Family Fun – Rio Grande Country Style!

No matter your age, there is family fun to do for everyone; Fish the Rio Grande and its numerous tributaries and reservoirs. Visit Alamosa County home of the Great Sand Dunes National Park, where visitors can hike the dunes on nighttime guided moon walks, sled and sand board down the dunes, and  play in the water each spring as the snow melt forms a winding river that is great to picnic by.

While in the San Luis Valley don’t forget the family fun stop at the Colorado Gators, boasting a wide variety of gators, turtles, snakes, lizards, birds, and fish that have been rescued and given a permanent home, plus many wildlife areas and refuges.
Directions to Monte Vista Refuge: From highway 160 in Monte Vista, Turn south at the Dairy Queen on State Hwy 15 (Gunbarrel Road) for 6 miles to the entrance of the auto tour route. The small office and visitor contact station at the Refuge is located at the start of the auto tour route.

For those more outdoorsy types over 250 miles of trails wind through the county for family fun hiking, horseback riding, and atv/snowmobile enthusiasts. Float the river, or challenge yourself to a guided white-water rafting trip. Creede also offers great family adventure alternatives with an underground mining museum and mine where kids can start a great rock collection.

The largest tree in the Rio Grande National Forest is a great short hike near Beaver Creek Reservoir’s Cross Creek Campground.  Take trail #812-Cross Creek trail and Big Tree trail south of campground takes you to the largest tree in the Rio Grande NF – 66″ diameter.
Directions: In South Fork, CO, at intersection of Hwy 149 and US 160, take US 160 west 1.4 miles to Beaver Creek Rd. sign (Forest Rd. 20). Turn left onto Beaver Creek Rd. and go 6.4 miles to campground sign. Turn left at sign into campground. NOTE: Forest Rd. 20 becomes gravel after 4 miles.