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Eastern Plains
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Explore Eastern Plains Colorado for wide-open prairie, historic trails, grasslands, river towns, dinosaur country and the quiet drama of big-sky landscapes.

Eastern Plains Colorado is the broad, open country east of the Front Range, where the landscape descends from the foothills into an immense sweep of shortgrass prairie, irrigated farmland and cottonwood-lined river valleys. It is not a single municipality or sharply bounded administrative area, but a familiar geographic and travel region extending from the northern borderlands around Sterling and Julesburg to the southeastern grasslands near Lamar, La Junta and Springfield. Horizons are long, settlements are widely spaced and the changing light gives the terrain a character that is easy to miss when travelling quickly along the interstate.
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The region's principal communities include Fort Morgan, Sterling, Burlington, Limon, Lamar and La Junta, with smaller towns marking historic railway corridors and agricultural districts. Their museums, local cafés, courthouses and main streets provide useful windows into life on the plains. Rivers shape the most fertile areas: the South Platte supports farms and riparian habitat in the north, while the Arkansas River runs through the south-east. Elsewhere, native grassland, sandy soils and wind-carved formations reveal the semi-arid environment that has always made water and land management central to life here.
History is unusually legible across the Eastern Plains. The Santa Fe Trail crossed the south-eastern part of the region, and Bent's Old Fort recalls the trading world that connected Indigenous nations, Mexican communities, trappers and American merchants before the arrival of the railway. The Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site preserves the setting of the 1864 attack on Cheyenne and Arapaho people and is an important place for learning about the violence and dispossession associated with westward expansion. Rail lines, military posts, homesteads and irrigation projects later transformed the plains without erasing their earlier histories.
Outdoor experiences centre on scale and solitude rather than dense infrastructure. Pawnee National Grassland in the north offers birdwatching, hiking, photography and dark skies amid prairie and badlands, while Comanche National Grassland in the south-east contains rugged canyons, fossil-bearing terrain and remnants of historic trails. The Paint Mines Interpretive Park near Calhan presents colourful clay formations in a compact walking area. Wildlife includes prairie dogs, pronghorn, raptors and migratory birds, though conditions can be exposed and changeable. The Eastern Plains reward travellers who allow time for museum visits, scenic detours and quiet observation rather than treating the region solely as a route between the mountains and the Great Plains beyond Colorado.

Getting to and around Eastern Plains

How to get there

Denver International Airport lies west of the Eastern Plains and is the principal international gateway, but it is outside the region; allow substantial driving time after collecting a car. Colorado Springs Airport, also outside the region, can serve the southern approach. Interstate 70 crosses the central plains, I-76 reaches the north-east, and US Highways 36, 50, 287 and 385 provide access to smaller communities. Amtrak's California Zephyr serves the north-central corridor, although service patterns and station arrangements should be checked before travel.

Transportation

A car is generally the most practical way to explore the Eastern Plains because attractions, towns and grasslands are widely dispersed. Major highways are straightforward, but rural roads may be gravel, unlit or affected by snow, mud and summer storms. Local bus services exist in some communities, while intercity options are limited compared with Colorado's urban corridor. Bicycling is possible on quieter roads but requires careful planning for heat, wind, traffic and long distances without services. Organised tours or a local guide can be useful for remote historic and grassland sites.

Top city travel guides in Eastern Plains

The cities of Eastern Plains, and the easiest places to base yourself.

Destinations in Eastern Plains

Resorts, valleys and scenic spots worth a trip of their own.

Best attractions in Eastern Plains

The Eastern Plains' attractions are spread across a large working landscape rather than concentrated in one resort centre. In the north, Pawnee National Grassland combines shortgrass prairie, rugged sandstone formations, bird habitat and open-road scenery. The region's central communities, including Sterling and Fort Morgan, offer museums and heritage collections interpreting railways, agriculture and settlement. Around La Junta, Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site brings the Santa Fe Trail era to life, while the nearby Comanche National Grassland provides hiking, wildlife viewing and access to historic trail landscapes. The Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site, east of Eads, is an important place of remembrance and education. Near Calhan, the Paint Mines Interpretive Park has vividly coloured clay formations and designated walking routes. Across the plains, river corridors, prairie towns, fossil-bearing areas and dark-sky settings reward slower exploration, though many sites have limited shade, services and public transport. Check land-access rules carefully: some apparently open country is private, and weather can quickly alter the condition of unpaved roads.

