GREAT Sand Dunes Country
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
GREAT SAnD DUnES COUnTRY OFFICIAL VISITORS GUIDE OF ALAMOSA, COLORADO www.ALAMOSA.ORG | 1-800-BLU-SKYS what’s Inside 4 Activities 4 Great Sand Dunes national Park 6 Rio Grande Scenic Railroad 7 Cumbres & Toltec Railroad wELCOME 8 Splashland Hot Springs 8 Sand Dunes Swimming Pool Thank you for considering Alamosa, Colorado for your next 9 Cattails Golf Course adventure! 10 Colorado Gators 10 UFO watchtower Discover Alamosa and all it has to offer from the Great Sand 11 Zapata Falls Dunes National Park and Preserve to the Rio Grande Scenic 12 Alamosa Ranch & Open Space wildlife Viewing Area Railroad. The scenic vistas collide where the earth and heavens 14 Alamosa wildlife Refuge meet under a star- studded night sky. Recreational opportunities 14 Blanca wetlands are unlimited and the exhilaration of climbing the Great Sand 15 San Luis Lakes State Park and wildlife Area Dunes is unmatched. 15 Rio Grande national Forest 16 winter Activities Located in the center of the San Luis Valley, Alamosa is 16 Snowmobiling surrounded by natural wonders such as the rugged grandeur of 16 Ice Fishing the San Juan and Sangre de Cristo Mountain ranges, the rivers 17 Cross Country Skiing & Snow Shoeing and lakes teeming with trout, the crisp fall mornings, and bluest 17 wolf Creek Ski Area skies west of the Mississippi. 18 Farmer’s Market The history and culture of the San Luis Valley is both captivating 19 Shopping and compelling. Wander through historic Fort Garland, the Luther Bean Museum, or rejoice in the glory of the Stations of the Cross 20 History & Heritage Shrine in the nearby town of San Luis. 20 Alamosa Historic Downtown walking Tour 22 San Luis Valley Museum We encourage you to come and see for yourself all that Alamosa 22 Fort Garland Museum has to offer. Not too far away to make a weekend trip; or just far 23 Luther E. Bean Museum enough away to get away from it all, Alamosa is your vacation 23 Historic Engine 169 destination any time of the year. 24 Sangre de Cristo national Heritage Area 25 Los Caminos Antiguos Scenic and Historic Byway 26 Arts 26 Shrine of the Stations of the Cross On the Cover 27 Murals “Great Sand Dunes National Park” 28 Creede Repertory Theatre 29 ASU Theatre Visitors Guide of Alamosa, Colorado. Published by: Alamosa 30 Sundays at Six Convention & Visitors Bureau, 610 State Avenue, Alamosa, CO 31 Art Around Town 81101 Editor and Publisher: Jamie Greeman & the Alamosa 32 Events otherwise 36 Lodging noted. 38 Camping - Zapata Ranch manner without the express written permission of the publisher. 40 Dining Guide by press time. The Alamosa Convention & Visitors 45 Town Map omissions. 46 San Luis Valley Map © 2014 by Alamosa Convention & Visitors Bureau 610 State 48 Transportation 50 Out Of State reserved. 51 In Colorado 2 Official Alamosa Visitors Guide www.alamosa.org | 1-800-BLU-SKYS 3 TO SEE LIVE wEBCAM SHOTS OR TO FInD OUT MORE VISIT www.nPS.GOV/GRSA Great Sand Dunes national Park 1199 Hwy 150 Mosca CO 81146 719-378-6300 www.nps.gov/grsa CTIVITIES Explore the tallest sand dunes in North America. A visit to A the Great Sand Dunes is an unforgettable experience. The vast, sloping dunes overwhelm the landscape with their stark beauty. The area is a geologic cornucopia of grasslands, wetlands, conifer and aspen forests, alpine lakes and tundra. Often called the the base of the dunes in the spring, warm and inviting. Build a sand marvel at the experience of climbing the many peaks of the dune and jump back down. CAMPInG For variety in your adventure, walk the shady trails in the trees The Great Sand Dunes is a great place to camp as well. Pinyon Flats or climb one of the six peaks over 13,000 feet, hiking along an Campground has 88 individual sites along two loops. Restrooms alpine lake. There is a challenging 4WD road up and over the top, too. Whatever your pleasure, the Great Sand Dunes is a diverse conifer trees for shade, while others are more out in the open with The park offers incredible opportunities for photography, especially in the evening when the shadows are long and the temperatures are cool. Loop 1 (44 sites) of the campground is open year round; one restroom is winterized. Most campsites have a capacity of six people, two tents, and two vehicles (including towed vehicles/ trailers). A 50% discount applies to Golden Age and Golden Access pass holders. Loop 2 (sites 45-88) campsites are available by reservation May 15 - September 15, online at www.recreation.gov. There is also primitive camping along the Medano Pass Road. SAnDBOARDInG For years, visitors have been sledding down the dunes in plastic toboggans, rounded saucers, and even cardboard. As most visitors soon found out, the saucers and cardboard did not work at all. Adventuresome and creative people soon developed boards from vegetated areas. The park does not rent or sell sandboards, but they can be rented at Kristi Mountain Sports, 719-589- 9759. 