Welcome to Westcliffe Colorado, located in Custer County in a very rural part of the southern Colorado Rocky Mountains, with the Sangre de Cristo Mountains to the west, and the Sierra Mojada Mountains to the east.
Custer County was created in 1877 out of the southern half of Fremont County. During the 1870s thousands of men poured into the county in the rush for silver. Some of the notable mines include the Geyser Mine, the Bassick Mine and the Bull Domingo. During the late 1800s a railroad line was connected through the Grape Creek Canyon. The old railhouse has been turned into a historical landmark in Westcliffe. After the mining rush the population was replaced by cattle ranchers. An extensive system of irrigation ditches were built throughout the valley and ranching continues to this day.
Local public schools include Custer County Elementary School, Custer Middle School and Custer County High School. Colleges and universities include Adams State College, Pueblo and Pikes Peak Community Colleges, the University of Southern Colorado, the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs and others.
Hospitals and medical centers near Westcliffe include the Centura Health-St Thomas More Hospital, the Heart of the Rockies Regional Medical Center and the San Luis Valley Regional Medical Center.
Much of the Sangre de Cristo and Wet Mountain ranges are part of San Isabel National Forest. There are hundreds of miles of hiking trails, and the Sangre de Cristo Mountains provide great hiking, camping, horseback riding and packing, and mountain climbing. You'll also find trout in mountain lakes, rivers and streams.
Nearby Arkansas River features some of the country's best white water rafting. Hunters will find deer, elk, Rocky Mountain sheep, turkey, bear, mountain lion, antelope and other species here. For golfers, there is St. Andrews at Westcliffe. The area is also ideal for horseback riding and winter sports can be enjoyed on miles of cross-country ski and snowmobile trails. Major ski areas are within driving distance.
Near the high dryness of New Mexico than the cold of northern Colorado, the climate is ideal - cool, clear and dry in the winter, warm in the summer and sunny all year-round. Fall is most beautiful of all with the spun-gold aspens and the first snow crowning the big range.
Come and visit Westcliffe and our beautiful area the first chance you get.