While a significant portion of the population actively avoids having anything to do with creepy crawly spiders, the rural town of La Junta, Colorado embraces oversized arachnids and has hosted a Tarantula Festival since 2022 to celebrate the yearly mating season of thousands of tarantulas in southeastern Colorado.
Rocky Mountain PBS reports downtown La Junta gets decked out for the event with businesses painting their front windows with spiderwebs and adorning their buildings with gigantic tarantulas.
“It’s something that’s unique. Much of the community has gotten behind it and thought [that] this is great. Not everybody, but a large percentage have realized that this is something to be proud of.” -Steve Keefer, La Junta Tarantula Tour Bus Guide
The 2025 festival was a major success for the town of 7,100 residents with about 150 tourists participating in the bus tours, up from an estimated 50 people the first year and twice the amount of vendors since last year. While the Tarantula Festival has passed, there is still plenty of time to head out to La Junta and witness these incredible creatures as the breeding season runs throught October and even into early November. Learn more below:
Tarantula Tourism Information
Each fall, large numbers of tarantulas skitter across the landscape in La Junta and southeast Colorado. Yes, tarantulas!
While this phenomenon has traditionally been called a migration, it is actually an annual mating ritual performed by male tarantulas who roam across the 443,000-plus acres on the Comanche National Grassland – the 4th largest grassland in the nation – looking to mate.
While there are numerous species of tarantulas, you are likely to spot the ‘Colorado’ Brown Tarantula in La Junta.
This dark brown to black species of the genus Aphonopelma is common here because its females prefer to make their burrows in the plentiful undisturbed prairies on the Comanche National Grassland of Southeast Colorado. Once these females have made their burrows, they tend to stick close to them for the entirety of their lives, which can be 25 years long.
Whether you have a few hours, a few days, or a few weeks, explore a few of the suggested travel ideas and itineraries of things to do in La Junta.
Tarantula Viewing Tips
The best time to view tarantulas is an hour before dusk during mid-September thru October and even into early November—depending on the weather. Because these spiders prefer undisturbed lands to nest, the vast and beautiful prairies on the Comanche National Grassland make ideal habitats.
The best time to view tarantulas is an hour before dusk during mid-September thru October and even into early November—depending on the weather. Because these spiders prefer undisturbed lands to nest, the vast and beautiful prairies on the Comanche National Grassland make ideal habitats.
You generally will not find tarantulas where people have plowed. They have permanent burrows, which they may inhabit for two decades. During the day, the burrow entrance is often marked with a veil of silk to deter predators, so it has to be an area that hasn’t been destroyed. It has to be a relatively intact, native prairie.
If you have seen headlines about “thousands of tarantulas” or “waves of tarantulas” marching across southeast Colorado every fall, you might have the wrong idea. On the contrary, you might see one, two, or ten crawl across the prairie at a time. Or, you might see none.
- September is the ideal time of year to view the tarantulas – there may still be activity in October and November.
- The ideal viewing time is in the hour before sunset, venture out around 5:45 pm to 6:00 pm. Peak viewing lasts about an hour.
- Some tarantulas may be active in the late afternoon.
- Respect private property boundaries! Pay attention to signs, fences and closed gates as indicators of private land.
- Scout areas where there are tarantula hawks—the spider hunting wasps that prey on tarantulas.
- Be aware of cars and trucks traveling the road at all times.
- Venture out on a day that is warm, and preferably not too windy.
- An ideal viewing location is south of La Junta on Highway 109 on the Comanche National Grassland.
- While tarantulas may be harmless, stopping on the road can be anything but.
Responsible & Respectful Tarantula Viewing
Plan Ahead for Safe Viewing
Tarantulas aren’t dangerous to humans. Stopping on the road is!
Encountering tarantulas on the highway can be an intriguing experience, with safety always remaining a top priority. To ensure a safe and enjoyable viewing experience, plan your route ahead of time so you know where to find safe areas for parking and viewing. If you must pull off the road, be sure to do so in an area where there’s ample space for passing vehicles, and keep an eye out for rattlesnakes which are common this time of year. While tarantulas themselves pose no threat to humans, stopping abruptly on the road can lead to dangerous situations for motorists, viewers, and the spiders themselves. By avoiding sudden stops and maintaining awareness of traffic flow, we can appreciate these fascinating creatures without putting ourselves or others at risk. Let’s remember that while tarantulas may be harmless, stopping on the road can be anything but.
Respect Private Property
Tarantulas Only Beyond This Point.
