All Attractions in Region
In the heart of the arid San Luis Valley lies a birdwatchers paradise. Lush wetlands provide year-round habitat for songbirds, water birds, coyotes, deer and other wildlife. Starting in 1962 a series of water works were created in the ANWR to restore some of the wetlands that were common throughout the valley when it was first settled. In March and September, twenty thousand Sandhill Cranes migrate through the valley and use the refuges as a major stopping point. This migration is one of the valley's greatest spectacles and is celebrated every spring in early March with the Monte Vista Crane Festival.
The old mine structures and shafts of the Creede Mining district will fire your imagination about the struggle of miners digging ore in the steep cliffs above Creede. The Bachelor Historic Loop Tour takes you by 17 mine sites that brought wealth to some and hard, dangerous work for many others. Sites are interpreted by a booklet available at museums and the Creede Chamber of Commerce. There is also an interpretive marker near site #17, the underground firehouse, on the north end of Creede. Stop and explore the history of this once bustling area.
When you think of gulls, sandpipers and pelicans, you picture a vacation paradise on an ocean beach, but few people realize there is a salty shore paradise located right here in the San Luis Valley. Flocks of these shorebirds find refuge at the Blanca Wetlands along with the other 158 bird species found there. What appears at first glance to be a salty desert environment with flooded low areas reveals to the more studious observer a plethora of birds, amphibians, mammals, fish, and yes, insects. Wheelchair accessible trails help to make this bird watcher's paradise accessible to all.
The historic mining town of Bonanza is the quintessential "place at the end of the road." Nestled 14 miles up a dirt road at the end of Kerber Creek Valley, at 9500 feet elev. in the Rio Grande National Forest, the few remaining residents of Bonanza don't see many visitors most of the year. During the summer and fall, you can take the pleasant drive up to poke around the ruins of 80 named mines. There is an interpretive marker for the Kerber Creek Mining District at the corner of 1st and Main Streets.
Cho Ku Rei Ranch is a modern homestead, whereby many household food needs are provided on-site for the local market by chickens, yaks, gardens and a 6500sqft greenhouse. Cho Ku Rei is a beautiful example of blending the spirit of self-sufficiency of the past with the creativity of sustainable farming. Visitors will enjoy seeing yak foraging on this lovely old 2400 acre ranch, experiencing the ingenuity at work and the fresh produce they take home for their dinners.
Colonel Albert Pfeiffer emigrated from the borderland between the Netherlands and modern Germany to the United States in 1855 and settled in Taos, New Mexico Territory. During that time Pfeiffer was a merchant, Ute Indian agent, and finally an army officer in the New Mexico militia. He fought in a number of Indian campaigns with his friend and commander, Kit Carson. After the Civil War Pfeiffer was mustered out of the army and moved to Rio Grande County in 1866. There he operated a cattle ranch west of present day Del Norte, CO, where his gravesite is located.
While Colorado Gators is not 100 years old, it captures the Western spirit of ingenuity and creativity to create a successful sustaining agricultural system using the natural environment. The 87 degree geothermal waters create an optimal environment for a fish farm operation - tilapia, an African perch; the waste from the fish farm, in turn, provides food for the gators; the indoor greenhouse spaces (heated by the geothermal water)grow year-round produce. Visitors will enjoy the farm as well as, the rescued exotic reptiles, diverse plants growing in the various greenhouses, including the giant inflatable Biodome.
The Colorado State Veterans Center was established in 1889 as the Soldiers' and Sailors' Home and is listed on the Colorado Register of Historic Properties. The mission of the Home was to provide a peaceful and comfortable home for retiring Civil War and Spanish American War veterans. At one time Homelake included a hospital and an infirmary, reflecting the Center's philosophy of caring for the medical, physical, mental, social, and spiritual needs of its residents.
Many of the historic buildings are still in use. The cemetery dates to the Civil War and is the oldest veterans' cemetery in Colorado.
Explore tradition at Conejos Plaza, the original plaza of the historic community of Conejos, Colorado. The most prominent structure on the plaza is Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, the oldest parish (designated 1859) in the state of Colorado. The site also houses the Conejos County Courthouse, which was built in 1981, replacing an earlier structure that burned. Many of the other structures around the plaza date back to the earliest settlers of the area. Once a thriving community, many businesses relocated to nearby Antonito when the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad established that town in 1880.
