I highly suggest the American Motel in Clayton. It is on the West side of town on the way to Raton. It is a little old but VERY clean and very reasonable. Just my two cents.

Chief77 said:

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I highly suggest the American Motel in Clayton. It is on the West side of town on the way to Raton. It is a little old but VERY clean and very reasonable. Just my two cents.

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Google doesn't show anything by that name?

Do you mean the Holiday Motel?

https://maps.app.goo.gl/jkBT8MnVRBdsSvbZ6?g_st=ic

Curious, are there any hidden gem places to eat in Raton, Trinidad, or Walsenburg?

We really like Sexy Pizza in Trinidad. It has really good pizza and beer in a restored train depot.
edit: looks like they closed recently. That's unfortunate.
Plenty of outdoor space to my son could climb/stretch his legs after a long day in the car.


Walsenburg has a good BNB "The Inn at Pennington Place". Didn't eat there but really nice gardens my son as able to explore. Quiet. Rather private and no questionable motel folks.


We tried to eat at the Colefax Ale Cellar in Raton, NM and it was... bad. Food was bland and just disappointing.

The Best Western in Raton is also pretty decent; giant indoor open space for kids to play and good indoor pool. No sunburns and no mosquitoes.

We liked the Trinidad Marketplace food hall in Trinidad, several different options there.

Trinidad has good food, Clayton and Walsenberg do not

Most of the places on the main strip in Trinidad are good.

Raton does not have good food either

We enjoy the cafe in Des Moines

My only recollection of Clayton from my many times passing through there (besides the speed limits previously mentioned) was the strong aroma of a Deloss Dodds press conference emanating from the cattle feed lots around town. It was kind of overpowering at times, and I am not sure it is somewhere I would want to spend a night or eat a big meal.

Nope. Logistically speaking, it works out well if you're heading north of Denver and want to push farther than Dumas or Dalhart on the first leg of the drive. But, the only good thing to happen to Clayton in recent history is the addition of a Valero station down the road from the Loves station, which helps keep gas prices a "bit" more reasonable than they had been.
Old downtown Trinidad sporadically has some decent pizza/sandwich shops. And if you have kids, the COLORADO WELCOME CENTER (quite literally under the Interstate) always has clean restrooms, coffee and a spot for kids to draw while you're stretching your legs but feel like you can push on to Pueblo/Canon City for lunch.
I've driven that stretch of road more than 50 times between dallas and denver

knoxtom said:

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Raton does not have good food either

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Been going there for a shooting competition every year for the last 15 years. For years my serious answer was that the DQ was the best food in town, but it's not that good, everything else was that bad. That changed a few years ago as Bruno's Pizza is really good. If you have your choice Trinidad has a lot more good options.

2wealfth Man said:

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Stopping overnight in Clayton (or Raton) has never been on my "to do" list.

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Agree, but when we drive from DFW to Durango my wife and kids want to split it into two shorter driving days.

And yes I know that technically driving through ABQ is shorter, but only 45 minutes in a 13hr drive and southern Colorado is infinitely nicer than NM.

Dude, don't go to ABQ.

Go to Clines Corners - Santa Fe - Chama - Pagosa - Durango.

Much prettier drive.

knoxtom said:

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Trinidad has good food, Clayton and Walsenberg do not

Most of the places on the main strip in Trinidad are good.

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Gay related?

Don't know why I called it the American??? I guess cause I'm old. The sporting good store in Clayton I believe it's Knotts, has a good trout lure selection. Plus many guns.

CanyonAg77 said:

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knoxtom said:

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Trinidad has good food, Clayton and Walsenberg do not

Most of the places on the main strip in Trinidad are good.

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Gay related?

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Probably more College related. Get a few thousand students and the food will follow. They have a decent sized school there and they all hang out on the main street. The new State park is also helping Trinidad. The climb to the top of Fisher peak is pretty good, mountain biking is OK.

Trinidad is a pretty cool area and has a bright future. They have a decent reservoir, good park, good food, etc. No jobs really but it isn't bad overall. It appears they have water.

I think Canon City is the next Colorado boom town (may already be too late) to be followed by Ridgway, Westcliff and Trinidad. We might start buying Canon City, it is exploding and has a bit of charm to it.

Will admit my ignorance that Trinidad had a college. It was a small joke about Trinidad being an early hub for sex change operations

It's been a long while since I spent any time in CO. I recall that Pueblo was full of fast food chains along I-25. And isn't it a hub of Low Rider car culture?

Canon City is interesting, but with all the beautiful scenery in Colorado, the drive from Pueblo to Canon City is depressing. Sagebrush and massive prairie dog colonies

In-laws had a place in Pagosa until about 15 years ago. Pagosa used to be great, but I was astounded at the traffic and how overrun with people it was, last time we were there.

CanyonAg77 said:

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Will admit my ignorance that Trinidad had a college. It was a small joke about Trinidad being an early hub for sex change operations

It's been a long while since I spent any time in CO. I recall that Pueblo was full of fast food chains along I-25. And isn't it a hub of Low Rider car culture?