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Best landmarks in Eastern Plains

Bent's Old Fort near La Junta is one of the Eastern Plains' most recognisable historic landmarks, a reconstructed adobe trading post that stands for the intercultural commerce and conflict of the Santa Fe Trail period. The Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site, near Eads, is less an architectural monument than a deeply significant commemorative landscape, where the setting and interpretive materials document the 1864 attack on Cheyenne and Arapaho people. Pawnee Buttes in Pawnee National Grassland are prominent erosional formations rising from the northern prairie and serve as a visual emblem of the region's open geology. The Paint Mines near Calhan offer another distinctive landform, with bands of ochre and pale clay shaped into narrow gullies and hoodoos. Historic railway depots, courthouse squares, grain elevators and irrigation structures in towns such as Sterling, Fort Morgan and Lamar complete the region's built landmarks, showing how transport, water and agriculture organised life across a seemingly boundless landscape.

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Explore Eastern Plains on the map

Plan your trip on one map. See where the top cities, national parks and sights are, and book hotels and experiences in a few clicks.

Best restaurants in Eastern Plains

Dining in the Eastern Plains reflects Colorado's agricultural economy and the practical character of its small towns. Family-run cafés, diners and bakeries are common places for breakfast, lunch and generous portions of familiar American food, while independent restaurants in larger communities may draw on locally grown beef, pork, grains and seasonal produce. Along the South Platte and Arkansas River valleys, irrigation supports crops and market gardens, and farm shops or seasonal stands may sell fresh produce when available. Traditional United States staples sit alongside Mexican and broader Hispanic influences, particularly in towns connected to the long history of the Santa Fe Trail and the Arkansas Valley. Rural bars and historic inns often provide the region's most social evening meals, while breweries and contemporary kitchens appear in some larger towns. Local menus and opening patterns can be seasonal, so remote travellers should not rely on finding a full-service restaurant late at night.

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Best bars in Eastern Plains

Evening life across the Eastern Plains is generally understated and community-oriented. In towns such as Sterling, Fort Morgan, Lamar and La Junta, visitors will find traditional bars, grills, cafés and occasional live music rather than a concentrated nightclub district. Local breweries and taprooms may provide relaxed places to meet, while restaurants and historic inns form much of the region's evening social scene. Smaller communities often become quiet early, particularly outside agricultural events or summer gatherings, and rural accommodation may be far from nightlife. Alcohol rules, closing times and entertainment schedules vary by town, so check locally rather than assuming mountain-resort hours. The region's clearest night-time attraction is often the sky itself: away from town lights, the prairie offers excellent opportunities for stargazing, provided visitors remain on public land and respect private property.

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Best nightclubs in Eastern Plains

Evening life across the Eastern Plains is generally understated and community-oriented. In towns such as Sterling, Fort Morgan, Lamar and La Junta, visitors will find traditional bars, grills, cafés and occasional live music rather than a concentrated nightclub district. Local breweries and taprooms may provide relaxed places to meet, while restaurants and historic inns form much of the region's evening social scene. Smaller communities often become quiet early, particularly outside agricultural events or summer gatherings, and rural accommodation may be far from nightlife. Alcohol rules, closing times and entertainment schedules vary by town, so check locally rather than assuming mountain-resort hours. The region's clearest night-time attraction is often the sky itself: away from town lights, the prairie offers excellent opportunities for stargazing, provided visitors remain on public land and respect private property.

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Best shops in Eastern Plains

Shopping in the Eastern Plains is centred on practical main streets, independent retailers and regional food rather than large-scale fashion districts. Sterling, Fort Morgan, Lamar, La Junta and Burlington provide the broadest range of everyday shops, antiques, books, gifts and locally oriented services, while smaller towns offer places to buy provisions before travelling into the grasslands. Farmers' stands and seasonal markets may sell fruit, vegetables, honey, baked goods and other products from irrigated valleys and surrounding farms, although availability follows the agricultural calendar. Visitors can look for Western wear, handmade crafts, local artwork, books on Plains history and souvenirs connected with the Santa Fe Trail or regional heritage sites. The area is also useful for stocking up on road food, water and outdoor supplies, since services become sparse between settlements. Market days, shop hours and seasonal stalls vary, so ask at visitor centres or local businesses rather than expecting every town to operate on metropolitan schedules.