Corset Ranch is a Colorado Centennial Ranch raising native grass-fed beef from birth to harvest on lush Rio Grande fed pastures and the green meadows of surrounding mountains. Cattle are lovingly tended by the three generations of Colville ranchers currently living on the ranch. Corset Ranch grows abundant protein-rich hay, watches over the spring calving, and facilitates rotational grazing for vibrant cattle and land. Visitors are quickly integrated into the daily chores for a real glimpse into the life of a cowboy. Corset Ranch offers their USDA inspected, native grass fed and finished beef for market at the ranch.
Let your rock hound run free among the fossil and mineral formations found in the Creede Caldera. Intensely volcanic millions of years ago, the Creede area contains many sites where you can explore the fossil remains of ancient volcanic lakes and look for mineral samples that were created in the furnaces of the caldera. There are many excellent viewing places throughout the area to entice the intrepid mineral buff. For more casual travelers, four such sites, including the astounding Clear Creek Falls, are accessible by car and are interpreted by Forest Service and Geological Society pamphlets available at museums and visitor centers.
Dig deep into the history of the mining town of Creede at the Creede Historical Museum, which showcases artifacts and memorabilia from the local area and surrounding Mineral County. Highlights include an early hearse and fire wagon, a beautiful old bar, camera and political button collections, and historic photos of people, mines, ranches, businesses, and every-day life. A self-guided tour booklet of the museum explains many of the exhibits. The gift shop offers books on mining and local history, Creede Historical Society publications, including a walking tour booklet of the town of Creede, post cards, and photos ready to be framed.
A schoolhouse was often one of the first attempts of an early community to establish itself as a permanent settlement. The Crestone schoolhouse, part of the Crestone walking tour, will give you a real sense of community life around the turn of the 20th century. The originally board and batten structure housed grades 1-8 in 1880, and a second classroom and clapboard siding was added in 1901. It was an active school until 1949 after the school district was consolidated with Moffat. The schoolhouse was added to the National Historic Register in 1986 and is now used as a community center.
America's longest and highest narrow gauge railroad will sweep you off your feet on a trip you'll not soon forget through a remote corner of the San Luis Valley and southern Rocky Mountains of Colorado and northern New Mexico. The spectacular views and the sights, sounds, and smells of the 1880s coal-powered steam engine add to the excitement of the narrow track winding through the landscape. Experience living history at its best as the docents interpret the history and geology of the area while you ride. Several trip options are available depending on your time and budget.
Explore the magnificent scenery all year long at 10,022 ft. elevation on Cumbres Pass in the San Juan Mountains. Surrounded by the Rio Grande National Forest, Cumbres Pass is the southern gateway to the San Luis Valley and to Los Caminos Antiguos Scenic and Historic Byway. Forest Service roads branch off of CO Hwy 17 and lead to many trailheads. Trace the paths of generations of game, Native Americans, settlers, and miners who traversed this treacherously steep slope. Cumbres and nearby La Manga Pass offer access to excellent opportunities for hiking, biking, cross-country skiing, and snowmobiling.
Listed on the State Register of Historic Properties, the 1880 D&RG Antonito Depot is significant for the native stone masonry that distinguishes it. It also played a key role in the establishment of the town by the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad. For over sixty years, the depot was the junction point for the "Chili Line" to Santa Fe, New Mexico and the railroad's San Juan Extension connecting Alamosa to Durango and Silverton. As the western-most station accommodating both narrow and standard gauge trains on the San Juan Extension, the depot was an important terminal for freight, passenger, and package services.
Step back in history and view a unique locomotive from Alamosa's boom days as a railroad town.
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Alamosa's narrow-gauge locomotive 169 was built in April 1883 by Baldwin Locomotive Works in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. After decades of service in the San Luis Valley, the engine was retired in 1938 and later refurbished for display at the 1939 New York World's Fair.
A restored coal car and B-1 Business Car (1881) accompany the 169 in an outdoor pavilion in Cole Park near the Rio Grande bridge.
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the 1881 Denver & Rio Grande Railroad South Fork Water Tank is one of the few surviving tanks built in the late 1800s by the D&RG railroad and the last example of its type on the 22.8-mile Creede Branch. Tanks of identical design, materials, and construction were built throughout the D&RG system in the last two decades of the 19th century. The tank provided water for countless steam locomotives from its construction in 1881 until the end of steam locomotive operations in 1956.
