Monte Vista, Colorado

Monte Vista, CO is one of the larger towns in the Great Sand Dunes area. There are numerous places to eat, sleep and shop in town.

Main Attractions

Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge – Four mile auto tour leads you through this scenic refuge. Whooping crane and sandhill crane migrate here annually before flying north.

Recreation

Camping:

• Rio Grande National Forest to the west offers numerous campgrounds and dispersed camping options.

Read about the Camping near Alamosa, Sand Dunes, and around the San Luis Valley.

Fishing:

• Terrace Reservoir is one of the closest lakes to town.​
• LaJara Reservoir State Wildlife Area is located about an hour and a half away.

Accommodations

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Special Events

Mar – Crane Festival – Witness 20,000 sandhill cranes migrate to the local wildlife refuge. It’s held annually in early March.

Aug – San Luis Valley Potato Festival – Summer Saturday honoring the San Luis Valley potatoes, which make some of the best spuds around.

Activities near Monte Vista

Federal Lands:

• Alamosa National Wildlife Refuge (22mi)
• Great Sand Dunes (48mi)
• La Garita Wilderness
• Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge
• Rio Grande National Forest

Hiking:

• Monte Vista Nature Trail

Hot Springs:

• Sand Dunes Pool (29mi)

Landmarks:

• UFO Watchtower (29mi)

State Wildlife Areas:

• LaJara Reservoir (47mi)
• Terrace Reservoir (22mi)

Towns:

• Alamosa (17mi)
• Antonito (42mi)
• Bountiful (32mi)
• Capulin (22mi)
• Chama, CO (62mi)
• Conejos (42mi)
• Creede (51mi)
• Del Norte (13mi)
• La Garita (23mi)
• La Jara (29mi)
• Manassa (39mi)
• Pagosa Springs (74mi)
• Romeo (36mi)
• Salida (80mi)
• Sanford (33mi)
• South Fork (32mi)

Transportation:

• San Luis Valley Regional Airport (ALS) (19mi)

Waterfalls:

• Treasure Falls (59mi)
• Zepata Falls (​44mi)

Wildlife:

• Colorado Gator Farm (29mi)

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