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Eastern Plains essentials

Currency and Payment
The currency is the United States dollar (USD), as throughout Colorado. Cards and contactless payments are commonly accepted in larger towns, hotels, supermarkets and established attractions, but small cafés, rural businesses, fuel stops and donation-based sites may have limited card facilities. Carry some cash for remote areas and do not assume that a weak mobile signal will support a digital wallet or payment app. Foreign visitors should notify their card provider before travelling and check whether overseas transaction fees apply.
Safety
The main concerns are exposure, distance and weather rather than unusual urban risks. Carry water, sun protection, suitable footwear and a charged phone, and tell someone your route when entering remote grassland or canyon country. Summer thunderstorms can bring lightning, hail and sudden flooding; winter may produce blowing snow and icy roads. Rattlesnakes occur in parts of the plains, while loose ground, old structures and unmarked drop-offs require caution. Watch for fast-moving traffic on two-lane highways and avoid driving when tired, especially after long stretches of featureless road.
Emergency Situations
Call 911 for police, fire or ambulance emergencies anywhere in the Eastern Plains; operators can coordinate the appropriate local service. In remote areas, give the dispatcher the nearest town, highway, mile marker or clearly identified landmark, since a street address may not be available. Cellular coverage can be intermittent, so download maps and carry basic supplies before setting out. The national 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is available for urgent mental-health support, while outdoor incidents may require coordination with county responders or search-and-rescue teams.
Do's and Don'ts
Do respect posted boundaries and private land, as public access is not implied by an open-looking landscape. Do stay on marked routes at archaeological and historic sites, leave fossils and artefacts where they are, and keep dogs controlled where regulations require it. Do queue patiently, tip appropriately in restaurants and bars, and follow ordinary United States rules on smoking, alcohol and seat belts. Do not enter abandoned buildings, touch unexploded or military-looking objects, approach livestock or feed wildlife. At the Sand Creek Massacre site, behave quietly and respectfully.
Local Tips
Use the regional towns as separate bases rather than trying to cover the entire Eastern Plains in a single day. Dawn and dusk are often the most rewarding times for prairie wildlife and photography, while the middle of the day can be hot and windy. Small museums may keep seasonal or limited hours, so check locally before making a long detour. The plains have broad skies but little shade, and summer winds can be stronger than expected. A paper map, spare water and a full fuel tank are sensible companions on back-road excursions.
Eve, your Evendo local guide

From Eve

Local phrases worth knowing

You don't need to get them perfect. A few words go a long way, and locals appreciate the effort.

6 phrase groups · English, local and pronunciation

Basics
EnglishLocalSay it
HelloHowdy[hau-dee]
GoodbyeSee ya[see yah]
YesYep[yehp]
NoNope[nohp]
Please/You’re welcomeSure thing[shur thing]
Thank youThanks a lot[thangks a lot]
Excuse me/SorrySorry 'bout that[sor-ee 'bout that]
How are you?How ya doin'?[how yah doin'?]
Fine. And you?Good. You?[guhd. yoo?]
Do you speak English?Do ya speak English?[do yah speak ing-glish?]
I don't understandI don’t get it[I dont get it]
Eating & Drinking
EnglishLocalSay it
I'd like to see the menu, pleaseCan I see the menu?[kan I see the men-yoo?]
I don't eat meatI’m a vegetarian[I’m a vege-tair-ee-an]
Cheers!Cheers![cheers]
I would like to pay, pleaseCan I get the check?[kan I get the chek?]
Emergencies
EnglishLocalSay it
Help!Help![help]
Go away!Leave me alone![leev me uh-lone!]
Call the Police!Call the cops![kol the kops!]
Call a doctor!Get a doctor![get a dok-ter!]
I'm lostI’m turned around[I’m turnd uh-round]
I'm illI’m not feelin' well[I’m not feelin' wel]
Shopping
EnglishLocalSay it
I'd like to buy...I wanna buy...[I wanna buy...]
I'm just lookingJust browsing[just brows-ing]
How much is it?What’s the price?[wuts the pryce?]
That's too expensiveThat’s a bit much[thats a bit much]
Can you lower the price?Can ya cut me a deal?[kan yah kut me a deel?]
Time & Numbers
EnglishLocalSay it
What time is it?What time ya got?[wut time ya got?]
It's one o'clockIt’s one[its wun]
Half past (10)Half past ten[haf past ten]
MorningMornin'[mor-nin']
AfternoonAfternoon[af-ter-noon]
EveningEvenin'[eev-nin']
YesterdayYest'day[yest-day]
TodayToday[to-day]
TomorrowTomorrow[to-mor-row]
1One[wun]
2Two[too]
3Three[three]
4Four[for]
5Five[fiv]
6Six[siks]
7Seven[sev-en]
8Eight[ate]
9Nine[nyn]
10Ten[ten]
Transport & Directions
EnglishLocalSay it
Where's a/the...?Where’s the...? [wheres the...?]
What's the address?What’s the address?[wuts the ad-dress?]
Can you show me (on the map)?Can ya point it out?[kan yah point it out?]
When's the next (bus)?When’s the next bus?[wens the nekst bus?]
A ticket (to ....)One ticket to...[wun tiket to...]

