No visit to the San Luis Valley is complete without a taste test of the region’s best-known staple: green chili. Thanks to its proximity to New Mexico—long considered the capital of green chili—southern Colorado is among the best places to sample this wondrous sauce, which is rich in history as…
Cumbres Pass is no stranger to human travel. The San Luis Valley’s earliest residents, including groups of Ute, Navajo, Apache, and Comanche, were responsible for creating trails throughout the San Juan Mountains. One of these paths, worn into the earth over time by thousands of feet, was over Cumbres Pass,…
Whoever said there was nothing new under the sun? It’s hard to believe in a mountain biking mecca like Colorado, but the Del Norte area is experiencing a renaissance, and mountain bikers are the main beneficiaries. Del Norte is situated such that its trails run through both high alpine and…
The 93-mile-long Conejos River, a tributary of the Rio Grande, drains the eastern San Juan Mountains, which features some of the San Luis Valley’s most incredible scenery. Flowing from snowmelt beginning just northeast of Pagosa Springs, the Conejos meets up with the Rio Grande about 15 miles southeast of Alamosa;…
Bordered by Colorado State Highway 17 and the Rio Grande River, Blanca Vista Park offers stunning views of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains and Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve from several pleasant loop trails. There’s also a nearly 25-acre pond, where visitors can see a variety of wildlife,…
Originally a national monument, Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve was established in its current state in 2004. Today, the park encompasses some 44,000-plus acres, 19,000 of which are covered by the dunefield, and the adjacent preserve protects nearly 42,000 more. True to its name, Great Sand Dunes is…
Sandboarding and Sledding For years, visitors have been sledding down the Great Sand Dunes in plastic toboggans, rounded saucers, and even cardboard. As most visitors soon found out, the saucers and cardboard do not work very well whatsoever. Adventuresome and creative people soon developed boards specifically made for sand, featuring extra…
It can be hard to find a family fun destination, but look no further, the ultimate family friendly destination has finally found you! Pack your bags and grab the kids because Alamosa is calling and we have curated the perfect itinerary for an epic summer get away! Day One: Sand…
Grab your binoculars and head out for a day of bird watching. But first, don’t forget to pack a picnic lunch. There are great lunch options around Alamosa; both City Market and Safeway feature delicatessens, and plenty of other lunchtime favorites! Blanca Vista Park Just north of downtown Alamosa, bird…
Ready to shake off those winter cobwebs? Head to the San Luis Valley for some fantastic snowshoeing and cross country skiing! Unbelievable scenic views, amazing snow, and precious solitude await you. After a great night’s stay in one of our lodging facilities and a rib-sticking breakfast, head west through South Fork…