Nature & Wildlife in the San Luis Valley

Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve

 

11999 Highway 150
Mosca, CO 81146
(719)378-6399
The Great Sand Dunes National Park Website

The Great Sand Dunes are the tallest dunes in North America. They’re a fun place for hiking and sliding while exploring one of Colorado’s natural wonders. You might find that the hike to the top is a bit much for any young family members, and make sure to take plenty of water with you.

A good time to visit the dunes is in March. In the month of March you can see the surrounding high peaks of the Sangre de Cristos just before the snow melts. When runoff begins in the spring, Medano Creek fills up and flows through the dunes, creating an unlikely beach in the heart of the Colorado Mountains. If you decide to come in the summer, make sure to bring Bug spray with you as the mosquitos are hungry.

We recommend visiting the Great sand Dunes on your way to Antonito from Denver or as a day trip from the Inn. Directions from the Inn.

 

Monte Vista Crane Festival

March 11 - 13, 2022
March 10 - 12, 2023
mvcranefest.org

Birders rejoice! The Monte Vista Crane Festival is back for another great event in 2017. Thousands upon thousands of cranes, ducks and geese stop here during their annual migration north. There are also tons of raptors including owls present for you to capture against a mountain skyline.

The three national wildlife refuges in the Valley provide essential feeding, resting, and breeding habitat for over 200 bird species and other wildlife. Alamosa and Monte Vista Refuges are located at the south-central end of the Valley and Baca Refuge is located at the north end. They are set aside for migratory birds and resident wildlife. The Refuges are now combined administratively into the San Luis Valley National Wildlife Refuge Complex.

From the Refuge's Website,"Three mountain ranges surround the Valley – the Sangre de Christo to the east, the San Juan to the west, and the Saguache to the north. At sunset, the highest peaks of the Sangre de Christo range take on a blood red glow which inspired the Spanish explorers to name them after the “Blood of Christ.”

The surrounding mountains feed the arid valley with precious surface water and replenish an expansive underground reservoir. The mountain snow melt and artesian wells provide needed water to the agricultural community and to the rivers, creeks, and wetlands that thread across the valley floor.

Monte Vista Refuge

The artificially created wetlands on Monte Vista’s 14,804 acres are intensively managed to provide habitat for a wide variety of waterfowl and other water birds. Mallards, pintails, teal, and Canada geese are common, as are American avocets, killdeer, white-faced ibis, egrets, and herons. Irrigation canals and wells provide precious water to maintain this important wetland habitat.

See a map of the Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge.

Baca Refuge

The 92,500 acre Baca Refuge is a highly diverse combination of shrublands, grasslands, wet meadows, playa wetlands, and riparian areas. This Refuge was set aside not only as another haven for migratory birds and resident wildlife, but also as an important piece in a broader conservation effort to protect the wildlife, habitat, and water of the north and eastern portions of the San Luis Valley. See a map of the refuge.

Alamosa Refuge

Alamosa National Wildlife Refuge provides food, cover, and breeding habitat for migratory birds and resident wildlife. The Refuge conserves and enhances the wetland and desert habitats found in the area to accomplish these goals. The 11,169 acre Refuge is located at the south end of the San Luis Valley.

These habitats support a variety of wildlife, including songbirds, water birds, raptors, deer, beavers, coyotes, and more.

See a Map or the Alamosa National Wildlife Refuge.