History of Eastern Plains

Indigenous Homelands and the Plains Before 1800

The Eastern Plains are part of the homelands and travel routes of peoples including the Cheyenne and Arapaho, with Kiowa, Comanche, Pawnee and other nations also connected to the wider Great Plains. Communities used the region's rivers, grasslands and wildlife through seasonal movement, trade and carefully adapted lifeways. The landscape seen today was shaped by long Indigenous relationships with fire, water and grazing animals, not by an untouched wilderness. Visitors should understand later forts and trails within this deeper history of sovereignty, migration and cultural continuity.

The Santa Fe Trail and Bent's Old Fort

During the nineteenth century, the Santa Fe Trail crossed south-eastern Colorado, linking Missouri with Santa Fe and carrying traders, freighters, travellers and military expeditions. Bent's Old Fort, established beside the Arkansas River in the 1830s, became a major trading post where American and Mexican merchants interacted with Indigenous nations and travellers. The reconstructed fort near present-day La Junta helps explain the commercial and diplomatic networks of the borderlands, as well as the growing pressure that American expansion placed on Indigenous peoples.

The Sand Creek Massacre, 1864

On 29 November 1864, United States troops attacked a Cheyenne and Arapaho encampment at Sand Creek in south-eastern Colorado. Many of those killed were women, children and older people. The event remains a defining example of the violence of federal and territorial expansion on the Great Plains, and its legacy is addressed through the Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site. The site is a place for reflection on Indigenous survival, historical interpretation and the continuing importance of descendant-community perspectives.

Railways, Forts and the Opening of the Plains

Railway construction in the late nineteenth century changed the Eastern Plains from a corridor of trails into a network of permanent towns, depots and agricultural markets. Lines associated with the Union Pacific, Burlington and Santa Fe systems encouraged settlement and connected communities such as Sterling, Fort Morgan, Limon and La Junta to national trade. Military posts and railway stations reinforced federal control, while town development brought schools, businesses and churches. Many present-day main streets, depots and museums preserve this period of rapid transformation.

Homesteading, Irrigation and Agricultural Settlement

Federal land policies and private promotion encouraged farmers and ranchers to settle the plains, although dry conditions made success uncertain. Irrigation along the South Platte and Arkansas River corridors enabled more reliable cultivation, while cattle, wheat, corn, sugar beets and other crops became important to different districts. Water institutions and storage projects remain central to the region's economy and politics. The resulting patchwork of fields, shelterbelts, stockyards and small towns is as much a historical landscape as the surviving forts and trails.

Drought, the Dust Bowl and Modern Adaptation

Severe drought and wind erosion during the 1930s exposed the vulnerability of heavily cultivated prairie, producing conditions associated with the Dust Bowl across the Great Plains, including eastern Colorado. Farmers and conservation agencies responded with improved soil practices, shelterbelts, grazing management and more careful attention to water. Later decades brought mechanisation, changes in crop patterns, energy development and continuing population shifts towards larger regional towns. Today the Eastern Plains remains an important agricultural zone while balancing water conservation, renewable energy and rural economic resilience.

Eastern Plains in Photos

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Evendo: Your Ultimate Travel Guide to Eastern Plains, Colorado

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  • Comprehensive information on attractions, landmarks, shops, bars, restaurants, and more.
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Explore the Eastern Plains like never before with Evendo, your comprehensive travel companion. From iconic landmarks to local eateries, discover it all with ease and convenience.

  • Rich content including images, descriptions, and local tips.
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Embark on an unforgettable journey to the Eastern Plains of Colorado with Evendo, the ultimate app-based travel guide designed to enhance your travel experience. As you traverse this picturesque region, Evendo provides detailed insights into all must-see attractions, renowned landmarks, bustling shops, vibrant bars, lively nightclubs, exquisite restaurants, comfortable hotels, and exciting tours and experiences.

Discover the awe-inspiring Pawnee National Grassland, where vast prairies meet endless skies, or delve into the rich history at the Kit Carson County Carousel, a National Historic Landmark that mesmerizes with its antique charm. For food enthusiasts, relish the local flavors at the iconic J & L Cafe in Sterling, known for its hearty American cuisine.

With Evendo, planning your trip is seamless. Each location is adorned with captivating images, informative descriptions, insider tips, and essential contact details. Navigate effortlessly with integrated maps and utilize the 'Near Me' feature to uncover attractions around you. Book hotels, secure tour tickets, and plan activities all within the app, eliminating the hassle of multiple searches and bookings.

Evendo not only enriches your travel experience with its user-friendly interface and curated local advice but also ensures you explore Eastern Plains like a local. All these features, and the app remains 100% free, with no hidden costs or in-app purchases.

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