DOCSLIB.ORG

3 Days in the San Luis Valley & Great Sand Dunes

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
3 Days in the San Luis Valley & Great Sand Dunes Published on Colorado.com (https://www.colorado.com) 3 Days in the San Luis Valley & Great Sand Dunes 3 days More Itineraries The meandering Rio Grande River snakes through a vast valley ringed by dramatic mountains and laden with hidden lakes, waterfalls and cool summertime temperatures. Explore the small towns and attractions tucked away in this intriguing area. Sustainability Activity How to Give Back to These Special Places: Donate to the Rio Grande Headwaters Land Trust who believes that land and water conservation contribute to sustaining the vitality of this agricultural heritage and economy, the exceptional wildlife habitat, the scenic beauty and the area's rural quality of life. Day 1 ACTIVITY Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve Because the dunes and surrounding mountains are designated wilderness, this is a great place to enjoy unspoiled natural beauty in a variety of ways. Whether you play in Medano Creek, build a sand... COTREX Map the Trail LUNCH Great Sand Dunes Oasis The Oasis Restaurant and Store, located at the main park entrance, is the only restaurant within 25 miles of Great Sand Dunes National Park. ACTIVITY Zapata Falls Recreation Area Cut from the rock face by glaciers and scoured by millennia of rushing water, cold water crashes through a 30 ft. cleft in the rock walls. The falls are a half-mile hike from the parking area,... COTREX Map the Trail DINNER San Luis Valley Brewing Offers the finest in craft brews and fine food in an inviting atmosphere. ACTIVITY Sand Dunes Recreation A family friendly oasis in the San Luis Valley. Large family pool maintained at 98 degrees, 25-person hot tub, 2 on-site restaurants, gift shop, The Greenhouse, an adults-only tropical escape... LODGING Best Western Alamosa Inn Beautiful newly remodeled hotel with many amenities. Day 2 BREAKFAST Campus Café Campus Cafe is the local favorite. American food, amazing breakfasts, you have to try the cinnnamon roll! Great lunch menu too. ACTIVITY Fort Garland Museum & Cultural Center Fort Garland was built in 1858 during US expansion into the West. Visitors can explore life in an 1800s Army fort including five original adobe buildings. Learn about the Buffalo Soldiers of the... LUNCH All-Gon Pizza Located in the heart of historic Fort Garland, our family-owned restaurant is known for fine dining, delicious home-style cooking, and comfy rustic hospitality. ACTIVITY Shrine of the Stations of the Cross Built as an act of faith and love for the parishioners of the Sangre de Cristo Parish. Visitors can climb the half-mile trail to view fifteen bronze sculptures of Christ's passion and... DINNER Mi Taquito A hidden gem here in Alamosa, Mi Taquito is directly behind Calvillo's Restaurant off of Main Street. It's a quaint spot that's serving up authentic Mexican dish's like flautas, tacos, and burritos... ACTIVITY Alamosa National Wildlife Refuge In the heart of the arid San Luis Valley lies a birdwatchers paradise. Lush wetlands provide year-round habitat for songbirds, water birds, coyotes, deer and other wildlife. In March and September,... COTREX Map the Trail LODGING Best Western Alamosa Inn Beautiful newly remodeled hotel with many amenities. Day 3 BREAKFAST Don Tomas Bakery Known for amazing breakfast burritos and other delights. ACTIVITY Penitente Canyon Recreation Area, BLM Penitente Canyon is the site of rich geological and cultural history. Part of the La Garita Caldera, the unusual rock formations and hoodoos in the canyon have become a premier rock climbing... COTREX Map the Trail LUNCH Three Barrel Brewing Company One of Colorado's smallest microbreweries that's been in business for over 15 years. Located in the heart of Del Norte, Colorado, we that utilizes local ingredients in all beers and foods at the... ACTIVITY Rio Grande County Museum and Cultural Center See the cultural and natural history of the San Luis Valley. Home to the Del Norte Visitors' Center. DINNER Boogie's Restaurant We are known for our great food, fast service and friendly folks! Come check our our giant cinnamon rolls for breakfast, daily specials or join us for the big game. We hope to see you soon! ACTIVITY Bistro BARbara at the Windsor Hotel Bistro BARbara is a warm, inviting bar where you can relax with old friends and make new ones. We serve handcrafted cocktails and a locally driven menu seven days a week. LODGING Windsor Hotel & Dining Room Nestled at the base of the picturesque San Juan Mountains, Del Norte, Colorado has a rich history from the gold and silver boom town days of the 1800's. The Windsor Hotel established in 1874 is... Hello World. Source URL: https://www.colorado.com/colo-road-trips/3-days-san-luis-valley-great-sand-dunes.