Experience the history and culture of the Valley through the eyes of an artist. Antonito's many prominent and colorful murals tell the stories of the settlement of the San Luis Valley and express the local artistic spirit.
The town of Antonito was founded in 1880 by the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad as the junction point for the "Chili Line" (the railroad branch to Santa Fe, New Mexico) and the San Juan Extension from Alamosa to Durango and Silverton. The original depot and several downtown structures such as the stone Palace Hotel mirror the original character of the town as a busy trade center.
Visit historic downtown Saguache to experience a quiet town that has changed little over the years. The late 1890s and early 1900s brought prosperity to Saguache through its support of the mining camps in the surrounding mountains. Fortunes declined when the railroad bypassed the town. Several town buildings are listed on the State Register of Historic Places. A pamphlet that guides you on a nostalgic walking tour of the old downtown describes the buildings of the once thriving Saguache. Their histories will come alive for you.
Fort Garland served the U.S. between the years of 1858-1883 during a dynamic time of westward expansion. This 19th century adobe fort was restored between 1945-1950 by the Colorado Historical Society. Five of the original 22 buildings are still standing, and a sixth reconstructed building has been added.
Discover the stories behind this southern Colorado military outpost including the contributions of the Buffalo Soldiers (Company G of the Ninth Cavalry) and the command of Kit Carson. Additional interpretative exhibits include: Infantry and Cavalry Barracks, Indo-Hispano culture and a permanent exhibit on preservation efforts at the fort.
Experience firsthand the remote wilderness that became the scene of General John C. Fremont's disastrous fourth expedition. While exploring possibilities for a transcontinental railroad route through the San Juan Mountains in the winter of 1848-49, the men were caught in severe weather. Imagine waist-deep snow, dwindling food supplies and primitive tools, and you'll get a sense of the struggle that took place as they forged their way into the new territory.
Begin your hike at Cathedral Campground, named for the nearby cliffs, and walk in 4.5 miles to the historic sites of Fremont's Christmas and December 27th camps.
Explore the tallest dunes in North America! The most recognized and most photographed natural feature of the San Luis Valley, the massive dunes rise unexpectedly from the floor of the San Luis Valley and nestle up against the Sangre de Cristo mountains. The dunes, alpine tundra, forests, grasslands, and wetlands are all protected elements of the Great Sand Dunes natural system. The periodic surges of Medano Creek, flowing at the base of the dunes, creates a favorite spring playground of water and sand. The dunes themselves provide endless hours of family friendly climbing, sliding, and sand-skiing or boarding.
Green Earth Farm is a Colorado Certified Organic farm growing gourmet potatoes and barley, as well as a lush vegetable garden providing produce for a Community Supported Agriculture program and several San Luis Valley farmers' markets. They also grow and craft a variety of medicinal and culinary herbs, herbal tinctures, and natural body care products. Visitors will enjoy the rich diversity and knowledge that the McCrackens's generously share, as well as the opportunity to try their products.
The Haefeli family are 5th generation bee keepers, caring for bees and producing honey in the San Luis Valley since 1907. Haefeli's produces around 350 barrels of honey from over 4,000 beehives in Colorado a year, as well as pollinating crops in the San Luis Valley, Texas and California.
In 1903, Edward Haefeli, whose father, Adolph, was a beekeeper in Switzerland, arrived in the San Luis Valley and soon opened his beekeeping operation in Monte Vista, Colorado.
Special creamed honeys, high-quality beeswax, candles, ornaments and specialty items are available at their store in Del Norte.
Fifth generation rancher, Sherry Haugen was given a red ewe when she was 8 years old. She loved that little ewe named Eve and dreamed of having flock one day. Some 30 years later, Sherry's 275 plus flock of sheep call that first little ewe, Eve, their first maternal ancestor. Sherry raises Haugen's Mountain Grown Lamb. All lamb is raised to mature weight on natural forage only, and is antibiotic, hormone, and pesticide free. A visit to the ranch will result in a wonderful visit with a true Colorado Cowgirl and delicious lamb for purchase.
Experience the hometown feel of this historic downtown and its diverse architecture on a self-guided walking tour that begins with narrow gauge locomotive No. 169 in Cole Park. Pick up a color brochure at the nearby Chamber of Commerce.
