La Vereda del Norte
Ken Frye, President
719-657-3161
Visit Museums of San Luis Valley
The La Vereda del Norte Chapter is dedicated to preserving, marking, and interpreting the Old Spanish Trail through the San Luis Valley and southwestern Colorado. Formed to help locate unknown, long-buried information regarding the trail, the chapter works in partnership with regional Bureau of Land Management and Forest Service 
staff (Public Lands Center), the San Luis Valley Archaeological Network, the San Luis Valley Heritage Tourism Project, Los Caminos Antiguos, the Sangre de Cristo Heritage Area, the San Luis Valley Museum Trail Association, and a broad base of individuals interested in Valley history. Interesting field trips, lectures, and a publication, Trail Tails, highlight Valley history.
We also work with area schools on history projects for students and we’re always available to service clubs to talk about the trail.
Visit the Rio Grande County Museum in Del Norte, the Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve, Ft. Garland Museum, Saguache Museum, San Luis Valley Museum (Alamosa), and visitor centers in the San Luis Valley.
The La Vereda del Norte Chapter has great interest and focus not only on the existing, congressionally-designated North Branch of the OSNHT, but also on the West Fork, North Branch Route, which Congress authorized for further study and possible future designation.
North Branch
Richard Waller
Colorado Director
805-704-3802
The North Branch of the Old Spanish Trail is a Congressionally designated route of the Trail running from Espanola, NM to just east of Green River, UT where it joins the Northern or Main Route of the Trail. The North Branch Chapter is based in and primarily interested in the historic area of the North Branch Route from Gunnison to Mesa County; this trail was used by Native Americans for thousands of years and by Spanish explorers and traders – as well as American fur trappers – in the early 1800s. After 1850, the trail was used by the U.S. military, settlers, railroad survey expeditions, and the growing numbers of settlers, farmers, and ranchers in Colorado and Utah
Our Vision:
A managed and sustainable trail experience for hikers, bicyclists, and equestrians that links the history of the Old Spanish Trail and celebrates the natural beauty of the Gunnison River Bluffs area for educational and recreational opportunities.