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Alamosa

On a clear, blue-sky day, the Great Sand Dunes are shadowed in the background with Medano Creek flowing in the middle. In the foreground scrubby green trees, grasses and bushes are basking in the sun.

Discover Alamosa and all it has to offer, from authentic local cuisine to historic train rides through the Rocky Mountains. The area is home to the mystifying Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, a vast outdoor playground nestled between two vast mountain ranges — the San Juan Mountains and the Sangre de Cristo Mountains.

 

Watch: Outdoor recreation in the San Luis Valley

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Group of sand dunes at Great Sand Dunes National Park. The sky is blue with the sun shining and there are white clouds. In the background are snow-capped towering mountains.
The Star Dune at Great Sand Dunes National Park Near Alamosa
Woman sand boards on a sand dune in Great Sand Dunes National Park with snow-capped mountains in the background. The sky is blue.
Sandboarding at Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve
In the left of the image on a dirt trail, two bicyclists are cycling toward the camera in the distance. On the right, a green valley with trees, a blue sky with lots of white cloud coverage.
Biking Trails in Alamosa
Woman walks German Shepard dog near lake in Blanca Vista Park. There are snow-capped mountains in the background with a bright blue sky, green grass and glassy lake that shows the reflection of the mountains.
Blanca Vista Park in Alamosa
Downtown Alamosa is in the background with a planter of spring flowers in the foreground. It’s a blue sky day with a historic Masonic aHall in the background. There are lots of cars parked on the street.
Downtown Alamosa
Medano Creek, a naturally occurring spring that comes from snowmelt, is flowing through Great Sand Dunes National Park with sand dunes in the background and in the far back, towering mountains. On the right side of the image greenery blows in the wind on a slightly hazy blue-sky day.
Great Sand Dunes National Park Near Alamosa
On a cloudy, blue-sky summer day, the Rio Grande River is peacefully flowing with full green-leaved trees and grasses. Mount Blanca is in the background.
Views of Mount Blanca and the Rio Grande River in Alamosa
On a clear, blue-sky day, the Great Sand Dunes are shadowed in the background with Medano Creek flowing in the middle. In the foreground scrubby green trees, grasses and bushes are basking in the sun.
Great Sand Dunes National Park Near Alamosa
At the Alamosa National Wildlife Refuge, brown and yellow grasses three in a flowing waterway. The breeze has the grass swaying near a dirt road on the right side of the image. In the background with bright blue skies with a couple clouds hover over towering mountains.
Alamosa National Wildlife Refuge

Massive volcanic activity formed the San Juans, while continental upheaval formed the Sangre de Cristos; running between the ranges is the mighty Rio Grande.

Near the Great Sand Dunes, check out Zapata Falls. The falls were formed when South Zapata Creek wore a groove in the crystalline rocks of the Sangre de Cristos, allowing its water to spill onto the soft alluvial soils below. Over millennia, the creek has carved a dim, deep and narrow chasm through which water tum­bles some 30 feet. In the summer, the falls offer a cool respite; winter temperatures turn them into a giant ice sculpture. Explore more hiking trails in Alamosa.

Summer is an exceptional time to be outdoors in the San Luis Valley. Take in the music, crafts and food at the Summerfest on the Rio, share the adrenaline rush at the Alamosa Round-up Rodeo, or walk downtown to the Farmers Market for fresh local produce and more.

Additional Reading:
10 Things Your Family Will Love About Alamosa
An Adventure Guide to the Rio Grande River

Experience spectacular mountain views first-hand on the historic rails and machinery on the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad. But trains aren’t the only classic iron you can see in Alamosa. The Early Iron Festival each September showcases masterfully restored and modified hotrods and cars from all over. 

Fall and winter may bring lower temperatures, but not the end of activities in the valley. Fall is a great time for a road trip. While enjoying the colorful changing leaves, check out one of many museums and historical sites such as the Fort Garland Museum or Pike’s Stockade. In the winter, cross-country ski, snowmobile or snowshoe through pristine powder and witness the spectacular nature that envelopes the San Luis Valley.

Any time of year is a great time to visit Alamosa, Depending on when you visit, you can discover many of the treasures the San Luis Valley holds. Explore the inviting downtown, filled with great shopping and dining. Alamosa proudly offers over 35 restaurants, ranging from authentic Mexican and Thai cuisine to American cooking. Need a place to stay?  There are many lodging options in and around Alamosa, ranging from chain motels, locally owned properties and both public and commercial campgrounds.  

With sweeping views and copious sunshine, there is plenty to do in Alamosa. We boast well over 300 days of sunshine yearly, so bring your sunscreen! As you spend time here, you will begin to see the layers unfold that make Alamosa what it is today, from the early settlers who put this town together and the agricultural prowess that fuels a large part of the economy to that small-town exclusivity that makes you feel right at home.

More Alamosa Trip Ideas

Watch: Making Alamosa Your Home Base in the San Luis Valley

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Great Sand Dunes footprints
Visit Alamosa

It's nearly impossible to convey the beauty of Alamosa in words, so you're invited to come see with your own eyes, and experience what it truly means to get rooted in Alamosa.

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Mystic San Luis Valley
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