As you embark on your tarantula viewing journey amidst the breathtaking scenery of the Comanche National Grassland, it’s important to keep in mind the value of respecting private property boundaries. In rural Colorado, where open grazing is common, it’s a best practice to pay attention to signs, fences, and closed gates as indicators of private land. Crossing these boundaries without permission not only compromises property rights but also impacts the harmony of rural life. Let’s show our appreciation for the tarantulas and their habitats while also respecting our neighbors and the unique southeastern Colorado lifestyle.
View with Care
Tarantula love is tough love. Let’s not make it tougher.
When observing tarantulas on their mating expedition, it’s important to approach with respect and appreciation for these fascinating creatures. While it might be tempting to aim for them or try to capture them for closer inspection, it’s best to let them be in their natural habitat. Tarantulas won’t attack your tires, leap into your vehicle, or become unwanted guests at home. Feel free to snap photos from a distance, but remember to give them space to roam freely. Although tarantulas can bite if provoked, their venom is harmless to humans, akin to a bee sting. However, their protective hairs may cause itching, so it’s best to admire them without direct contact. Additionally, handling them can pose risks, as they can be injured if they fall from a height, even from as high as your hands. Let’s enjoy the wonder of tarantulas while ensuring their well-being and our own safety.
Protect Our Habitat and Heritage
Tarantulas are only part of the story.
While enjoying the sight of tarantulas moving across the landscape, let’s acknowledge that we are visitors in a place steeped in history and significance. Remember, we are the guardians of the canyons of the Comanche National Grassland, the 4th largest grassland in the country, where precious artifacts offer glimpses into the thriving civilizations that once called this area home. Each relic holds a clue that archaeologists use to reconstruct life here long ago, making these cultural resources ancient, fragile, and irreplaceable. Touching rock art, for example, can promote deterioration of the drawings and the rock surface due to oils from your hands. Furthermore, drawing or scratching graffiti on rocks or cliff faces defaces a fragile, irreplaceable legacy. When traveling through the Comanche National Grassland, be sure to stay on designated roadways so as not to disturb the fragile soil or risk getting stuck. The Comanche National Grassland not only provides essential habitats for a variety of wildlife, including tarantulas, but also holds invaluable cultural treasures. As stewards of this land, it’s our duty to tread lightly, preserving the delicate balance of the ecosystem and honoring the legacy of those who came before us.
Be Tarantula Expedition Ready
How to prepare for a Tarantula Trek.
Before setting out on your tarantula viewing adventure, it’s essential to prepare thoroughly for a safe and enjoyable experience. Start by checking the weather forecast and road conditions to ensure smooth travels. Pack an ample supply of water and snacks to stay hydrated and energized throughout the expedition. Don’t forget to equip your vehicle with essentials like a spare tire and emergency supplies for any unforeseen circumstances. Since cell service can be unreliable in remote areas, download maps and identify parking areas in advance. Dress in layers to accommodate potential weather changes, and opt for sturdy, closed-toed shoes for comfort and protection. During this time of year, various hunting seasons are in progress. While hunters are typically safety-conscious, it’s advisable not to wear tan and white, the colors of pronghorn, to avoid confusion. Additionally, if you plan to be near roadways, wearing an orange vest is recommended to increase visibility to hunters and other drivers. Before hitting the road, stop in La Junta to gather tarantula viewing information from our local shops, restaurants, gas stations, and hotels. Additionally, stay updated on the latest news and safety tips by checking our website, Facebook, and Instagram channels. With proper preparation and awareness, you can make the most of your tarantula viewing experience while ensuring a safe and memorable journey.
Where to Find Tarantulas
Take a Drive
Ideal places to look for those males are south of La Junta on Highways 10, 350, and 109, and county roads in between, an hour or so before sunset. Comanche National Grassland is a good place to spot them as well.
Popular sites include Vogel Canyon (15 miles from La Junta), Sierra Vista & Timpas Picnic Area (about 20 miles from La Junta along Hwy 350), and Delhi (36 miles from La Junta on Hwy 350).
Vogel Canyon is a short drive from La Junta and is always a popular destination because it has something for everyone—from short hikes to quiet picnics. Vogel Canyon Picnic Area has picnic shelters, a vault toilet, and hiking trails with a variety of difficulties and lengths that take you to the mesa top or canyon bottom.
A great driving route to consider is La Junta to Timpas (on HWY 350), east on County Road N, south on County Road 25, east on Forest Service Road 2200, north on HWY 109, and then back to La Junta.
Contact the Comanche National Grassland Resource Office for additional ideal viewing locations in and around La Junta at (719) 384-2181 or info@visitlajunta.net for additional information.
Related: Thousand Of Tarantulas Are Set To Make Their Way Across Colorado Over The Coming Months
