San Luis Valley  Photos:  Recent | Best | Popular Lat, Long:  37.6947, -106.348 Map Page Views:  397,890. Good page? (1 like)    Administrators:  Ben Mottinger, Leo Paik, John McNamee, Frances Fierst, Monomaniac, Tom Erickson Submitted By:  John McNamee on Feb 26, 2006 Make this area a Favorite What's New Guidebooks (2)  Printer View Add Area  Add Photo  Add Comment  Add Event  Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 63° | 36° 70° | 39° 75° | 37° 68° | 37° 70° | 39°

Map of the San Luis Valley.

Introduction 

Spanning almost 8,000 square miles, the San Luis Valley is the world's largest alpine valley. The average altitude is 7,500 feet, so it can be very warm in the summer and very cold at night in the winter. With the Sangre de Cristo Mountains to the east and the Rio Grande to the west.

The San Luis Valley sits atop the Rio Grande Rift, a split in the crust of the Earth where the sides are pulling away from each other. If the Valley floor were excavated, bedrock would be down about 30,000 feet, making the bottom of the Valley close to 4 miles below sea level. Over millenia, the mountains surrounding the Valley have eroded away, filling in the hole with rock, sand and earth. Quite a few streams flow into the Valley, only to sink into the ground before they go very far.

Getting There 

This is part of the reorg of the Colorado site.

From the Denver Metro area, you can go US 285 West all the way into the valley. You can also take I-70 to CO 91 through Breckinridge to US 24 South to US 285.

From Grand Junction, you can take US 50 East to US 285 near Poncha Springs, then go south on US 285.

From Durango, you can take US 160 East to US 285 North.

Resources 

Camping is availabe at Penintente Canyon; however, it now costs a bit and has standard BLM regulations. Water is provided down the road from the climbing / camping area (another recent development - follow the signs), and the nearest 'goods' can be found at the 'La Garita Cash Store'.

There are a variety of small, charming B&B type accomodations throughout the valley, in Poncha Springs, La Garita, Del Norte. There are a smattering of motels/hotels in the area as well.

Alamosa is the largest town in the valley for supplies, etc.

The Classics

Featured Route For San Luis Valley

Dos Hombres 5.11b  CO : San Luis Valley : ... : Penitente - Entrance Area

Start in a dihedral about 50 ft. right of Ya-Ta-Hei and 50 ft. left of Bucket Slave. Pull up on the finger crack and stem the sustained and technical dihedral past two bolts to a stance. Move past two more bolts through a bulge to the anchor. Pumpy, fun and aesthetic climbing....[more]   Browse More Classics in CO

Photos of San Luis Valley Slideshow

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Pair of bald eagles with Little Bear and Blanca Pe...	Evening t-storm spattering the Sangre de Cristos i...	Steve Mestdagh climbing at Penitente, photo: Bob H...
GATORS IN COLORADO!?!?!? Gotta stop here if you ha...	Fun at the Dunes, soo much to do.	Breakfast Boulders.
Saw these locals hanging out just east of La Garit...	Not really new, but some more of the miles of 30-5...	A bit more.
Great Sand Dunes NP, Colorado.