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Birding & Nature at Zapata Ranch
    Birding & Nature at Zapata Ranch With Naturalist Journeys & Caligo Ventures A Celebrity Tour with Ted Floyd June 13 – 20, 2021 866.900.1146 800.426.7781 520.558.1146 [email protected] www.naturalistjourneys.com or find us on Facebook at Naturalist Journeys, LLC Naturalist Journeys, LLC | Caligo Ventures PO Box 16545 Portal, AZ 85632 PH: 520.558.1146 | 866.900.1146 Fax 650.471.7667 naturalistjourneys.com | caligo.com [email protected] | [email protected] Tour Summary Tour Highlights 8-Day / 7-Night Colorado Birding Tour • UNPLUG! Be inspired as you bird—this remote With Ted Floyd & Pat Lueders location gives a sense of unlimited space and quiet, $3995, from Western City of Your Choice so rare in today’s world (see travel details) • Visit wildlife refuges to find Western Grebe, White- faced ibis, Cinnamon Teal, Yellow-headed Blackbird, NEW! Join Naturalist Journeys’ first celebrity Virginia Rail, and Black-crowned Night-Heron tour with renowned birder and author Ted • Watch Great Horned Owl fledglings learn about life Floyd. Ted is widely known as the editor of the in the grand cottonwood trees that surround the American Birding Association’s magazine ranch and look for Elk with their young in the sage Birding. Ted has authored several books and is • See Common Nighthawk display at dusk, listen to a familiar to many having been the k eynote chorus of Coyote song, then marvel at stars so speaker at a variety of birding festivals. This brilliant in the dark skies exciting new Naturalist Journeys’ tour invites • Enjoy an optional, gentle horseback ride with you to spend a week with Ted to explore the stunning views; enjoy western meals, perhaps some San Luis Valley in southern Colorado from The music and fun (experienced riders can request more Nature Conservancy’s Zapata Ranch.
    [Show full text]
  • 2017 Places to Go Camping
    Camping Additional Sources for Camping Information 100 pages Day hikes Fourteeners Weekend camping 40 pages Extended Activities Helpful Tools High Adventure Camps Colorado Council Camps Nebraska Cross Country Skiing Wyoming Camping Categories Paid Campsites Primitive Camping Camps Requiring Longer Camps with Cabins Distance Travel Paid Campsites Meeker Park Overflow Boulder Ranger District Roosevelt National Forest Open/Closed: Reduced-service camping is generally available mid-June until the first weekend after Labor Day, weather permitting. Reservations Accepted: All campsites are available on a first-come, first-served basis. No campsites are available for reservations. Sites: There are 29 sites; a maximum of 8 people are allowed per site. Elevation: 8,600 feet. Maximum Vehicle Length: 30 feet. Daily fee: Campsite fees are $6.00 per day, with an additional fee of $3.00 per day for a second vehicle. Location: The campground is on the west side of Highway 7 at mile-marker 11, approximately 13 miles south of Estes Park, or 10 miles north of the Highways 72 and 7 intersections, (approximately 21 miles west-northwest of Lyons). Amenities: Fire rings, vault toilets and trash services are provided. There are no picnic tables, grills, electrical hook-ups, dump stations, drinking water stations or showers. Trip Notes: Although not a full-service campground, Meeker Park Overflow tends to fill up early, due to its proximity to Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park. Longs Peak Trail Head is approximately 2 miles north of the campground, and the Wild Basin Ranger Station is approximately 3 miles south. Meeker Park Overflow is more suited for tent camping than trailers or RV's, due to the unpaved roads, steep hills, and short pull-ins.
