Monument: Trails, Art and Local History

Monument offers several ways to shape your stay: regional trails, Monument Lake, art and local history. When choosing a vacation rental, consider whether you’d rather spend your time being active, visiting the lake or exploring the town’s culture. Each of these themes reveals a different side of the area, from a gravel route to an art installation connected to the region’s ice harvesting history.

Trails and Paths Around Monument

The Santa Fe Regional Trail is 15 miles long. It begins in Palmer Lake, passes through Monument and extends to the southern boundary of the Air Force Academy. The gravel route follows part of the former Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad line. It is one of the longest continuous trails in El Paso County and is suitable for activities such as biking, hiking and horseback riding. A 14-mile section of the New Santa Fe Regional Trail runs along the abandoned railroad right-of-way. Details about the route, surface and activities give you specific points to consider when planning an active stay.

The Santa Fe Trailhead is on 3rd Street in downtown Monument. It has parking, picnic tables and pollinator gardens. Access points to the New Santa Fe Regional Trail in Monument include 3rd Street and Highway 105. So when planning, the route’s length isn’t the only thing to consider: the listed access points and amenities at the trailhead also help you decide how to make the trails part of your stay.

Monument Lake: Fishing Under Clear Rules

Fishing at Monument Lake is permitted with a valid Colorado fishing license. There is a specific restriction on boats: electric trolling motors are allowed, but other types of motor are not. Check the current rules for the lake before your trip. This lets you plan time by the water without confusing permission for specific activities with general approval for all types of boats.

Art and History in Town

Historic Downtown Monument has a self-guided walking tour. Guides are available from the Tri-Lakes Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Center at 166 Second Street, as well as from many shops. The town’s history dates back to the railroad era: after the D&RG Railroad arrived in January 1872, Monument flourished as a commercial center for the surrounding area.

Public art also reflects regional history. “Ice Harvest,” designed by Tim Upham and Lisa Cameron, is made of rear-painted acrylic blocks and installed at the water treatment building on the corner of Beacon Lite Road and Second Street. The work depicts historical ice harvesting events on lakes in this region. It connects a work of art in town with a specific regional tradition.

The ArtSites art program manages a small collection of permanent sculptures in Monument. Each year, it also assembles a new collection of sculptures through a jury selection process. In addition to “Ice Harvest,” art lovers can discover an aspect of the local art scene that changes each year.

Limbach Park and Another Focus for an Outing

Limbach Park is named after Henry Limbach, the town’s founder and first mayor. The park has a new playground with a resilient surface, a climbing structure, spinners, swings and a new, safer merry-go-round. This adds another way to shape your stay, complementing the trail and art themes. Taken together, these options offer a range of interests to help guide your travel plans and choice of a vacation rental in Monument.

Discover More Destinations

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