Colorado · Hiking
Hiking in Pritchett, Colorado
Pritchett sits in the far southeast corner of Colorado, deep in Baca and Las Animas counties, where the shortgrass prairie gives way to canyon country carved by Carrizo Creek and its tributaries.
50 spotsUpdated weeklyFree to access
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Pritchett sits in the far southeast corner of Colorado, deep in Baca and Las Animas counties, where the shortgrass prairie gives way to canyon country carved by Carrizo Creek and its tributaries. The hiking here is not the alpine variety most people associate with Colorado — there are no fourteeners, no treeline drama. What you get instead is wide-open high plains terrain, sandstone canyon rims, and a network of roads and trails that double as hiking routes across the Comanche National Grassland. Routes like Carrizo Trail Road, Canyon Lookout Road, and Carrizo Creek Overlook Road put you on the edge of canyon systems that most Colorado hikers have never seen. West Sand Canyon Road and Whitby Canyon 1/2 Admin Road push into the more rugged drainages west of town. The terrain is exposed and the distances between landmarks are real, so navigation and water carry matter more here than on a well-signed mountain trail. With 50 active listings in the area, there is enough variety to fill several days, from short connector walks like Picnic Area Shortcut Road to longer out-and-back pushes on County Road 9 and Pat Canyon Road. This is southeastern Colorado at its most honest — quiet, dry, and worth the drive.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best time of year to hike near Pritchett?
Spring (April through early June) and fall (September through October) are the most reliable windows. Summers are hot and exposed with afternoon thunderstorms that can roll in fast across open terrain, and the canyon rims offer no shelter. Winter is generally mild enough for hiking but roads like Ratliff Access Road and County Road EE can become impassable after snow or rain.
Do I need a permit to hike on these routes?
Most of the routes listed, including the county roads and admin roads on Comanche National Grassland, are open to foot travel without a permit. That said, some administrative roads like Whitby Canyon 1/2 Admin Road may have seasonal vehicle restrictions that do not apply to hikers on foot. Check with the USDA Forest Service's Comanche National Grassland office in La Junta before your trip for current access status.
How much water should I carry?
Plan on at least three to four liters per person for any route longer than a few miles. There is no reliable surface water to filter along most of these routes, and the dry prairie air pulls moisture fast. Southwest Pond Road is one of the few routes near a water feature, but you should not count on that water being accessible or safe to drink without treatment.
What skill level do these hikes require?
Most routes are moderate in terms of technical difficulty — the terrain is not steep or scrambling-heavy. The challenge comes from navigation, heat management, and distance. Routes like 3A East Ridge Road and Canyon Lookout Road require you to read the land and stay oriented without trail markers. If you are new to desert or grassland hiking, start with shorter connector routes like Picnic Area Shortcut Road before committing to a full-day canyon route.
What gear should I bring that I might not think to pack?
Sun protection is non-negotiable — a wide-brim hat, sunscreen, and sun-protective clothing matter more here than on a shaded forest trail. Bring a paper or downloaded map because cell service around Pritchett is unreliable and GPS apps that depend on data connectivity will fail. Sturdy footwear with ankle support is worth it on the rocky canyon-edge sections of routes like Pat Canyon Road and Carrizo Creek Overlook Road.