The tour includes 25 historic sites, several designated on the National Register of Historic Places. Architectural delights include a Mission Revival style church and WPA County Courthouse. Art Deco tile and influences are visible along Main Street, and early 20th-century commercial brick buildings are a testament to the railroad heritage of Alamosa and its once prolific brickyards.
Experience the history and charm of the western mining town of Creede--the late 19th-century architecture and stunning natural setting make for an unforgettable visit to the west end of the San Luis Valley. Set between the surrounding cliffs of Willow Creek Canyon once romanticized as "Devil's Gate" by local 19th-century poet Harriet Wason, today downtown Creede is home to an exceptional selection of shops, art galleries, and eateries, as well as the nationally acclaimed Creede Repertory Theatre. Pick up the self-guided walking tour booklet at the Creede Historic Museum or in downtown stores to get the back-story on Creede's many fabulous structures.
Take in the unique native stone architecture of Monte Vista's Downtown Historic District, designated on the National Register of Historic Places, and explore some of the town's cultural gems. A walking tour brochure is available to guide your visit. The district encompasses eleven structures along First Street (US Hwy. 160), which are built of locally quarried lava stone (rhyolite) or locally kilned brick. Two museums and eight additionally designated historic structures on Adams and Jefferson Streets and on First Avenue highlight the local culture.
Monte Vista is home to the Ski-Hi Stampede, Colorado's oldest pro-rodeo (est. 1818).
Discover the World's Greatest Heavyweight Boxer of the 20th Century! Jack Dempsey (1895-1983), aka "The Manassa Mauler," was the world's heavyweight boxing champion from 1919 to 1926. Born in Manassa, Colorado, Dempsey won the heavyweight championship in 1919, after knocking out Jesse Willard and then lost the title to Gene Tunney in 1926.
The museum in his honor, dedicated in Manassa in 1966, is housed in the cabin in which Dempsey was born. It contains several artifacts from Dempsey's career, including the gloves he wore in the New York fight and numerous historic photographs.
Originally a Hispano settlement, La Garita today is a loose collection of houses set around its historic church, the Capilla de San Juan Bautiste. The only remaining business in town is the La Garita Trading Post. Near Penitente Canyon, the world famous climbing destination, the store is the last supply stop for climbers and campers going into the canyon. Rumor has it that the burgers there are worth the 6-mile drive from US Hwy 285. The town celebrates its heritage in late July with its annual La Garita Days.
Wherever you find yourself in the San Luis Valley, you're likely within sight of La Sierra Blanca (Mt. Blanca). Considered a holy mountain and called "Sisnaajini" by the Navajos, the name has been translated as "white maid mountain." The snows on its massive ridges seem to persist even when the rest of the Sangre de Cristo range has melted bare. Just south of the Great Sand Dunes National Park and 14,435 feet in elevation, the unmistakable, massive form of La Sierra presides over the Valley like a benevolent lord.
La Vega is the only Mexican-Era land grant commons in Colorado. Continuing to serve its original purpose of communal grazing, La Vega was designated by a 1863 covenant for villagers living in the Rio Culebra Basin. Allocated for seven villages, the commons extended 18 miles south to the New Mexico border at its inception. Though La Vega has dwindled to 500-acres the commons is maintained and managed by local descendants who use the pasture. Traditionally Vega rules dictate that the wetlands remain uncultivated since each family was allowed to graze four cattle or milk cows, horses, and mules.
Knoblauch Ranch was first homesteaded in the 1880's. Over 100 years later, and many decades of milking cows along the way, the 5th generation of the Knoblauch family started a goat dairy. Laz Ewe 2 Bar Goat Dairy (named for the ranch cattle brand, Lazy U - the letter U turned over on its side with two bars under it). The dairy produces two types of cheese: chevre, a soft, spreadable cheese and feta, a drier, more crumbly cheese, both in plain and seasoned varieties. Visitors to the ranch will enjoy the antics of the lively goat herd, this lovely old ranch on the Rio Grande and a visit to the farm store to sample the artisan cheeses.
Little Shepherd in the Hills Episcopal Church is the oldest spiritual center in Crestone, having been a presence since 1885. You can enter at any time for a moment of quiet contemplation, to admire the simple altar or marble baptismal fount, or attend service on the first Sunday of every month. Originally, services were held in the old schoolhouse and were presided over by a circuit vicar. The current location is a log cabin built in the 1900s and donated to the Diocese in 1949. The chapel is dedicated to Lady Julian of Norwich, a 14th-century English mystic.