4 Official Alamosa Visitors Guide www.alamosa.org | 1-800-BLU-SKYS 5 FOR MORE InFO On OUR ACTIVITIES VISIT; ACTIVITIES www.ALAMOSA.ORG/THInGS-TO-DO/OUTDOOR-ACTIVITIES TRAI T T O n GET n COM S EVE , n. A VISIT FULL : www. CALE SPECIAL n O CUMBERSTOLTEC n Rio Grande Scenic Cumbres & Toltec DAR FO n I COLORADOTRAI OR OR Railroad Railroad I 610 State Ave, Alamosa 5250 B. Highway 285, Antonito n : www. FO DAR 877-726-RAIL (7245) 888-CUMBRES (286-2737) n O VISIT www.coloradotrain.com www.cumbrestoltec.com . n , COM S SPECIAL CALE n [email protected] The Rio Grande Scenic Railroad excursion train ride takes TRAI FULL you through breathtaking mountain valleys and passes The Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad is a proud remnant A through charming and historic western towns from the heart of the spirit that won the West. Built in 1880, it was part EVE GET of the San Juan Extension of the Denver & Rio Grande n O T T it was centuries ago. Relive the golden age of railroads and Railroads, with tracks running from Denver through the ore discover a Colorado few get to see. - rich Rocky Mountains to Silverton, Colorado and Santa Fe, New Mexico. Its path, through steep passes and deep Excursion trains offer a great seat any day of the week. Pick gorges was an engineering feat for the time. the class of service and prepare to discover a ride full of train history, mining tales, wildlife sightings, and geology. Come see why USA Today named the RGSRR a Top Ten vital role. It was abandoned in 1969, but the most scenic Ride. part of its route, its equipment, and its buildings were saved. For a truly memorable experience buy a ticket aboard the Today, as the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad, the train annual Rails and Ales Brewfest or enjoy a concert like no other atop La Veta Pass at the Fir Amphitheatre. Exciting ride of a lifetime. acts for 2014 include Michael Martin Murphy, Juice Newton, and the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. Tickets can be purchased online at www.coloradotrain.com. Regular season runs docents to take you on this journey of history, scenery, and Memorial Day weekend through the end of September. machinery ... as it was over 130 years ago, as it is today. 6 Official Alamosa Visitors Guide www.alamosa.org | 1-800-BLU-SKYS 7 FOR MORE InFO On OUR ACTIVITIES VISIT; ACTIVITIES www.ALAMOSA.ORG/THInGS-TO-DO/OUTDOOR-ACTIVITIES Splashland Hot Springs 5895 Hwy 17, Alamosa 719-589-6307 Enjoy the warmth of this geothermal outdoor swimming pool that has been an important part of the history of Alamosa. Splashland was built in 1955 and has been a local favorite ever since. Recently remodeled and upgraded, Splashland is a great place to take the family to enjoy a lazy, summer afternoon. Splashland offers a concession stand and is conveniently located just a mile north of Alamosa on Highway 17. Sand Dunes Swimming Pool Cattails Golf Course 1991 County Rd. 63, Hooper 6615 River Drive, Alamosa 719-378-2807 719-589-9515 www.sanddunespool.com www.alamosacattails.com This family-owned, natural artesian pool features 150,000 Cattails Golf Course is a unique 18-hole, par 71 course that gallons of remarkably clear, odorless natural hot springs winds through tall old cottonwood trees and cattail wetlands, with water that maintains a temperature between 98 and 100 spectacular views of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. The course degrees. The Sand Dunes Swimming Pool also includes a is noted for its 12th hole, a challenging par 4 featuring a water 25-person therapy pool (105 to 107 degrees), a covered baby pool, hazard off the tee, a dogleg, then another water hazard. It has been and an award winning (yes, really!) concession stand, featuring featured in The Golf Bible as one of two “best courses to play for organic produce from on-site greenhouses. Enjoy family fun and a under $50” in Colorado. Take State Avenue North through Alamosa. relaxed atmosphere amid the amazing scenery of the Great Sand After crossing the Rio Grande, watch for the entrance on your left. Dunes National Park and the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Suits, towels and toys are available for rent. Travel one mile North of Hooper on Highway 17, turn right and follow that road for 2 more Fork (www.theriograndeclub.com, 719-873-1995) and the Monte miles. Closed Thursdays. Vista Golf Club, in Monte Vista (www.monte-vistagolfclub.com 719-852-4906).