The South Central Colorado Travel Region includes the counties of Conejos, Costilla, Mineral, Rio Grande, Alamosa, Saguache, Custer, Fremont, Chaffee, Lake, Park, Teller and El Paso. Highlights of the region include the city of Colorado Springs and the Rio Grande National Forest.
Pikes Peak, at 14,110ft (4,301 m), is the primary attraction of Pike National Forest. From the top are incredible view stretching to Denver and New Mexico.
In southern Colorado is the impressive Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve. Over thousands of years the wind has carried great masses of sand from the semi-arid San Luis Valley to the foot of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Some of the dunes are over 650ft/200m high.
The Star Dune is the tallest dune in North America, 750 ft / 229 m. During summer, visitors should plan to hike the dunes in morning or evening to avoid 140 degree F sand or thunderstorms. In addition, mountain trails with coniferforests, creeks, and alpine lakes can be explored. Nearby Zapata Falls is a refreshingly cool experience with a beautiful view of the valleyand dunefield.
Address: Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, 11999 Highway 150, Mosca, CO 81146-9798, United States
Phone: 1 (719) 378-6399, Fax: 1 (719) 378-6310
Hours:
Always closed on: New Year's Day (January 1), Thanksgiving - USA (4th Thursday, November ), Christmas - Christian (December 25)
Tips: The monument is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The
Visitor Center is open 9-4:30 every day except federal winter holidays, with longer hours in summer.
Disability Access: Partial facilities for persons with disabilities.
The Rio Grande County Museum and Cultural Center in Del Norte has exhibits on the culture and history of the San Luis Valley. The displays highlight the contributions of the Indians and Hispanic settlers, the fur trappers and traders, to the settlers.
Address: Rio Grande County Museum and Cultural Center, 580 Oak Street, Del Norte, CO 81132-2210, United States
Phone: 1 (719) 657-2847, Fax: 1 (719) 657-2627
Fairplay is a town in western Park County, founded by prospectors in 1859. The name came about to convey that each man would have an equal chance to stake a claim.
The old stone courthouse in Fairplay, also the current library.
The South Park City Museum in Fairplay is a collection of restored buildings from the late 19th century. There are more than 30 buildings in total, including a saloon, drugstore, newspaper office and general store.
Hours:
May 15 to May 27: 9am-5pm
May 28 to September 3: 9am-7pm
September 4 to October 15: 9am-5pm
Disability Access: Full facilities for persons with disabilities.
Colorado Gators Farm strives to be an educational farm that is family oriented. The highlight of programs is the biology, behavior, and ecological role of reptiles in nature.
Address: Colorado Gators Farm, 9162 Country Road 9 North, Mosca, CO 81146, United States
Phone: 1 (719) 378-2612, Fax: 1 (719) 378-2050
Hours:
May 29 to September 6: 9am-7pm
September 7 to May 28: 9am-5pm
Always closed on: Thanksgiving - USA (4th Thursday, November ), Christmas - Christian (December 25)
From Aspen State Route 82 runs up into the grandiose mountain world of Independence Pass (12,095ft/3,686m and Mount Elbert (14,433ft/4,399m), the highest peak in the state of Colorado.
Pike National Forest is one of eleven National Forests in Colorado, covering over 1.6 million acres. Within the Forest is the Windy-Ridge Bristlecone Pine Scenic Area.
Rio Grande County is one of 13 counties in the South Central Colorado travel region.
Address: Rio Grande County / Monte Vista Chamber Of Commerce, 1035 Park Avenue, Monte Vista, CO 81144-1758, United States
Phone: 1 (719) 852-2731, Fax: 1 (719) 852-9382
The parishioners of the Sangre de Cristo Parish built the Shrine of the Stations of the Cross. The life-size bronze statues depict the last hours of Christ's life.
Between the town of Mosca and Great Sand Dunes National Monument is San Luis Lakes State Park, with nine miles of hiking and biking trails and a great deal of wildlife.
Highway 160 crosses the Continental Divide at Wolf Creek Pass, located at an elevation of 10,857 feet.
Address: Pagosa Springs Ranger District, 180 Second Street, Box 310, Pagosa Springs, CO 81147-0310, United States
Phone: 1 (970) 264-2268, Fax: 1 (970) 264-1538
The Wolf Creek Ski Area has a vertical drop of 1,425 feet and a summit elevation of 11,775 feet. Wolf Creek gets an astounding 465 inches of snow each season - notably "the most snow in Colorado".
Address: Wolf Creek Ski Area, Box 2800, Pagosa Springs, CO 81147-2800, United States
Phone: 1 (970) 264-5639, Fax: 1 (970) 264-5732