Trace a route to 22 heritage sites in the upper Rio Grande region along "Los Caminos Antiguos" ("The Ancient Roads") and let the history of this northern outpost of sixteenth-century Spanish territorial expansion unfold before you.
"Los Caminos Antiguos" Scenic Byway allows visitors to explore the rich culture and traditions of some of Colorado's oldest communities. Discover the panoramic views of the San Juan and Sangre de Cristo mountain ranges; the high, fertile San Luis Valley; the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve; the Rio Grande National Forest; and state parks and federal wildlife areas.
An eclectic collection of Southwest and European art, artifacts, and local arts and history unfolds to the visitor at Adams State College's Luther Bean Museum. Tucked away on campus on the second floor of historic Richardson Hall, the museum features a stunning collection of Native American and Hispano Southwest arts, paintings and bronzes by nationally and regionally known artists, and European decorative arts. Proudly featured is also a collection of memorabilia of the former Colorado Governor and ASC's founder William H. "Billy" Adams.
McNeil Ranch is a Colorado Centennial Farm. As fourth generation ranchers, the McNeil's love for the land, the cattle it sustains and the sweeping grandeur of the San Luis Valley is infectious. They raise 100% grass-fed beef, much like Great Grandfather McNeil did in the late 1800s. Cattle are moved frequently to fresh pasture, spending the summer grazing in lush green mountains. Eating grass-fed beef has improved the quality of the meat, and they joyfully share healthy lifestyle with their USDA Certified Organic Grass-Fed Diamond F Brand Beef, handmade burritos and tamales. Stop by the farm store during business hours for insight into ranch life and good ranch products.
In the heart of the arid San Luis Valley is a birdwatchers paradise. Lush wetlands provide year-round habitat for songbirds, water birds, coyotes, deer and other wildlife. Starting in 1952 a series of water works were created at the MVNWR to restore some of the wetlands that were common throughout the Valley when it was first settled. In March and September, twenty thousand migrating Sandhill Cranes use the refuge as a major stopping point. This migration is one of the Valley's greatest spectacles and is celebrated every spring in early March at the Monte Vista Crane Festival.
See the San Luis Valley through the eyes of Zebulon Pike. In 1807 he used the Mosca Pass Trail to enter the valley and became the first American to write about the nearby Great Sand Dunes. The 3.5 mile trail winds through aspen and evergreens to the summit of Mosca Pass in the Sangre de Cristo mountains. It served as an entrance to the valley for nomadic hunters, Spanish soldiers, homesteaders, and traders carrying goods bound for Plains Indian tribes. For a shorter hike, visitors may take the self-guided Montville Trail, a half-mile loop that parallels Mosca Creek and leads past the remnants of a historic toll station.
The Old Spanish Trail consisted of a network of trails that passed through six western states. These trails probably originated with seasonal migrations of large game animals but later served as paths followed by nomadic hunters. Through time the trail segments evolved into a trade route that linked the villages of northern New Mexico to Los Angeles. Blankets, furs, and sheep traveled westward while much valued horses and mules made the trip eastward. The North Branch of the Old Spanish Trail carried traffic through the San Luis Valley from the 1820s until Colorado territory became part of the United States.
Valley View Hot Springs is an historic hot springs, enjoyed by visitors since the early 1900s. Relax in the natural rock-lined hot springs among fire-flies and grazing wildlife in a natural setting. Stay overnight in original rustic accommodations or camp among gamble oaks. Highlight your experience with opportunities to learn about the history, flora and fauna, geology, and ecology of the area. Valley View is a clothing/swimsuit-optional area. Facilities include swimming pool, sauna, hot tub, several natural ponds, camping, cabins, and rooms.
The Orient Mine operated as Colorado's largest iron mine from the 1880s to 1932. Visitors can see foundations at the old Orient town site, a tipple, railroad bed and mine workings. During summer months, the mine is home to a colony of 250,000 Mexican Freetailed bats, and the outflight at dusk is a thrilling sight.
