place to watch wildlife and provides excellent birdwatching in the spring and fall. Also boasts pecked style animal petroglyphs.

The Santa Fe Trail Scenic and Historic Byway is a 143-mile route through southeastern Colorado that follows the path of the historic Santa Fe Trail. The byway begins in Trinidad and winds its way north through the countryside, passing by fields of waving grass and ancient rock formations. Along the way, visitors can explore local museums, take a scenic drive through Comanche National Grassland, or hike to the top of Rocky Ford Mesa for a view of the valley below.

The Preston Monument is a stone marker that shows the tri-point (the place where three states meet) of Oklahoma, Colorado, and New Mexico.It is named after Levi S. Preston, who surveyed a portion of the New Mexico–Colorado border.