Basecamp Alamosa

Located in the heart of the San Luis Valley, rimmed by the Sangre De Cristo Mountains to the east and the San Juan Mountains to the west, the town of Alamosa, Colorado is perfectly situated as a basecamp for your adventures to Great Sand Dunes National Park. But don’t miss the chance to spend the afternoon or the weekend in Alamosa itself. The city has a charming small-town feel, historic ties to the railroad days and stunning scenery that impresses in any season, though summer and fall are the best seasons to visit if you want to skip the frigid winter temps and blustery spring winds.

Start your tour of downtown on Main Street. The walkable historic area features shops, restaurants and the Alamosa Artscape—a rotating collection of sculptures from both local and international artists. If you’re interested in the history of the area, stop by the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad Depot at 610 State Street. The historic building dates back to the early 1900s and now houses the Colorado Welcome Center where you can find maps, brochures and information on the area as well as rent stand-up paddleboards and purchase a basic entrance pass for Great Sand Dunes National Park.

Swing by Milagros Coffee House for a hot beverage and a bite to eat. In addition to usual coffee shop fare, the café also serves breakfast options like a build-your-own burrito and quick bites for lunch.

Looking for the perfect spot to spend a laid-back afternoon? Stop by the Colorado Farm Brewery, a truly farm-to-tap establishment that sources every ingredient for their estate beers, from the water to the malt to the hops, on property. Or, head to Main Street to Spare Keg Breworks. All of the craft beers you’ll find on tap include barley grown by the brewery’s co-owner and malted locally within the San Luis Valley.

For dinner, Lindo Jalisco is a great spot to enjoy a wide selection of authentic Mexican dishes alongside a margarita. Their birria tacos—adobo marinated beef served along with its juices for dipping—are amazing after a long day of hiking. Another great spot to fill up after a day of adventuring, Woody’s Q Shack is the place to go for a hearty lunch. Choose from brisket, pulled pork, St. Louis-style ribs and more on signature sandwiches or plates, alongside sides like campfire beans, onion rings and mac and cheese. For barbeque with a Southwestern flair, try the Cowboy Burrito, filled with brisket, campfire beans, mac and cheese, jalapenos and barbeque sauce.

While you’re in town, be sure to check out the city’s trail system. From wide walking paths that run along the cottonwood bosque of the Rio Grande River to the disc golf course and gravel paths of the Oxbow Trail System, Alamosa has several great parks, paths and trails to get you out in nature. Just north of town, Blanca Vista Park offers a spot to walk, bike and stand-up paddleboard with outstanding views of its namesake, Blanca Peak. At 14,345 feet, this prominent mountain is the fourth-highest peak in Colorado.

If you’ve got the kids in tow and are looking for some family friendly fun in the summer, hit up Splashland for a few hours. Located a mile outside of town, this geothermal outdoor swimming pool has been around since 1955 and has three water slides, a diving board and lap lanes as well as a concession stand.

And, of course, you shouldn’t miss a trip to Great Sand Dunes National Park while you’re staying in Alamosa. The stunning dune landscape is ringed by the towering peaks of the Sangre De Cristo Mountains, a sight you won’t soon forget. In the spring and summer months, the seasonal flow of Medano Creek turns the front dune area into a high-altitude beach where you can pull up a chair to sunbathe, make a sand castle with the kids or break out a tube for a lazy float on the creek. Looking to get the picture perfect view of the dunes stretching away to the peaks in the distance? Hoof it up to the top of 693-foot-tall High Dune where you’ll enjoy an impressive view of the area—one that’s especially lovely in late summer after a wet spring when the prairie sunflowers bloom in patches on the dunes.

For more adventurous exploration of the area, Rugged Air Tours, based in Alamosa, will take you up in a four-seat plane for a flightseeing tour above the dunes. If you want to see the more remote corners of the park, Mountain Master Off-Road Tours offers half-day private tours exploring up Medano Creek Primitive Road to get you away from the crowds.

At the end of the day, Ramble at Great Sand Dunes offers a high-end camping experience that still feels like being out in nature. Each campsite includes an outdoor kitchen, Adirondack chairs, an awning and windbreak, and there’s a bath house just a short walk away with hot showers, complimentary toiletries and flush toilets. After dark, enjoy the incredible stargazing that the area is known for—the expansive skies of the San Luis Valley offer a magnificent panoramic view of the night sky.

Learn more at alamosa.org.

For more information:
Colorado Welcome Center
1-800-BLU-SKYS
610 State Ave.
Alamosa, CO 81101
alamosa.org