20 Attractions to Explore Near Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge

The Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge spans an area of 2,144 acres and was established in 1965. The primary focus of the refuge is to provide a habitat for the migrating birds that pass through the area. However, the refuge also supports a variety of other wildlife, including elk, mule deer, pronghorn, and coyotes. In addition to its abundant wildlife, the Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge also features a variety of landscapes, from meadows and wetlands to forests and grasslands.

A beautiful nature park, which features two covered picnic areas, trails, and several types of wildlife from deer to waterfowl, fox, and many bird species.

The Rio Grande Scenic Railroad is Colorado's newest train offering steam engine rides through breathtaking mountain valleys and over legendary LaVeta pass on hundreds of miles of historic rail. This 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in standard gauge route, featuring a climb over the Sangre de Cristo Mountains via Veta Pass, dates back to 1899 and is a successor to the original 3 ft narrow gauge La Veta Pass line of the Denver and Rio Grande Railway, completed in 1878.

This is the largest park in Alamosa. It is 14.5 acres and includes a baseball/softball field with announcer booth, three picnic shelters, a playground, skatepark, restrooms, bike pump track and dirt jumps, two walking loops and four horseshoe pits. .

Bennett Peak is one of the many beautiful mountains in Rio Grande County, Colorado. It is known for its stunning views of the sangre de cristo mountains, as well as its proximity to the rio grande river. The peak is also a popular hiking destination, with several trails leading to the top. Despite its relatively small size, Bennett Peak is a popular destination for both locals and tourists alike.

This is a 4-6-0 "Ten Wheeler" type narrow gauge steam railway locomotive. It is one of twelve similar locomotives built for the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad by Baldwin Locomotive Works in 1883. It was built as a passenger locomotive, with 46 in drivers, the second largest drivers used on any three foot gauge D&RGW locomotive. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places as Denver and Rio Grande Railroad Locomotive No.169 in 2001.

The Alamosa National Wildlife Refuge covers 11,169 acres of high desert uplands and riparian wetlands in the San Luis Valley.The site consists of wet meadows, river oxbows and riparian corridor primarily within the flood plain of the Rio Grande, and dry uplands vegetated with greasewood and saltbush. These areas support a small but rich biodiversity including songbirds, water birds, raptors, red fox, mule deer, black bear, beaver and coyotes.

The Alamosa National Wildlife Refuge covers 11,169 acres of high desert uplands and riparian wetlands in the San Luis Valley.The site consists of wet meadows, river oxbows and riparian corridor primarily within the flood plain of the Rio Grande, and dry uplands vegetated with greasewood and saltbush.It is considered to be more wild and less intensely managed than the nearby Monte Vista refuge.

The Colorado Gator Farm is one of Alamosa’s most unique attractions, and highly underrated. A geothermal well on the property creates ponds and wetlands for the alligators, but also provides habitat and food for many water-birds and waterfowl. The "Two Mile Creek Wildlife Habitat" lets visitors view alligators, reptiles, and birds in a natural setting, and to go fishing, boating, and picnicking. Over 125 species of birds have been sighted at the farm.

The San Luis Valley is a region in south-central Colorado with a small portion overlapping into New Mexico. It is a spiritual, intriguing land offering a sense of peace amid epic 100-mile views and sand dunes circled by soaring peaks, the valley is peppered with the legacy of American Indian, Hispanic and European settlers and explorers, steeped in history and ripe with folklore.

The Summitville Mine is located in Rio Grande county, Colorado. The site was first mined in 1864 for gold, silver, and lead, and continued to be mined sporadically until the early 1990s. In 1992, the mine was purchased by a Canadian company with the intention of using cyanide leaching to extract gold from the ore. However, the operation was not well managed, and resulting environmental problems led to the mine being declared a Superfund site in 1994.

UFO Watchtower is a privately run observation deck, which was designed specifically for observing and tracking UFOs, and it boasts some of the most high-tech equipment in the world for doing so. Visitors to UFO Watchtower can stay overnight in comfortable cabins, and during the day they can participate in guided tours and talks about aliens and UFO sightings. The watchtower itself is an impressive structure, built atop a hill with 360-degree views of the surrounding area.

San Luis State Park is a former state park located in Alamosa County, Colorado, United States. A variety of wildlife makes its home in the area, including coyotes, kangaroo rats, rabbits, elk, various kinds of songbirds, raptors, reptiles and amphibians.This wildlife area is ideal for hunting, fishing and other wildlife-related recreation. A valid hunting or fishing license is required for everyone 18 or older accessing any State Wildlife Area.

Rio Grande National Forest comprises 1.86 million acres in south-central Colorado. It’s one of the more secluded national forests in the state and is located near Pagosa Springs and the town of Creede.The forest encompasses the San Luis Valley, which is the world's largest agricultural alpine valley, as well as one of the world's largest high deserts located around mountainsThere are numerous treasures to uncover in this often overlooked and under-visited part of the Rockies.

Elwood Pass is located in Rio Blanco County, Colorado. It is a dirt road that runs for approximately 2.5 miles between the towns of Meeker and Rangely. The pass was originally used by ranchers and farmers to transport their goods between the two towns. Today, Elwood Pass is used primarily by recreationists. It is a popular route for fishing, camping, and hiking. The scenery along the pass is beautiful, with towering mountains, pristine forests, and crystal-clear streams.

The Trujillo Homesteads are a historic ranch site near Mosca, Alamosa County, Colorado, not far from the Great Sand Dunes National Park. The homestead site covers about 11 acres in a remote rural setting northeast of Mosca. The site includes the archaeological site where Pedtro Trujillo built his log cabin, the surviving ranch house, and a corral area dating to the Trujillo's ownership period. The ranch house is a two-story rectangular log structure, covered by a modern metal roof.

Cano's Castle, a popular folk art attraction made of beer cans and scrap metal in the small town of Antonito near the southern Colorado border, was heavily damaged by a fire Thursday morning, authorities said. Cano’s castle is actually four separate structures. “The king”, “the queen”, “the palace” and “the rook”. The four story “king” house, covered in gleaming beer cans and hubcaps, is his crowning architectural achievement.

The Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad, often abbreviated as the C&TSRR, is a 3 ft narrow-gauge heritage railroad that operates on 64 miles of track between Antonito, Colorado. The railroad is named for two geographical features along the route: the 10,015-foot -high Cumbres Pass and the Toltec Gorge. The railroad has a total of ten narrow-gauge steam locomotives and two narrow-gauge diesel locomotives on its current roster.

The South Fork of the Rio Grande is located in Rio Grande county, Colorado. The river is a tributary of the Rio Grande, and it runs for approximately 30 miles through the county. The South Fork is known for its beautiful scenery and its abundance of wildlife. recreation opportunities in the area include fishing, camping, hiking, and rafting. The river is also home to a number of endangered fish species, including the Colorado Pikeminnow and the Rio Grande Cutthroat Trout.

Brownie Hills is one of the Summits in Costilla County. It is one of the iconic trekking destination and also it offers nice views of the area.