About Westcliffe Located in the Heart of the Wet Mountain Valley, between the rugged Sangre de Cristo Mountains to the West; and the Sierra Mojada, or Wet Mountains to the East, Westcliffe lies at an elevation of 7,888 feet. The regional weather is pleasant with over 320 days of sunshine and average precipitation averaging 16.5 inches per year. With the low humidity, this semi-arid climate is similar to northern New Mexico. History Custer County began like many Colorado communities, a pristine wilderness that provided Native Americans with a pleasant existence for centuries. By 1550, the Spanish Conquistadors had arrived in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains to conquer lands, find riches, trade with Indians and convert them to Christianity. Then came the great explorers: Lieutenant Zebulon Pike in 1806 and Lietenant John Fremont with renowed Scout Kit Carson in 1845. Soon mountain men and fur trappers followed, lured by the abundant trading posts, but no permanent settlement was attempted. Custer County History San Isabel Foundation Land Trust The San Isabel Land Protection Trust's service area encompasses 1.7 million acres including the Wet Mountain Valley and surrounding San Isabel Region of south central Colorado. Approximately two thirds of our region remains unprotected from a variety of threats including aging ownership, agricultural abandonment, population growth and competing water and resource interests. Since 1995, we have worked with private landowners protecting over 26,000 acres of productive working land, scenic open space and important wildlife habitat. A non-political and non-profit 501(c)3 corporation, we believe in preserving our rural community’s quality of life and its natural and historical heritage, while supporting responsible development. Our office is located in beautiful Westcliffe Colorado.