Alamosa County: Dunes, Nature and Culture

Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve is located in Alamosa County and Saguache County. Here, dunes, water, and expansive natural areas come together. You can reach Star Dune from the Dunes Parking Lot by hiking about 2 miles (3.2 km) south through the Medano Creek riverbed. In the open dune field, the route may change depending on conditions. In spring, seasonal splashing in Medano Creek is possible; the exact timing varies from year to year.

Dunes, Waterfalls, and Trails

Zapata Falls also offers a specific reason to pack your hiking boots. The waterfall is 30 feet (9.1 m) high. Reaching it requires a moderately steep 0.5-mile (0.80 km) hike, a stream crossing, and climbing over rocks. Conditions may change seasonally. Black Swifts nest near the falls; this is one of only a few known nesting sites for this species in Colorado. The landscape thus connects with a remarkable aspect of birdlife.

The Medano Pass Primitive Road offers a different way to explore. High-clearance, four-wheel-drive vehicles can use it seasonally in summer and fall. Check current conditions before driving. Those who prefer hiking or wildlife watching will find other options: Alamosa National Wildlife Refuge has three hiking trails. On the Wildlife Drive, you can watch and photograph wildlife from a car, on foot, or by bicycle.

Wildlife and Seasonal Activities

Great Sand Dunes Wilderness protects the habitat of six endemic insect species. At San Luis Lakes State Wildlife Area, activities range from hunting, fishing, hiking, and walking to boating, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and wildlife watching. Activities and restrictions may vary seasonally. Visitors aged 16 and older need a valid hunting or fishing license or an SWA Pass to access the area. Check the applicable regulations before your trip.

The offerings differ considerably in focus: at the dunes, a longer hike and the seasonal changes in Medano Creek take center stage; on the Wildlife Drive, you can watch and photograph wildlife depending on your chosen mode of transport. At Zapata Falls, by contrast, the route is defined by a short but moderately steep hike, a stream crossing, and climbing over rocks. These differences can help you choose activities based on the time you have and how you would like to explore.

Museums and the History of the San Luis Valley

The San Luis Valley History Museum offers a look at the valley’s history through a long succession of ways of life and settlement: from Paleo-Indian hunters and early Spanish colonizers to settler families and the railroad era. Exhibits include a reconstruction of the “General Store & Trading Post,” a “Wayside Country Schoolroom,” and an exhibit about an 1860s frontiersman. The collection also includes agricultural and ranching tools, as well as memorabilia from western transportation and railroad history. The exhibits and objects offer different ways to explore the same regional history.

The Adams State Luther Bean Museum takes a different approach, presenting regional and local art along with historical objects. These include Native American pottery and artifacts related to William H. “Billy” Adams and Major Lafayette Head. Those interested in art, collection pieces, or the history of notable individuals will find a different thematic focus here than at the History Museum.

Agriculture and Unusual Perspectives

Rio Grande Farm Park combines family and commercial growing areas with educational programs and opportunities to volunteer. The park’s brewery offers food and craft beverages. Agriculture, learning, and participation stand alongside nature and cultural experiences as distinct themes here.

The UFO Watchtower turns its attention to the sky and local lore of the San Luis Valley. An elevated observation platform offers an unobstructed panoramic view of the sky. The museum displays Snippy’s preserved skeleton and shares the valley’s extraterrestrial lore. The site also includes a rock garden; two energy vortices are mentioned there as part of local lore. The choices therefore range from landscapes and wildlife watching to regional history and folklore.

Discover more destinations: Alamosa, Broomfield, Adams, Grand, Garfield, Huerfano County, Sedgwick County, Boulder

View the main travel overview: Colorado.