San Luis Valley

With a land area of close to 8,200 square miles, the San Luis
Valley is larger than the land mass of Rhode Island, Delaware
and Connecticut combined. This high elevation Valley
boasts claim to the title of largest alpine valley in North
America.

The Valley provides a home to the tallest dunes in North
America at Great Sand Dunes National Park. It lies in the
shadows of the towering Sangre de Cristo Mountains and
Mt. Blanca, the fourth tallest peak in Colorado. Within the
Valley’s watershed, high in the San Juan Mountains, snow
melt and rain give birth to the mighty Rio Grande, second
longest river in our nation.

The Valley floor sits at an average elevation of 7,500
feet. The flat terrain, rich soil, moderate summer temperatures
and abundant sunshine provide the foundation for the
Valley’s agriculturally-based economy. These same factors,
coupled with a lower cost of living than in many other parts
of Colorado, have attracted many retirees to the area.
Additionally, enjoying spectacular scenery is easy — just
look up. Tall mountain peaks surround the Valley. The Sangre
de Cristos, among the tallest mountain ranges in Colorado,
border the east side of the Valley. Themore gently rolling
La Garita Mountains border the north and northwest sides.
To the west, the San Juan Mountains provide the backdrop
for spectacular sunsets. Together, these mountain ranges
create a basin that stretches almost 125 miles from north to
south and 75 miles from east to west.

In spite of its size, the Valley never feels crowded. With
a population density of about six people per square mile,
there is plenty of open space. However, living in the Valley
doesn’t require one to give up all the amenities of big city
life. Alamosa, the Valley’s largest city, serves as the Valley’s
regional hub. There you will find the area’s largest hospital, a
regional airport, Adams State College, shopping opportunities
and more.

South Fork is 15 minutes west of Del Norte, about 30
minutes west of Monte Vista, and an hour drive from Alamosa.
If you must explore a larger town, Alamosa is within a
four hour drive of both Denver and Albuquerque.
It’s a great place. We hope you come to visit to experience
the beauty of our high valley and cool sunshine!!

Getting to the Valley
Primary road access to the Valley is provided by U.S. Highways
160 and 285. Colorado Highways 17, 149, 114 and 159
also provide access into the San Luis Valley. The Alamosa
Regional Airport provides air service to the Valley from Denver via
commuter flights. The flights are operated by Great Lakes Aviation
under United Airlines and Frontier Airlines. TNM&O coaches provides
bus access to and from the Valley from Albuquerque and Denver.

MORE INFORMATION

Alamosa

Antonito and Conejos County

San Luis, Ft. Garland and Costilla County

Creede and Mineral County

South Fork and Rio Grande County

Saguache

Learn More About Other Regions in Colorado's Frontier:
   Upper Arkansas
   Lower Arkansas
   North Front Range
   South Front Range
   San Luis Valley