Simpson's Rest

Simpson's Rest is a butte and rock formation which is a landmark overlooking Trinidad, Colorado.^[1][2] It is the burial place of explorer and trader George S. Simpson and was also the longtime home of frontiersman Richens Lacy "Uncle Dick" Wootton during his later years. The summit is marked by a U.S. flag and the word "TRINIDAD" spelled out in large white letters.^[3]

2012 photo

Richens Lacy Wootton, better known as "Uncle Dick," was a famous mountain man, trader, and builder of the Raton Pass toll road. In the 1870s, after selling the toll road to the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railway, Wootton settled at Simpson's Rest. From there, he operated a stage station and continued to host travelers, dignitaries, and even outlaws, making Simpson's Rest not just a geological feature but also a piece of frontier history. Wootton lived at Simpson's Rest until his death in 1893 and contributed to the rich cultural history of Trinidad and the surrounding region.

Today, Simpson's Rest is a popular tourist attraction, offering panoramic views of Trinidad and nearby Fishers Peak. It is accessible via a short drive from downtown Trinidad.

Image from 1900 to 1909: "One sees from the train a ruddy cliff, rising to a height of several hundred feet...."

View from Simpson's Rest over Trinidad. Fisher's Peak is afar.

In 2017, an 11-year-old girl died after falling 20 feet from the overlook.^[4]