Alamosa
Around Alamosa
Photo: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Town and around · Colorado · 27k people
Alamosa
Locals say San Luis Valley · “The Valley”, “SLV”
High desert heart, wide open skies.
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Welcome to the San Luis Valley! Whether you're here for the dunes, the cranes, or just the wide-open skies, you'll find a community that loves the land. Grab a green chile and settle in.
Clubs for Alamosa
No clubs for Alamosa yet.
The room
One room for everyone around Alamosa. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.
Ask the neighbours
AllA good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.
Coming up
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Marketplace
Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Alamosa. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve Tallest sand dunes in North America
- Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad Historic narrow-gauge train through the San Juan Mountains
- Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge Spring staging area for sandhill cranes
- Alamosa National Wildlife Refuge Wetlands along the Rio Grande
- Rio Grande Runs through the valley, popular for fishing and rafting
- Fort Garland Museum 1850s fort turned museum
- Outdoors Sandboarding at the dunes
- Outdoors Hiking to Zapata Falls
- With kids Building sandcastles at the dunes
- With kids Riding the Cumbres & Toltec train
- Evenings Stargazing at Great Sand Dunes
- Evenings Live music at local breweries
- Locals love Hot springs
- Locals love Farm stands
Through the year
- Monte Vista Crane Festival March Spring migration of sandhill cranes
- Alamosa County Fair August Rodeo, exhibits, and local food
- San Luis Valley Potato Festival September Celebrating the valley's potato harvest
- Summer Solstice Festival June Music and arts at the Great Sand Dunes
- Alamosa Summerfest July Street fair with food and live music
High desert climate with cold winters and warm, dry summers. Best time to be out is spring and fall for mild temps and clear skies. Best: Spring and fall are ideal for mild temps and clear skies.
Talk like a local
- “SLV”
- San Luis Valley
- “the dunes”
- Great Sand Dunes
- “crane season”
- Spring migration of cranes
- “ditch”
- Irrigation canal
Getaways
- Taos, NM Art colony and ski valley
- Santa Fe, NM Historic plaza and galleries
- Colorado Springs, CO Garden of the Gods and Pikes Peak
- Durango, CO Mountain town with steam train
Local flavour
Rooting for Denver Broncos (NFL), Denver Nuggets (NBA), Colorado Rockies (MLB), Colorado Avalanche (NHL)
Eat and drink
- Green chile A staple of the region's Southwestern-influenced cuisine, often served over burritos or as a stew.
- Sopapillas Light, puffy fried dough, often drizzled with honey, a beloved local dessert.
- San Luis Valley potatoes The valley is a major potato-growing region, and local dishes celebrate this earthy staple.
Where people go
- Great Sand Dunes National Park The tallest sand dunes in North America, set against the Sangre de Cristo Mountains.
- Hot springs Natural thermal springs, especially around Pagosa Springs, a popular local retreat.
- High desert farmland Expansive fields of potatoes, barley, and alfalfa, irrigated by the Rio Grande.
- Small town main streets Quaint, historic downtowns with local shops and diners, like those in Alamosa and Monte Vista.
- Mountain trails Access to the San Juan and Sangre de Cristo ranges for hiking and exploring.
Heritage and traditions
The San Luis Valley is proud of its deep Hispanic and Ute heritage, its high-desert farming traditions, and its role as Colorado's oldest settled area.
Say it like a local: “arroyo” — stream or creek
Festivals
- Las Posadas December Reenactment of Mary and Joseph's search for lodging, with songs and candles.
- Cinco de Mayo May Music, dance, and food in Alamosa.
- San Luis Valley Spanish Market August Local artisans sell traditional Hispanic crafts and foods.
- Ski-Hi Stampede July A classic Western rodeo in Monte Vista.
Landmarks with a story
- San Luis de la Culebra Church The oldest continuously used church in Colorado, built in 1858.
- Our Lady of Guadalupe Church A historic adobe church in Conejos, one of the oldest in the state.
- The Acequias Historic irrigation ditches, still used to water fields.
- San Luis Town Plaza The heart of Colorado's oldest town.
Food traditions
- Caldillo A hearty green chile and beef stew, a winter staple.
- Posole A hominy and pork stew served at celebrations and holidays.
- Tamales Made in large batches at Christmas, a family tradition.
- Biscochitos Anise-flavored cookies, a New Mexican dessert.
- Chicos Dried roasted corn, used in stews and soups.
Music and arts
- New Mexican folk music Includes corridos and romanticas, often played at celebrations.
- Santos carving Religious folk art depicting saints, a traditional craft.
- Colcha embroidery Traditional Hispanic needlework with colorful designs.
- Rio Grande weaving A distinctive style of textile with geometric patterns.
A little history
- San Luis founded, the oldest town in Colorado. 1851
- San Luis de la Culebra church built. 1858
- Denver & Rio Grande railroad reaches the valley. 1870s
- Great Sand Dunes designated a national monument. 1932
- Great Sand Dunes becomes a national park. 2004
Rivalries
- Alamosa vs. Monte Vista High school football rivalry
- Adams State vs. CSU-Pueblo College basketball rivalry
- Game day Rodeo at the Ski-Hi Stampede
- Game day Sandboarding at the dunes
- Outdoors Fishing the Rio Grande
- Outdoors Mountain biking on valley trails
- With kids Visiting Colorado Gators Reptile Park
- With kids Going to the drive-in movie theater
Locals speak English with a Spanish influence, using words like 'acequia' and 'arroyo'. The town of San Luis is pronounced 'San Loo-iss' by residents.
Only here
- The San Luis Valley has one of the largest confined aquifers in the US.
- The Cumbres & Toltec is the highest narrow-gauge railroad in the US.
- The Great Sand Dunes are considered sacred to the Ute people.
- The valley's artesian wells create natural fountains in some fields.
New here? A few tips
- Drink plenty of water to adjust to the 7,600-foot altitude.
- Sun protection is a must—the high desert sun is intense.
- Learn to pronounce 'San Luis' as 'San Loo-iss' to sound local.
- Distances are large; plan for long drives between towns.
- Try the green chile and sopapillas at local restaurants.
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Nearby
Every areaSan Luis ValleyColoradoHigh desert skies, potato fields, and the Sangre de Cristo range.Pagosa SpringsColoradoWarm waters, wild mountains.Salida–Buena VistaColoradoRiver town heart, mountain soulTaosNew MexicoWhere the mountains meet the desert and art meets the soul.Cañon CityColoradoWhere the river carves the canyonTrinidad–WalsenburgColoradoWhere the prairies rise to meet the Spanish Peaks.PuebloColoradoWhere the river meets the chile fields.EspañolaNew MexicoWhere the Rio Grande meets the high desert.
Alamosa, CO. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.