Area Attractions

Come and explore the tallest dunes in North America right here in the San Luis Valley. The Great Sand Dunes are very unique to the area and offers unique activites. Enjoy hiking, sledding, sand boarding and exploring. Rugged 13,000 ft. summits, alpine lakes, tundra and ancient forest are protected in the Great Sand Dunes National Preserve. Be sure to explore the grasslands, shrublands, and wetlands that surround the Great Sand Dunes. This makes a [...]

The town of Creede evolved from a history rich in mining and scenic surroundings. Silver was first discovered in Creede in 1889. Mining was the area’s main industry for almost 100 years until the Homestake Mining Company closed down the Bulldog Mine in 1985. The idea for the Underground Mining Museum was birthed in 1990 after an idea that Bob Louth proposed in 1976 for an underground fire station. Because the underground fire station [...]

Creede Repertory Theatre is the oldest repertory theatre in Colorado. This professional theatre company is located in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado. CRT’s award winning company produces the best of contemporary and classic theatre. Their season runs from the end of May through mid-September. CRT produces seven to ten plays a year and hosts numerous musical events and concerts. They also exhibit the best regional artists in its two lobby galleries. Click here [...]

The Alamosa National Wildlife Refuge, established in 1962, is 12,026 acres of uplands, riparian corridors, wet meadows and river oxbows, is a haven for migratory birds and other wildlife, and provides food and safe habitat. The wetland and river habitats provide a wildlife oasis in this dry region. The A-NWR supports a variety of wildlife including songbirds, water birds, raptors like hawks and eagles, deer, beavers, coyotes and more. The west side of the [...]

Established in 1952, the Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge is 14,804 acres of artificially created yet intensively managed fields and wetlands to provide habitat for a wide variety of waterfowl and other water loving birds. Common varieties seen are mallards, teal and Canada geese, pintails, killdeer, egrets and herons, to name a few. A network of wells and irrigation canals provide precious water to maintain the wetland habitat. Every March nearly 20,000 Sandhill Cranes [...]

Beautiful scenery and historic markers await travelers along the Bachelor Loop route north of Creede. The loop is one of the many ways historic Creede acknowledges and embraces its past as a mining town and the continuation of the mining industry in town. Maps are available around Creede and are made by the Creede/Mineral County Chamber of Commerce to help people spot important and interesting sites along the 17 mile drive around Bachelor Loop. [...]

The Silver Thread Scenic Byway has been designated as a U.S. Forest Service National Scenic Byway and connects Creede, Lake City, and South Fork. Silver Thread gets its name not only from the rich veins of silver ore that lured many miners and settlers, but also from the route that weaves along spectacular river canyons and passes over the Continental Divide. Immerse yourself into the amazing beauty of the San Juan Mountains as you [...]

Chimney Rock became the 103rd National Monument in September 2012. This national monument sits on 4,726 acres of the San Juan National Forest and borders the Southern Ute Indian Reservation. This gem is an intimate, off-the-beaten-path archaeological site that will have you waling in the footsteps of the Ancestral Puebloans of the Chaco Canyon. Enjoy Archaeological ruins and artifacts, abundant wildlife, and of course the breathtaking San Juan National Forest. It truly is a [...]

We have the place for you! Experience over 300 live alligators high in the Colorado Mountains. Colorado Gator Farm started out their 87 degree Geo Thermal water ecosystem raising Tilapia fish for market in 1977. The farm has grown to include alligators (of course!), Nile crocodiles, emus, albino gators, a variety of snakes, tortoises, frogs, lizards, and more. Year around warm water makes this unusual home outside of the tropics a thriving habitat in [...]

The Rio Grande County Museum & Cultural Center offers visitors a glimpse into the past of Rio Grande County and it’s early settlers including Native Americans, mountain men, fur trappers, gold seekers, farmers and ranchers, and merchants.  Many settlers came to this land for adventure, freedom and a better way of life. Offering learning opportunities for all ages, the Rio Grande County Museum has many comprehensive exhibits on Native American Rock Art, Fremont’s Expedition, [...]