Unique Sights In San Luis Valley

An Overview of San Luis Valley

The San Luis Valley is a large, wide valley in Colorado stretching from the Continental Divide to New Mexico. The valley is home to many of Colorado’s most unique features, such as the Great Sand Dunes, the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, the Rio Grande National Forest and the vast bird sanctuaries of Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge. Despite being a relatively unpopulated region, the numerous outdoor features, strange towns and quiet communities provide many unique sights in San Luis Valley.

Unique Sights In San Luis Valley

 Great Dunes National Park

This stunning national park contains the largest sand dunes in North America. The region has primitive roads, numerous nearby campsites, the towering Star Dune, the seasonal Medano Creek and several trails leading into the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Bear in mind that Medano Creek changes throughout the year depending on seasonal rainfall. During late May to Early June, visors can tube down the waters. In the early autumn, the Creek is a shallow, beach-like wading area. During the dry seasons, the Creek is often patterned sands with frosty puddles. Visitors are able to use sleds to ride down the sand dunes and much of the area is large enough to easily avoid crowds. The park is designated as an International Dark Sky Park thanks to its lack of light pollution at night.

Colorado Gators Reptile Park

This large park is home to hundreds of rescued reptiles, including monitor lizards, tortoises, iguanas, turtles, snakes, pythons, bearded dragons, alligators, caiman and, of course, crocodiles. Visitors can learn about the creatures and take part in feeding them for a small fee. The park is open daily from 9AM to 4PM.

UFO Watchtower

This large platform which offers stellar views over the San Luis valley has allegedly sighted multiple UFO sightings over the years, largely thanks to the dark, unfiltered skies of this region.

The Wet Paintbrush

Found in the town of Alamosa, this is a unique art studio workshop which offers beginner painting lessons alongside wine tastings.

Monte Vista Wildlife and Nature Refuge

This is an expansive wildlife sanctuary which provides valuable protected habitats for songbirds, waterfowl, migratory flocks and raptors. The park is best enjoyed through a combination of narrow, marshland driving routes and short hiking trails.

Alamosa National Wildlife Refuge

Located on the banks and marshes created by the Rio Grande and Chicago Ditch, this is an excellent location to spot birds and other aquatic wildlife.

Underground Mining Museum of Creede

This museum provides self-guided audio tours while wandering around underground. Visitors can observe historical mining techniques, such as hand-drilling, compressed-air mining, mule-hauls and mechanical processing.

Crestone Ziggurat

Located slightly north of Great Dunes National Park, this is a strange, yellow spiral building with an observation platform atop.

Zapata Falls

This is a large waterfall reachable by hiking a short crevasse before wading through a wide, shallow creek.

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