    [Show full text]
  • RV Sites in the United States Location Map 110-Mile Park Map 35 Mile
    RV sites in the United States This GPS POI file is available here: https://poidirectory.com/poifiles/united_states/accommodation/RV_MH-US.html Location Map 110-Mile Park Map 35 Mile Camp Map 370 Lakeside Park Map 5 Star RV Map 566 Piney Creek Horse Camp Map 7 Oaks RV Park Map 8th and Bridge RV Map A AAA RV Map A and A Mesa Verde RV Map A H Hogue Map A H Stephens Historic Park Map A J Jolly County Park Map A Mountain Top RV Map A-Bar-A RV/CG Map A. W. Jack Morgan County Par Map A.W. Marion State Park Map Abbeville RV Park Map Abbott Map Abbott Creek (Abbott Butte) Map Abilene State Park Map Abita Springs RV Resort (Oce Map Abram Rutt City Park Map Acadia National Parks Map Acadiana Park Map Ace RV Park Map Ackerman Map Ackley Creek Co Park Map Ackley Lake State Park Map Acorn East Map Acorn Valley Map Acorn West Map Ada Lake Map Adam County Fairgrounds Map Adams City CG Map Adams County Regional Park Map Adams Fork Map Page 1 Location Map Adams Grove Map Adelaide Map Adirondack Gateway Campgroun Map Admiralty RV and Resort Map Adolph Thomae Jr. County Par Map Adrian City CG Map Aerie Crag Map Aeroplane Mesa Map Afton Canyon Map Afton Landing Map Agate Beach Map Agnew Meadows Map Agricenter RV Park Map Agua Caliente County Park Map Agua Piedra Map Aguirre Spring Map Ahart Map Ahtanum State Forest Map Aiken State Park Map Aikens Creek West Map Ainsworth State Park Map Airplane Flat Map Airport Flat Map Airport Lake Park Map Airport Park Map Aitkin Co Campground Map Ajax Country Livin' I-49 RV Map Ajo Arena Map Ajo Community Golf Course Map
    [Show full text]
  • Rocky Mountain Birds: Birds and Birding in the Central and Northern Rockies
    University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln Zea E-Books Zea E-Books 11-4-2011 Rocky Mountain Birds: Birds and Birding in the Central and Northern Rockies Paul A. Johnsgard University of Nebraska - Lincoln, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/zeabook Part of the Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Commons, and the Poultry or Avian Science Commons Recommended Citation Johnsgard, Paul A., "Rocky Mountain Birds: Birds and Birding in the Central and Northern Rockies" (2011). Zea E-Books. 7. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/zeabook/7 This Book is brought to you for free and open access by the Zea E-Books at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in Zea E-Books by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. ROCKY MOUNTAIN BIRDS Rocky Mountain Birds Birds and Birding in the Central and Northern Rockies Paul A. Johnsgard School of Biological Sciences University of Nebraska–Lincoln Zea E-Books Lincoln, Nebraska 2011 Copyright © 2011 Paul A. Johnsgard. ISBN 978-1-60962-016-5 paperback ISBN 978-1-60962-017-2 e-book Set in Zapf Elliptical types. Design and composition by Paul Royster. Zea E-Books are published by the University of Nebraska–Lincoln Libraries. Electronic (pdf) edition available online at http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/zeabook/ Print edition can be ordered from http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/unllib Contents Preface and Acknowledgments vii List of Maps, Tables, and Figures x 1. Habitats, Ecology and Bird Geography in the Rocky Mountains Vegetational Zones and Bird Distributions in the Rocky Mountains 1 Climate, Landforms, and Vegetation 3 Typical Birds of Rocky Mountain Habitats 13 Recent Changes in Rocky Mountain Ecology and Avifauna 20 Where to Search for Specific Rocky Mountain Birds 26 Synopsis of Major Birding Locations in the Rocky Mountains Region U.S.
