Community Information
Alamosa County
The City of Alamosa serves as the regional hub with the Valley's largest hospital, airport, motels, business services, railroad and trucking terminals, industrial parks, Federal and State government offices, and regional shopping. Adams State College and Trinidad State Junior College are also located in Alamosa. Major attractions include the Great Sand Dunes, Zapata Falls, San Luis Lakes State Park, wildlife refuges, alligator farm, swimming pools, and Cattails Golf Course.
Alamosa County Chamber of Commerce
Alamosa Visitor Information Center
San Luis Valley Information & Education Center
Los Caminos Antiquos Scenic & Historic Byways
Conejos County
Major attractions include the Cumbres & Toltec railroad from Antonito to Chama, Mormon Pioneer Days, Jack Dempsey Museum, Platoro and La Jara reservoirs, Colorado's oldest church in Conejos, and the Los Caminos Antiguos Byway. The Conejos County Hospital is located north of La Jara. Perlite mined in New Mexico and processed in Antonito is shipped by rail. Small farms and ranches with hay, sheep, and cattle ranches are a visible part of the economy. Second homes are being built in Conejos Canyon, and Antonito is gateway to Espanola and Santa Fe via US 285.
Costilla County
Major attractions include museums in Fort Garland and San Luis, Stations of the Cross Shrine, Santa Ana & Santiago Celebration, a bronze foundry, and the Los Caminos Antiguos Scenic & Historic Byway. Notable fishing areas include Sanchez, Smith, and Mountain Home reservoirs, and Culebra Creek. The county also contains the Valley's largest tracts of private lands including the Forbes Ranch and Blanca Trinchera which focus on hunting and real estate, and the Taylor Ranch. Small villages and farms are notable near San Luis, with larger farms in Jaroso and the Fort Garland area. San Luis is about 40 miles from Taos.
Mineral County
Creede has art and sporting goods shops, Repertory Theatre, and airport. Wolf Creek Ski Area on the pass is in Mineral County. Guest ranches are located on CO 149, and many second homes are being built. Other attractions include a mining museum, ghost towns, North Clear Creek Falls, Gold Medal fishing areas, and access to the Rio Grande headwaters streams, lakes, and reservoirs in neighboring Hinsdale County. Creede is about 40 miles from Lake City on the Silver Thread Byway covering some of the most beautiful scenery in Colorado.
Creede/Mineral County Chamber of Commerce
Los Caminos Antiguos Scenic and Historic Byway
Rio Grande County
Rio Grande is one of the largest potato and barley producers in the Valley. Monte Vista is known as the Valley's agribusiness center but also has a tourist information center, regional shopping, State Veterans Center, and one of the most attractive main streets. Del Norte serves as a gateway for tourists and is attempting to expand Rio Grande County hospital. South Fork is the fastest growing town, with extensive second home construction, tourism, a new golf course, and start of the Silver Thread Byway. An industrial park with rail siding is planned to replace jobs lost by the sawmill closure. Major attractions include Beaver Reservoir, Big Meadows, Gold Medal fishing, and backcountry trails. It is also the closest town to the ski area, and gateway via US 160 to Pagosa Springs and Durango.
Monte Vista Chamber of Commerce
San Luis Valley Information & Education Center
Silver Thread Scenic Byway Interpretive Center
Saguache County
Saguache is the largest county spanning both mountain ranges, with many backroads and trails to high lakes and remote areas. The Town of Center is a busy potato shipping and warehousing locus of activity with San Luis Central freight service. It also has ag treatment facilities currently supporting a potato processing plant, and farmworker housing. The Crestone/Baca community lies at the foot of the most rugged part of the Sangre de Cristos, and has the greatest diversity in the Valley including the Haidakhandi Ashram and Mountain Zen Center. It also has many second homes and hosts Colorado College classes. The courthouse is located in the Town of Saguache which has a museum and serves as a gateway to Gunnison via CO 114 and Poncha Springs via US 285. Valley View and Mineral Hot Springs are located off US 285 near Villa Grove. The Baca Ranch is being added to the Sand Dunes as part of the National Park designation.
Map data courtesy of The SLV GIS/GPS Authority www.slvgis.info
Community information courtesy of www.slvdrg.org