Canon City is interesting, but with all the beautiful scenery in Colorado, the drive from Pueblo to Canon City is depressing. Sagebrush and massive prairie dog colonies

In-laws had a place in Pagosa until about 15 years ago. Pagosa used to be great, but I was astounded at the traffic and how overrun with people it was, last time we were there.

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Not sure about Pueblo, but Espaniola, NM is the epicenter of low rider culture.

CanyonAg77 said:

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Dude, don't go to ABQ.

Go to Clines Corners - Santa Fe - Chama - Pagosa - Durango.

Much prettier drive.

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Agree. I've done the Santa Fe route in reverse coming home and it's a nice route too.

Normal route to CO is AMA - Raton/Trinidad/Walsenburg - Alamosa - Pagosa - Durango

Really appreciate the scenery and beauty.

Open to suggestions though, and usually don't mind stopping along the way.

Planning to check out the Capulin Volcano this next trip.

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Open to suggestions though

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Wrong guy to ask....

Take a southern route through Lubbock, and see the Ranching Heritage Museum

If coming up 287, cut off at Estelline, go through Turkey to Quitaque and Caprock Canyons Park

If you insist on the Clayton Route, stop at Boys Ranch for Boot Hill and the Museum.

Check out the XIT business office in Channing.

Watch for Santa Fe Trail swales between Clayton and Raton. If you're really gung-ho about the Santa Fe Trail, divert up to McNees crossing.

Very cool dino tracks at Clayton Lake, about 100 yard walk from car

After Capulin, drive to Folsom. You can go north from there through Tollgate Canyon, pretty stuff. Or in Folsom, take highway 72 over the top of Johnson Mesa. Great scenery, you drive near Folsom Man site, there is an1890s church on top.

North of Trinidad, I guess you've seen the little abandoned church high over I-25

From Trinidad, take highway 12 through Stonewall and Curchura to La Veta. Fantastic volcanic dikes around Spanish Peaks. Nice little museum in La Veta.

If you go to Santa Fe, you can go on 84 to Las Vegas NM. Lots of history and Fort Union. Then Pecos Monument and the forest to the north.

North of Santa Fe, go to Los Alamos if you've never been. Spectacular drive, couple of museums, lots of history. Close to Bandelier, and Valles Caldera, the most spectacular place in Hew Mexico.

Chimayo has a really good restaurant and an interesting old Chapel.

Abiquiu, if it's still open, go out to PLaza Blanca. It's owned by a mosque, but they allow you to hike. Just a few 100 yards to some spectacular scenery

Chama, we love to check out the train yards, The Cumbres and Toltec is not as spectacular as The Silverton , but has different views and the Antonito train yard is like a train museum

Oh, and check the web site for Capulin. I think they were doing some road work and had occasional closures of the highway to the top.

Thank you! Added a ton of new spots to my google map.

My goal is to get through Amarillo to Pueblo ASAP. No stops if possible.

10andBOUNCE said:

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My goal is to get through Amarillo to Pueblo ASAP. No stops if possible.

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You miss a lot of cool stuff.

CanyonAg77 said:

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10andBOUNCE said:

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My goal is to get through Amarillo to Pueblo ASAP. No stops if possible.

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You miss a lot of cool stuff feed lots.

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FIFY
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j/k

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You miss a lot of cool stuff feed lots.

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I'm not offended and realize you're joking, but if anyone travels through an area and is bored by it, I assume it is their fault for lacking knowledge/

That's fascinating about your buddy's place. I am always envious of people who have access to that sort of property.

Regarding the rock carvings, modern carvings are vandalism and graffiti. Old carvings are valuable historical artifacts. I always wonder where the dividing line is between the two.

My niece is A&M class of '99. She has a friend from A&M who lives on a big farm/ranch near Clayton. Wonder if it's the same family.

CanyonAg77 said:

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Quote:

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You miss a lot of cool stuff feed lots.

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I'm not offended and realize you're joking, but if anyone travels through an area and is bored by it, I assume it is their fault for lacking knowledge/

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Most of my experience driving that particular route has been going through overnight driving straight through from Houston to one or another ski resort in Colorado. So I rarely got the chance to really see the sights, but sure got my share of smelling the feed lots on the way through. We came back through in daylight a few years ago and got to spend a little time looking around.

2wealfth Man said:

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Stopping overnight in Clayton (or Raton) has never been on my "to do" list.

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I stopped at a motel in Raton on the drive back from Colorado. Caught a few hours of sleep then woke up to use the rest room and saw a spider the size of my palm next to the toilet. No going back to sleep at that point and no coffee needed and checked out asap and got back on the road.

bigfooticus said:

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2wealfth Man said:

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Stopping overnight in Clayton (or Raton) has never been on my "to do" list.

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I stopped at a motel in Raton on the drive back from Colorado. Caught a few hours of sleep then woke up to use the rest room and saw a spider the size of my palm next to the toilet. No going back to sleep at that point and no coffee needed and checked out asap and got back on the road.

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