    [Show full text]
  • Statewide Strategies to Improve Effectiveness in Protecting and Restoring Colorado's Wetland Resource
    Statewide Strategies to Improve Effectiveness in Protecting and Restoring Colorado’s Wetland Resource Including the Rio Grande Headwaters Pilot Wetland Condition Assessment July 2011 Colorado Natural Heritage Program Colorado State University Fort Collins, CO 80523 Statewide Strategies to Improve Effectiveness in Protecting and Restoring Colorado’s Wetland Resource Including the Rio Grande Headwaters Pilot Wetland Condition Assessment Prepared for: Colorado Parks and Wildlife Wetland Wildlife Conservation Program 317 West Prospect Fort Collins, CO 80526 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 8. 1595 Wynkoop Street Denver, CO 80202 Prepared by: Joanna Lemly, Laurie Gilligan, and Michelle Fink Colorado Natural Heritage Program Warner College of Natural Resources Colorado State University Fort Collins, Colorado 80523 In collaboration with Brian Sullivan, Grant Wilcox, and Chris Johnson Colorado Parks and Wildlife Cover photographs: All photos taken by Colorado Natural Heritage Program Staff. Copyright © 2011 Colorado State University Colorado Natural Heritage Program All Rights Reserved Statewide Strategies to Improve Effectiveness in Protecting and Restoring Colorado’s Wetland Resource EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Wetland Wildlife Conservation Program is a voluntary, incentive-based program established by Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) to protect wetlands and wetland-dependent wildlife on public and private land. To date, much of the Program’s work has been based on local priorities and/or opportunities. Although the Program has made
    [Show full text]
  • Visitor Guide and Preserve Web Version
    Great Sand Dunes National Park Visitor Guide and Preserve Web Version Welcome to one of the world’s most diverse national parks! Golden cottonwood and aspen trees color the Montville Trail each fall. Inset photos, from left: Check out a dunes wheelchair at the Visitor Center (see page 2 for more accessible options); Medano Creek provides a natural beach environment for all ages in spring; Lower Sand Creek Lake in mid-summer offers an experience quite different from the dunes. 2-3 4-5 6 Getting Exploring Natural Started Your Park Wonders ¡Bienvenidos! Suggested trails, Other nearby San Luis Valley features Information you’ll destinations, and time including Zapata need to prepare for planning for your trip. Falls, Blanca Peak, your visit. Facilities, Color map, photos, South Zapata Lake, camping, programs, distances, and national wildlife and local services. average travel times refuges, and nearby Información en are included. wetlands. español, página 2. For Your Safety Weather The weather changes rapidly at Great Sand Dunes; be prepared! Storms and cold temperatures can occur any time of year. If you see a thunderstorm approaching, get off the dunes immediately. Lightning strikes can be fatal. For general weather information, see page 2. Hot Sand On summer afternoons, the sand surface can reach 140°F (60° C). Bring closed shoes, and be careful with your pets’ feet. Hike the dunes early morning or evening during summer. Although the sand surface can become hot, summer daytime highs are typically in the low 80s F (upper 20s C). Wildlife Never feed wild animals. It is unhealthy for them, and dangerous to you.
    [Show full text]
  • 1 Comments on the Draft Revised Plan and Draft
    COMMENTS ON THE DRAFT REVISED PLAN AND DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT FOR THE RIO GRANDE NATIONAL FOREST TABLE OF CONTENTS I. INTRODUCTION 3 II. RECOMMEND ADDITIONAL AREAS FOR WILDERNESS DESIGNATION 3 III. PROPOSED SPECIAL INTEREST AREAS AND RESEARCH NATURAL AREAS 27 IV. ENSURE PROTECTION OF COLORADO ROADLESS AREAS 50 V. PROTECT SPECIES OF CONSERVATION CONCERN AND OTHER AT-RISK SPECIES 53 VI. THE PROPOSED MANAGEMENT DIRECTION IN THE DRAFT REVISED PLAN IS UNACCEPTABLY WEAK 92 VII. THE TIMBER SUITABILITY AND SALE QUANTITY ANALYSES NEED CORRECTION 116 VIII. SUITABILITY FOR OIL AND GAS LEASING SHOULD BE DETERMINED FOR ALL ALTERNATIVES, AND LEASE STIPULATIONS MUST BE STATED FOR MANAGEMENT AREAS WHERE LEASING WOULD BE ALLOWED 123 IX. PROBLEMS WITH THE ANALYSIS OF LIVESTOCK GRAZING 127 X. MONITORING 129 XI. THE PLAN AND DEIS MUST COMPREHENSIVELY ANALYZE THE POTENTIAL EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE AND PROVIDE PLAN COMPONENTS FOR MITIGATING THESE EFFECTS. 130 XII. PROHIBIT OFF-ROAD MOTORIZED GAME RETRIEVAL 143 XIII. THE PLAN MUST PROVIDE FOR SUSTAINABLE RECREATION 148 1 XIV. AN ADDITIONAL RIVER SEGMENT NEEDS TO BE ANALYZED FOR ELIGIBILITY UNDER THE WILD AND SCENIC RIVERS ACT 168 XV. SOCIO-ECONOMIC ISSUES 173 XVI. ADDITIONAL CONCERNS 176 CONCLUSION 177 LIST OF EXHIBITS 178 REFERENCES 179 APPENDIX 1 SNAGS AND DOWN WOOD 190 2 I. INTRODUCTION We are pleased to see the following in the draft revised Plan and DEIS: --inclusion of alternative D, which is similar to the alternative we submitted as part of our scoping comments; --the proposed addition of a standard to the Southern Rockies Lynx Amendment, acknowledging that lynx are still using stands with substantial spruce mortality; and --the recommendation of some areas for wilderness designation.