Our Lady of Guadalupe Church is the oldest parish in Colorado. Meeting in a temporary space in 1856, the parish designation was granted in 1859. Construction of the original church commenced in 1863 and was completed in 1866. Though the exterior was renovated between 1879 and 1881, Theatine priests updated the interior and added stained glass windows in 1921. On Ash Wednesday of 1926 an electrical fire destroyed the church, leaving walls and towers. The adobe towers were razed in 1948 and replaced with the contemporary brick entrance.
Penitente Canyon is the site of rich geological and cultural history. Part of the La Garita Caldera, the unusual rock formations and hoodoos in the canyon have become a premier rock-climbing destination. The canyon was originally used as a place of worship for the Brothers Penitente and the painted image of the Virgin Mary high on one of the walls is evidence of their devotion.
Gain insights into the adventures and capture by the Spanish of U.S. Explorer Zebulon Pike, who built a stockade on this site on the banks of the Conejos River in 1807 while exploring in Spanish territory. Pike likely knew he was on Spanish land and that his capture was imminent. The journals written during his captivity in Santa Fe and published in the nineteenth century gave an expanding U.S. a hunger for the West.
As you drive south on US Hwy 285 from Poncha Springs you'll cross Poncha Pass, the northern entrance to the San Luis Valley. As the valley begins to open before you, breathtaking views of the near vertical Sangre de Cristo Mountains stretch out to the south on your left. Mount Ouray and the northern reaches of the San Juan Mountains tower on your right. The valley begins at the headwaters of San Luis Creek, and its expanse gradually spreads out like a huge fan. The 9,010 foot high pass marks the watershed for the drainages of the Arkansas and the Rio Grande rivers.
Located in Del Norte, the Rio Grande County Museum provides an overview of the Valley's natural and cultural heritage. Exhibits and displays reveal stories about the valley's residents, including Native American life and rock art, Hispanic settlers, explorers and miners.
Ride the rails for a trip back in time on the Rio Grande Scenic Railroad, Colorado's newest train offering steam engine rides and five newly remodeled 1950s-era dome cars over legendary La Veta Pass. Travel comfortably in restored passenger cars through the breathtaking Sangre de Cristo Mountains and get a taste of the local culture at stops in historic small towns. Trips with connections to Great Sand Dunes National Park or the historic narrow-gauge Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad in Antonito offer an additional rare treat to your San Luis Valley rail experience.
The interpretive site marking Don Diego de Vargas's 1694 crossing of the Rio Grande is site #11 on the interpretive route laid out along Los Caminos Antiguos ("The Ancient Roads") Scenic & Historic Byway.
In July 1694 Don Diego de Vargas, the governor-general of New Mexico, raided the village of Taos to feed the hungry Spanish settlers in Santa Fe. Fearing retaliation by the Taos Pueblo Indians, he rode north into the largely unexplored San Luis Valley. In the 19th century the site was heavily used by pioneers crossing via the Costilla ferry.
Get a taste for what state of the art flour production was like in 1873. A tour of the Robertson's Flour Mill will teach you about the art of making flour, its importance to the local economy, and its relation to the Ute Indians. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the mill is one of the last water-powered flour mills remaining in the US. Tours are given by the current owners by appointment. As you imagine the sound of massive grinding stones and the smell of fresh ground wheat, you'll be entertained with the lore of the Valley.
Rockey Farm has been a family farm since 1945, and continues to sustain four generations of Rockey families, with beautiful specialty fingerling potatoes. Farm manager, Sheldon Rockey balances growing, harvesting, and processing 200 acres of fingerling potatoes, a certified seed growing lab and greenhouse, offering tours to the public and openly inviting the locals to stop by for a bag of potatoes. Visitors may experience a little bit of everything when they see this both traditional and innovative potato farm in the San Luis Valley.
A spring creek flows through this relatively flat 5,433-acre property, feeding a maze of wetlands, dikes, canals, and shallow lakes designed and built by the Colorado Division of Wildlife in 1992 to restore habitat for nesting waterfowl. Much of the site is closed February 15th through July 15th for nesting, but a boardwalk/viewing trail located just off of Hwy 285 (look for the grove of cottonwoods on the east side) is open year-round.
The Saguache County Museum opens each year on Memorial Day weekend with old-fashioned small town festivities. Enjoy the nostalgia of a parade, barbecue and ranching celebration with live music and stories.
