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Update Late Summer 2008: It was a beautiful time of the year to visit the San Luis Valley. There were lots of wild flowers blooming and valley was very green with pretty fall colors! We stopped and had breakfast in Blanca before heading out to explore land - I'd go back! It was a pretty drive down to San Luis with lots of crops and flowers. I saw the horses of Wild Horse Mesa for my first time just south of San Luis - stunning! We checked out the Rio Grande River flows just to the west of the Rio Grande Ranchos and then headed on down to Taos which is about an hour south. I sure wish I had more time to spend there! Enjoy the photos! Char the Explorer : )

A beautiful sunset over the Sangre de Cristo Mountains - the clouds made a brilliant display!

Cute restaurant we stopped at in Blanca.

October 2007: It was a beautiful time of year with the fall colors and big stacks of hay as we drove from Alamosa to Fort Garland and on down to San Luis. Fort Garland has some cute restaurants/stores and is a bustling stop along the highway.

We saw the new 82 acre solar plant 17 miles north of Alamosa. Mosca-SunEdison is now operating the first solar-power plant in the State of Colorado and is producing power in the San Luis Valley. The plant is expected to produce enough energy for 1500 homes. Other companies are also looking to locate solar plants in the San Luis Valley since it is rated as having the best solar conditions in the state.

Spring 2007 We made a quick visit to the Alamosa area in early spring to explore land in the Sangre de Cristo Ranches. The busy town of Alamosa continues to grow with a new bank being put in next to the Holiday Inn.

One of the locals out enjoying the early morning and the beautiful snowcapped Sangre de Cristo Mountains making a beautiful backdrop over Fort Garland. Once comanded by the legendary Kit Carson it served to protect the early settlers with over 100 men. We often find buses parked out front and the yard filled with school children as you can see in the two pictures taken in 2006. Fort Garland is actually located in Costilla County but the busy town of Alamosa sits to the west 25 miles.

The majestic Blanca Peak and Trinchera Peak from the Sangre de Cristo Ranches. The reeds along the creek were a beautiful show of red!

We then journeyed down the San Luis Valley and as we came down into the top of New Mexico we were greeted by some beautiful elk. We see all kinds of animals as we travel but seldom do we get an opportunity to photograph these! In fact this might be the first ones! They were preparing to cross the county road and quickly raced away as we slowed down. These big animals can really move!

Mt. Blanca with Blanca Peak in early spring!

A sunset near Alamosa and Blanca Peak in the Sangre de Cristo range of the Rocky Mountains!

Downtown Alamosa with Popeye's Restaurant, Walmart and a beautiful baby colt.

Alamosa National Wildlife Refuge.

Some of the locals visiting their favorite drinking establishment!

Some farms in Alamosa County.

A close up of Blanca Peak and a beautiful sunset over the Great Sand Dunes.

These pictures were taken a few hours northwest from Alamosa near Gunnison and Montrose of the Curecanti National Rec Area. There area has very interesting rock formations and a beautiful days drive if you're looking for something to do!

The movie theatre in Alamosa at night and the fall colors of Mt Blanca in September 2005!

In September 2005 we caught early morning riders boarding the Cumbres Toltec Scenic Railroad in Antonito. The ride takes you through the Conejos County high country, through two tunnels and along the Toltec Gorge offering scenic views of the Sangre de Cristo and San Juan Mountain ranges.

In late February 2006 we saw a bit of snow on Blanca Peak, a landmark peak that can be seen across the San Luis Valley for miles. The locals told me they hadn't received much snow this year and I was surprised to see how little snow was on it. The other pictures are of the Great Sand Dunes, Walmart and the newly opened Holiday Inn Express.

Alamosa County is nestled high in the Rocky Mountains in the Sangre de Cristo Range. The hub city in the San Luis Valley and the county seat, Alamosa is a beautiful small town of about 8775. Click here for the location of Alamosa. The valley sits at an elevation of 7544 feet. The high plains and flat valleys stretch for 722 square miles and is surrounded by the Sangre de Cristo mountain range to the east and the San Juan mountain range to the west. the Rio Grande River originates in the San Juan Mountains and flows through the San Luis Valley. Here you will also find Blanca Peak. At 14,345 feet it is the 4th highest peak in Colorado!

Alamosa boasts an average of 325 sunny days per year! Summers are considered mild with daytime temperatures occasionally reaching 90 and cool summer evenings. Winters are cold with average snowfall about 40 inches. The mountain passes are well maintained through the San Luis Valley and are all weather roads. I've had the chance to visit this area a few times now and each time have been lucky to see the beautiful sunsets Alamosa is known for.

There is much to do in Alamosa. It is home to the Great Sand Dunes, Blanca Wetlands, and Blanca Peak. Blanca Wetlands provides ponds, marshes, and wet meadows to a host of wildlife. This area is closed during nesting season to protect the animals, but otherwise offers a spectacular place to watch wildlife, hike trails, hunt and fish. We had a chance to visit the habitat last spring and here are a few pictures of it as well as a map showing its location, pictures: 1 2 3 4 . The internet offers many websites dedicated to outdoor activities in this area: climbing Mt. Blanca, riding quads, hiking, biking, fishing and hunting deer, elk, antelope, waterfowl and rabbits.

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