Vogel Canyon

Just a short drive from La Junta, beautiful Vogel Canyon is always a popular destination because it has something for everybody - from a short hike to a quiet picnic. The park provides picnic grounds and hiking trails with a variety of difficulty and length. Four hiking trails take you to the canyon bottom and mesa top. You can drive your vehicle right up to the picnic area and the short Canyon Overlook Trail is Wheel chair accessible. Hikers must beware of rattlesnakes and scorpions, as well as pack appropriate dress for late afternoon showers, and bring plenty of water.

Vogel canyon is a tributary of the Purgatory River and offers a varied habit from short grass prairies to the pinion-juniper ecosystem. Two permanent springs located at the bottom of the canyon support a variety of wildlife. Native Americans lived in the canyon for thousands of years and left rock art visible on the canyon walls. The canyon was on the route of the Barlow and Sanderson Stage line in the 1870s. You can still see the ruins of one of their stage stations down in the canyon (photo above right). As you hike the trails in Vogel Canyon you will see many stone ruins of homesteads and corrals with walls constructed of native stone - reminders of the heavy 19th century sheep and cattle ranching days in the area.