Don't Miss these Local Attractions
No trip to the Valley would be complete without a visit to the Great Sand Dunes National Park. The tallest dunes in North America are the centerpiece in a diverse landscape of grasslands, wetlands, conifer and aspen forests, alpine lakes, and tundra. Experience this diversity through hiking, sand sledding, splashing in Medano Creek, wildlife watching, and more!
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Located 34 miles South of Del Norte, Wolf Creek Ski Area is a powder-hound's dream resort with the most annual snowfall in Colorado year after year. With 1,600 skiable acres and a family-friendly atmosphere (and some jaw-dropping terrain), it's easy to see why locals know they are sitting on the best-kept ski secret in Colorado.
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At the Monte Vista Crane Festival you can enjoy thousands of cranes, ducks, and geese flying against a backdrop of mountain scenery. This event takes place each March and is a birdwatcher's delight. Check the website for up-to-date info.
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The Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge is located 6 miles south of Monte Vista on Highway 15. This artificially created wetlands on 14,084 acres is intensively managed to provide habitat for sandhill and whooping cranes, ducks, geese, ibis, herons, egrets, rough-legged hawks, and many other birds.
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Movie Manor Motel, located two miles west of Monte Vista, is the world's only drive-in movie theatre and motel in one. Visitors can sit in the comfort of their hotel room and watch the drive-in movie.
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Tucked away in the rolling hills north of town is an exquisite Natural Arch. Along with stunning rock formations, you can also see bighorn sheep, deer, antelope, golden eagles, raptors and songbirds all summer long. To find the Natural Arch, drive north of Del Norte on Highway 112 and turn left on the first road past the Rio Grande bridge. Then take Forest Road 660 to Old Woman's Creek. Finally, turn left onto Forest Road 569 and drive 1.5 miles until you see the arch.
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Rio Grande County Museum in Del Norte is one of the best in the valley with plenty of artifacts and information about early San Luis Valley life. Open 10-4pm Tuesday - Friday and 10-3 on Saturday.
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The Silver Thread Scenic Byway is a stunning drive through the towns of Creede and Lake City and along the Lake Fork of the Gunnison and Rio Grande Rivers and the Continental Divide. The name of the Byway refers to the areas' history of silver mining which peaked in the late 1880's. Although it was once a toll road and stage route for miners, Colorado Highway 149 is fully paved and takes you over 75 miles of the most beautiful scenery in Colorado.
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Though it is primarily a private course, the beautiful Rio Grande Club in South Fork is open to the public subject to availability. Call 719-873-1997 or email teetimes@rgcresort.com to make a tee time.
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Monte Vista Country Club in Monte Vista, is a 75 year old 9-hole course nestled in the heart of town.
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