    [Show full text]
  • Get the Creative Juices Flowing for the Day?S Adventure
    Published on Colorado.com (https://www.colorado.com) Uncovering History of the Mystic San Luis Valley 5 days More Itineraries Get ready to take the kiddos' learning to new heights with Colo-Road Trips Educational Itineraries, trips crafted with plenty of hands-on learning, educational adventures and, of course, stops for ice cream. Each was designed with kids from kindergarten to 5th grade in mind, but the activities, outings and accommodations will be enjoyed by children of all ages ? yes, that?s you Mom and Dad. Supplement your trip with trivia, educational videos and games ? or just hop in the car and go! Explore the Mystic San Luis Valley on this epic road trip. Along the way, you'll drive along scenic byways, pop into museums, visit a state park and animal refuge and spot a ton of sand too. Traverse through Walsenburg, La Veta, Fort Garland, Alamosa, Monte Vista, Del Norte, Lake City and Creede. Get more educational Colo-Road Trips >> Grab Your Supplies Grab Your Supplies While all that is truly needed is your kid's sense of adventure, a notebook, a writing utensil and plenty of colored pencils will come in handy. Day 1 ACTIVITY Get Your Hike On: Lathrop State Park Opened in 1962, Colorado?s first state park offers stunning views of Spanish Peaks, Greenhorn Mountain and Pikes Peak. With two lakes, three hiking trails and many varieties of plants, Lathrop State Park is a must- visit. COTREX Map the Trail Educational Activity Educational Activity Get Your Hike On Hiking at Lathrop State Park is a way to connect to a place, hone observation skills and get some energy out! Get Activity.
    [Show full text]
  • The Ultimate National Park Resource Guide
    The Ultimate Tri ppers' Road National Park Resource Guide ACADIA NATIONAL PARK, MAINE Covering most of Mount Desert Island and other coastal islands, Acadia features the tallest mountain on the Atlantic coast of the United States, granite peaks, ocean shoreline, woodlands, and lakes. There are freshwater, estuary, forest, and intertidal habitats Campgrounds around Acadia National Park ** If you’re looking for boondocking options any of the parks pullouts can be used for ​ overnighting. ​ BOONDOCKING OPTIONS Blackwoods Campground Blackwoods Campground is located on the east side of Mount Desert Island, off Maine State Route 3 in Acadia National Park. Address: 155 Blackwoods Drive, Otter Creek, ME 04660 Area: 160 acres Phone: (207) 288-3274 Mount Desert Campground Address: 516 Sound Dr, Mt Desert, ME 04660 Phone: (207) 244-3710 Somes Sound View Campground Address: 5 Spinnaker Way, Mt Desert, ME 04660 Phone: (207) 244-3890 Seawall Campground Seawall Campground is a campground in Acadia National Park on Mount Desert Island off the coast of Maine. The campground offers four loops of campsites, including "drive-up" sites suitable for RVs and trailers, as well as walk-in tent-only campsites, and is open from late May into October. Address: 668 Seawall Rd, Southwest Harbor, ME 04679 Area: 120 acres Phone: (207) 244-3600 Smugglers’ Den Campground Address: 20 Main St, Southwest Harbor, ME 04679 Phone: (207) 244-3944 Schoodic Woods Campground Address: 54 Far View Dr, Winter Harbor, ME 04693 Phone: (207) 288-3338 Quietside Campground Address: 397 Tremont Rd, Bernard, ME 04612 Phone: (207) 244-0566 Arches National Park, Utah Arches National Park lies north of Moab in the state of Utah.
