Highway of Legends
Monument Lake, CO

Sitting among the pines sits Monument Lake, one of several high altitude lakes along the Highway of Legends. The lake is owned by the City of Trinidad and is part of its water supply system. It is a natural body made deeper by man.

In the center of the lake, a rock formation rises 15 feet above the water and is the "monument" for which the lake is named. It is a natural rock formation said to represent two Indian chiefs.

At the time of the volcanoes, the water disappeared from the mountains. The Indians started to die of thirst. A chief from the northern tribes traveled south to find water. At the same time, a chief of the southern tribes headed north. When they met, they hugged in friendship. Then, realizing that neither one had found water, they began to cry, their tears forming a lake at their feet. Suddenly, one of the volcanoes blew smoke and lava into the air. The two chiefs, still hugging, were covered by lava and turned to stone. The lake remained, encircling the two chiefs. Their tears had caused the volcanoes to stop and the water to return and flow forever for their people.