Colorado - South Central Attractions

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.

Alamosa County is one of 13 counties in the South Central Colorado travel region.

Costilla County is one of 13 counties in the South Central Colorado travel region.

Custer County is one of 13 counties in the South Central Colorado travel region.

Del Norte is a town located along the Rio Grande River that was first settled in 1859.

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.

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 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.

Fremont County is one of 13 counties in the South Central Colorado travel region.

There are magnificent views from the Gold Camp Road, originally built by gold-diggers, which runs up into Pike National Forest.

The road is a narrow, twisting gravel mountain road without guardrails. It is recommended for experienced mountain drivers.

Mineral County is one of 13 counties in the South Central Colorado travel region.

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.

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.

Park County is one of 13 counties in the South Central Colorado travel region.

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.

Rio Grande National Forest is one of eleven National Forests in Colorado, covering almost 2 million acres.

San Isabel National Forest is one of eleven national forests in Colorado, covering over 1.2 million acres in four sections.

San Luis is one of the oldest towns in Colorado, founded in 1851. There is good fishing at nearby Sanchez Reservoir and Mountain Home Reservoir.

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.

Westcliffe was established during the silver boom in 1881. After its mining heyday, the town became an agricultural community.

Highway 160 crosses the Continental Divide at Wolf Creek Pass, located at an elevation of 10,857 feet.

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".