Monte Vista 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.
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
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:
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:
Waterfalls:
- Treasure Falls (59mi)
- Zepata Falls (44mi)
Wildlife:
- Colorado Gator Farm (29mi)
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