Like wandering through someone's house, this museum features eight rooms filled with the stories from early settlers of Saguache County. You'll marvel at the 1908 defibrillator; an antique gun collection; a reed pipe Clariona purchased at the 1893 Chicago World's Fair; Indian rugs, baskets and pottery; a 1908 fire wagon and hose cart; a 38-star American flag; and many more mementos you would not expect to see in a small Museum.
In remote locations you will discover devotional architectural treasures from some of the earliest Hispano settlements in the San Luis Valley. Built early in the 1860s, the Mission of San Acacio is the oldest standing church in Colorado. Constructed with 24-inch adobe walls the mission underwent extensive restoration during the 1990s. In addition to stabilizing the foundation several wooden columns were added to the interior to take the weight of the roof off of the fragile walls. An altar screen, or retablo, was commissioned from Maria Romero Cash, a New Mexican artist specializing in religious folk art.
Travel through historic southern Colorado gold mining country on this scenic route over Stunner Pass. Dazzling aspens, columbines, and blooming gentian greet the summer visitor along the U.S. Forest Service roads through the San Juan and Conejos Mountains. Historic gold mining camps include Jasper, Stunner, Platoro, and Summitville, where thousands once rushed to seek their fortune, and a few became millionaires overnight. Elk, deer, bear, big horn sheep, and game birds populate the surrounding Rio Grande National Forest and San Juan Wilderness Area. From fly-fishing to backpacking, outdoor activities abound in this beautiful high country mountain terrain.
Enjoy wildlife viewing at San Luis Lakes State Park, where shrublands of salt grass, greasewood, and rabbitbrush surround Head and San Luis Lakes, within eye shot of the Great Sand Dunes. The area features a combination of wetlands, ponds and shallow lakes, fed by intermittent water from springs and creeks. The wetlands attract a variety of ducks, geese, cranes and shorebirds. The southern one-third of the area is a state park; the northern two-thirds is the State Wildlife Area. The state park offers a variety of amenities and activities seasonally.
Located on a plaza in the San Luis de la Culebra Historic District, the San Luis Museum and Cultural Center was constructed in 1943 by the Works Progress Administration (WPA). Originally constructed as an Institute of Arts and Crafts and later used as a high school, the Museum houses interpretative exhibits and a diorama of the village. Additionally the Museum has a replica of a Penitente Morada, complete with religious objects and Santos (carved saints). Along with the extensive collection of local art, including traditional embroidery and murals, an array of local memorabilia can be found at the Museum.
Discover "acequias" (gravity-fed irrigation systems) in one of the oldest communities in Colorado. Serving the village of San Luis de la Culebra before Colorado was a Territory, the People's Ditch was initially a shallow hand-dug irrigation channel. Later, oxen pulling a plow widened and extended the ditch. Operating under Water District 24 of Division 3, the People's Ditch holds the first adjudicated water rights in Colorado. The People's Ditch serves 16 "parcientes" (affiliated water users) and irrigates approximately 2100 acres of hay & other row crops. A majority of parcientes are descendants of the original founders of the acequia.
The museum contains memorabilia displaying the area's multicultural heritage representing pioneers, Indians and other settlers of the San Luis Valley. Visitors will see historical photographs, a pioneer schoolroom and Trading Post, and American Indian items, including beautiful, colorful clothing made from hides. Oriental art and a Veterans memorabilia are also on display.
Experience the beauty of the Rio Culebra landscape and the accomplished local skill that created this awe-inspiring devotional site. Overlooking San Luis is the shrine of "La Mesa de la Piedad y de la Misericordia" (Hill of Piety and Mercy). Constructed in 1986, two centerpieces celebrate Colorado's newest Catholic shrine, La Capilla de Todos Los Santos (the Chapel of All Saints) and bronze sculptures depicting the Stations of the Cross.
As visitors climb the half-mile trail they can view fifteen bronze sculptures of Christ's passion and resurrection and experience the magnificent adobe Capilla at the top of the mesa.
The Silver Thread Interpretive Center provides visitors with booklets, maps and a wealth of information about the Silver Thread Scenic Byway (CO Hwy 149) and points of interest throughout the San Luis Valley and Rio Grande National Forest. Get oriented by making this your first stop when entering the San Luis Valley from the west on US Hwy 160 or before you drive north on the byway from South Fork to visit Creede.
