South-Central Colorado is a
region of the
U.S. state of
Colorado. It can be roughly defined by
Chaffee County in the northwest,
El Paso County in the northeast,
Las Animas County in the southeast, and
Conejos County in the southwest. Some notable
towns there include
Colorado Springs,
Pueblo,
Cripple Creek,
Cañon City,
Salida,
Buena Vista,
Monte Vista,
Alamosa,
Walsenburg, and
Trinidad. The
landscapes of South-Central Colorado were made known to the
Western world by the
explorations of
Zebulon Pike and
Kit Carson, who were later followed by
settlers, many of whom came by the
Santa Fe Trail. The upper
tributaries of the
Arkansas River and
South Platte River provide ample
whitewater rafting and are famous for
trout and
bass fishing in scenic settings such as
Royal Gorge. Much of the local
economic system is dependent on
mining,
forestry,
ranching, and
tourism related to these endeavors. South-Central Colorado has so far largely escaped
urbanization, allowing visitors to experience something of the
American Old West.