Eastern Plains

Understand

Roughly speaking, this region is bounded on the:

• South, by Oklahoma and New Mexico state lines.
• West, by the Front Range, metropolitan Denver Area and South Central Colorado.
• North, by the Wyoming and Nebraska state lines.
• East, by the Kansas state line.

Region boundaries in Colorado are indistinct, and sometimes contentious. If you're looking for a destination/attraction that you think should be in this region, but can't find it, check the pages for Denver Area, South Central Colorado and Front Range.

This is the largest, but most sparsely populated, of Colorado's regions. It occupies the easternmost third of the state, stretching from Nebraska in the north to New Mexico in the south. The only substantial city in the region is Pueblo, on Interstate 25 south of Denver (which is in its own region) and Colorado Springs (grouped with the south central region).

Most visitors to Colorado view this area as one to simply drive through quickly, en route to Denver and the mountains. However, there are some points of cultural/historic interest connected with the Santa Fe Trail, which passed through the southern part of the region. The National Grasslands throughout the region preserve wild lands that provide a reminder of what the Great Plains were like before the arrival of settlers from the east.

Cities

• Burlington
• Cheyenne Wells
• Fort Morgan
• Kit Carson
• La Junta
• Lamar
• Limon
• Pueblo
• Sterling
• Trinidad
• Walsenburg
• Wray

Other destinations

• Amache National Historic Site
• Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site
• California National Historic Trail
• Comanche National Grasslands
• Jackson Lake State Wildlife Area
• Pawnee National Grassland
• Pony Express National Historic Trail
• Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site
• Santa Fe National Historic Trail
• Delhi, Colorado is home to the state's last remaining wig-wag signal, a popular spot for railfans and tourists alike.

Get in

By train

Through the Eastern Plains, Amtrak runs the Southwest Chief: from Chicago to Los Angeles, stopping in Lamar, La Junta, and Trinidad. Additionally, the California Zephyr from Chicago to Emeryville stops in Fort Morgan between Denver and McCook, Nebraska.

For more information, see Wikivoyage's article Rail travel in the United States.

By plane

• Pueblo Memorial Airport (PUB)

Get around

During the winter, heavy ice and snow are a major concern, which can make driving difficult and slow going. Always check the weather and road conditions before heading out. Even on a clear winter's day, make sure your vehicle's wiper fluid reservoir is full. The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) spreads both sand and magnesium chloride on the roads, which makes for an impenetrable, gluey mess on your windshield.