San Luis Valley
Around San Luis Valley
Photo: Jeffrey Beall · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Countryside and towns · Colorado · 18k people
San Luis Valley
“The Valley”, “SLV”
High desert skies, potato fields, and the Sangre de Cristo range.
Burnt orangeDeep sky blueSage green
Welcome to the San Luis Valley, where the mountains meet the sky and the cranes return each spring. Whether you're here for the dunes, the quiet towns, or the wide-open spaces, you'll find a community that's as warm as the summer sun.
Clubs for San Luis Valley
No clubs for San Luis Valley yet.
The room
One room for everyone around San Luis Valley. 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
No events in the next month. Events made in the room show up here.
Marketplace
Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around San Luis Valley. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- Great Sand Dunes National Park Tallest sand dunes in North America, at the base of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains.
- Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge Spring staging area for thousands of sandhill cranes.
- Rio Grande National Forest Headwaters of the Rio Grande, with vast wilderness and high peaks.
- Wheeler Geologic Area Volcanic rock formations reached by trail from Creede.
- Creede Historic District Preserved silver-mining town with boardwalks and old storefronts.
- Saguache County Museum Local history in a former courthouse in Saguache.
- Outdoors Sandboard or hike the Great Sand Dunes
- Outdoors Watch sandhill cranes at Monte Vista NWR
- With kids Sandboard at the dunes
- With kids Birdwatch at the refuge
- Evenings Stargaze in the dark skies
- Evenings Catch a show at Creede Repertory Theatre
- Locals love Acequias
- Locals love Hot springs
Through the year
- Monte Vista Crane Festival March Spring celebration of the sandhill crane migration, with tours and presentations.
- Saguache County Fair August County fair with livestock, rodeo, and community exhibits.
- Center Potato Festival September Harvest festival celebrating the region's potato crop with food and games.
- Del Norte's Rio Grande Days July Community celebration with parade, music, and family activities.
- Creede Repertory Theatre summer season June–August Professional theater company performing in the historic mining town.
The San Luis Valley has a high-desert climate with over 300 days of sunshine a year. Winters are cold but dry, summers are warm with cool nights, and the air is thin at 7,500 feet. Best: Late spring through early fall, especially September for mild days and clear skies.
Talk like a local
- “the Valley”
- The San Luis Valley
- “acequia”
- Irrigation ditch
- “crane season”
- Spring migration season for sandhill cranes
- “potato country”
- The agricultural heartland of the region
Getaways
- Alamosa Visit Adams State University and the Rio Grande Scenic Railroad.
- Pagosa Springs Soak in the famous hot springs.
- Salida–Buena Vista Raft the Arkansas River.
- Cañon City See the Royal Gorge Bridge.
Local flavour
Rooting for Denver Broncos, Denver Nuggets, Colorado Rockies, Colorado Avalanche, Adams State Grizzlies
Eat and drink
- Green chile stew A staple with a New Mexico influence, often served with sopapillas.
- Sopapillas Fried pastries drizzled with honey, common at local eateries.
- Tamales Especially during holidays and community celebrations.
- Potato dishes The valley is a major potato-growing region; locals take pride in fresh, local spuds.
- Pinto beans A simple, hearty staple in many homes.
Where people go
- Great Sand Dunes National Park The tallest sand dunes in North America, partially within the region.
- Historic adobe churches Centuries-old missions and chapels reflecting the valley's Hispanic heritage.
- Potato farms Vast fields that define the agricultural landscape.
- Irrigation canals (acequias) Ancient water-sharing systems that still shape the land.
- Hot springs Natural geothermal pools, some developed, some wild.
- Small-town plazas Central gathering spots in villages like Monte Vista, Del Norte, and Saguache.
- Wildlife refuges (crane viewing) Sites like the Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge, famous for sandhill cranes.
Make this page better
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Nearby
Every areaAlamosaColoradoHigh desert heart, wide open skies.Pagosa SpringsColoradoWarm waters, wild mountains.Salida–Buena VistaColoradoRiver town heart, mountain soulCañon CityColoradoWhere the river carves the canyonGunnison ValleyColoradoThe heart of the high countryTaosNew MexicoWhere the mountains meet the desert and art meets the soul.PuebloColoradoWhere the river meets the chile fields.DurangoColoradoWhere the San Juans touch the sky
Rio Grande, Saguache and Mineral counties, 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.