The Silver Thread Scenic and Historic Byway winds through the Gunnison and Rio Grande National Forests, connecting the towns of South Fork, Creede and Lake City and ending at Blue Mesa reservoir. You'll encounter astounding geological formations, abundant wildlife, and much of Colorado's early history along the way. The Silver Thread Interpretive Center in South Fork will give you all the information you need for this journey on one of Colorado's most fascinating historic byways.
Visit a landmark that represents the rich cultural history and civil rights struggles of Hispano settlers in the San Luis Valley. After the forced annexation of Mexican Territory and U.S. violation of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, which protected property rights of Mexicans living in the Southwest, Hispanos faced racial intolerance and land loss.
Patterned after New Mexico mutual aid societies that protected the civil rights of members during industrialization of the Southwest, the Sociedad Proteccion Mutua De Trabajadores Unidos (Society for the Mutual Protection of United Workers or SPMDTU) was founded in 1900 in Antonito, Colorado.
Andy Warner has been in the dairy business all his life and cherishes the non-commercial, all-natural method of small dairy production. The quality of milk and cheese is inextricably related to the health of the cows, the quality of feed and daily life. Warner creates an optimal environment for his small herd. Twin Mountain Milkhouse offers Cow Shares for fresh, raw milk from their organically fed herd of dairy cows and artisan crafted cheeses in many flavors (plain cheddar, caraway, peppercorn, jalapeno cheddar, gouda and more). They have a road-side farm market where visitors can enjoy cows and purchase Twin Mountain cheeses.
A trip to the Creede Underground Mining Museum is an education in mining techniques and the boom days of Creede. You'll learn about stopeing, what Lymers are, blacksmithing, mucking, blasting and assaying, all underground in the cool heart of the mountain. Twenty-two displays show how mining was done in Creede from the 1890s until the last mine closed in 1985. To lead you through the displays, there is a 30-minute self-guided audio tour or a 1-hour docent-guided tour. The museum store sells a unique selection of minerals and local history related gifts.
Delve into American history at the Veterans History Center Museum on the 100-year-old campus of the Colorado State Veterans Center Homelake. The History Center Museum houses memorabilia from veterans that fought in the Civil War, Spanish American War, WWI, WWII, and the Korean War. On display is also equipment used in the infirmary 60 years ago and historic images of the Soldiers' and Sailors' Home. Genealogy fans will be intrigued by the records on file for veterans from the Civil War.
Solitude, simplicity, silence and stunning mountain views are just a few of the reasons people choose to live in the quiet town of Villa Grove. At the northern entrance of the San Luis Valley, fourteen miles south of Poncha Pass, and surrounded by the Sangre de Cristo, Sawatch and San Juan ranges, it's difficult to tell the difference between a picture of today's Villa Grove and the Villa Grove of 1890. Since 1871 the Villa Grove Trade has been a supply outlet at the center of town life, and its false front architecture stands out among the other town buildings.
A trip up the 7-mile trail by foot or by 4-wheel drive vehicle is only for the well prepared. However, the ghostly spires and flowing folds of earth will reward you with one of the most astounding geologic sites in Colorado. The unearthly landscape seems to have been plucked from an alien planet and dropped in the middle of the forest. The 640 acre area became America's first National Monument in 1908 but was later decommissioned due to its inaccessibility. There is now a rough 4-wheel drive road to the site, but many say it's easier and faster to walk.
One of Colorado's oldest hotels, the Windsor occupies nearly one half of a city block in the heart of Del Norte. Its construction started soon after the town was founded in 1871. The Windsor became the main social and commercial center of the area and remained a regional gathering spot for over a hundred years. The Windsor was literally saved from demolition at the last minute by a local benefactor in 1993. Over the past 14 years several phases of stabilization have been successfully completed: a "turn-of-the-century" parlor, dining rooms, and a living history interpretive area are nearly ready for occupancy.
Located on the western flank of Sierra Blanca (Mt. Blanca), just north of the Great Sand Dunes, Zapata Falls will invigorate you on a hot summer day with its cool air and chilling mist. Cut from the rock face by glaciers and scoured by millennia of rushing water, cold water crashes through a 30 ft. cleft in the rock walls. The falls are a half-mile hike from the parking area, where mountain bike and wilderness hiking trails can also be accessed. The recreation area makes a refreshing stop or a great place for a day's activities.