    [Show full text]
  • The Coolest Bird: a Natural History of the Black Swift and Those Who
    The Coolest Bird A Natural History of the Black Swift and Those Who Have Pursued It Rich Levad ~ 2007 ~ © 2010 American Birding Association. ~ Table of Contents ~ Foreward . .4 Acknowledgements . .6 1. Hawk Creek Falls, Colorado: A glimpse of things to come. 8 2. Semiahoo Bay, Washington: A new bird . 11 3. California’s Santa Cruz Coast: The first nest . 14 4. Johnston Canyon, Alberta: First inland nest site . 19 5. California: Charles and Enid Michaels at Yosemite . 22 6. California: Emily Smith and Berry Creek Falls . 27 7. California: Sequoia & King’s Canyon National Parks & San Jacinto Mountains . 31 8. Colorado: Niagara and Cataract Gulches . 34 9. Colorado: Al Knorr—more and more . 39 10. Arizona . 47 11. New Mexico . 53 12. Utah . 56 13. Southern California . 60 14. Northern Rocky Mountains: Montana, Idaho, Alberta . 67 15. NW Pacific Coast: British Columbia, Washington, Oregon . 73 16. Colorado post-Knorr: 1958-1996. 80 17. Colorado: Sue Hirshman and Box Canyon Falls . 87 18. Colorado 1995-1997 . 90 19. Colorado 1998 . 95 20. Colorado 1999-2000 . 102 21. Colorado: 2001-2002 . 107 22. Colorado and New Mexico 2003-2006 . 116 23. Following through in the Southern Rockies . 120 24. Recent events in the North . 125 25. The Southerners . 132 26. Today and Tomorrow . 136 Conservation Issues . 142 Bibliography . 149 3 ~ Foreword ~ y husband, Rich, was somewhat of a late comer to the hobby of bird watching; it was ducks that first lured him. He hunted them. In Colorado heavy fines can be levied for possessing certain Mspecies of ducks, so it pays to know the difference.
    [Show full text]
  • South Fork Recreation & Activity Guide: Post Fire 2013
    Trains: Monte Vista: Spanish for Mountain View, is a histor- Are you feeling a bit nos- ic, lively city located in the heart of the San Luis Valley. In talgic, looking for a way every direction you are sur- For a step back in time, to experience history, rounded by some of Colora- spend an evening with the culture and beauty all at dos’s magnificent 14,000 ft. family at the DRIVE–IN. once? Then take a trip peaks. Throughout the year Movies are played throughout the summer on on one of three highly visitors can see historic build- two giant screens! rated trains found in the San Luis ings and homes and participate Valley. Most trips will be full days com- in one of a kind events like the annual Crane Festival in plete with lunch stops, however some shorter options March, and Colorado’s Oldest Professional Rodeo in July. are available. If you are looking for a way to experience Drive-In-Movie Theater, Golf Course, Wildlife Refuge, Rodeo the beauty and of the mountains, but don't feel like driv- Motels, B & B’s, RV sties ing, sit back and relax as the engines pull you up the hills Great Restaurants & Unique Shops and around the mountains to some of the best secluded www.monte-vista.org vistas in the state. Denver & Rio Grande Rio Grande Scenic Cumbres & Toltec Del Norte: Where mankind and mother Nature South Fork Alamosa Antonito make history. Visitors are often attracted to the natural th Daily Service from Daily Service from Daily Service from and rugged beauty of Del Norte.
    [Show full text]
  • Quaternary Geology of Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, Southern Colorado
    Frontispiece, Chapter A. Autumn view of the dunes and Sangre de Cristo Mountains from Zapata Falls Recreation Area. National Park Service photograph by Patrick Myers. Chapter A — Quaternary Geology of Great Sand Dunes 3 Chapter A — Field Trip Day 1 Quaternary Geology of Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, Southern Colorado By Andrew Valdez, Steve Forman, Richard Madole, James McCalpin, Michael Machette, Randy Schumann, Mike Rupert, Shannon Mahan, and Fred Bunch Orientation for Day 1 — Friday, Sept. 7, 2006 CHAPTER A Speakers: Michael Machette and Fred Bunch clay layer. If this clay is from Lake Alamosa Location: Dunes parking lot, Great Sand Dunes National Park (discussed on day 2), then the eolian system and Preserve may have been initiated by the lake retreat 1.1 road mi (1.8 km) southwest of Pinyon Flats (see cover photo) and been a continuous Campground feature since. 0.9 road mi (1.4 km) northwest of the Park’s Visitor The trip begins at the terminal end of Center the eolian system, the main dune field of Zapata Ranch 7.5' quadrangle Great Sand Dunes (fig A–2), proceeds up the GPS: NAD27, Zone 13, 454450 m E., 4176800 m N. wind gradient into an extensive playa system, Elevation: 8,060 ft and then heads south where eolian sand thins Welcome to the 2007 Rocky Mountain Section Friends and stream erosion has exposed some peat of the Pleistocene (FOP) field trip to the San Luis Basin. An deposits. NPS geologist Andrew Valdez will introduction to this year’s FOP trip will be presented by field present an overview of the eolian system trip organizer Michael Machette (USGS) and we’ll discuss and the geologic processes that influence its some basic aspects of field trip logistics and our general development.
    [Show full text]