Year-round rock art tours and talks by local historians and archaeologists give the Rio Grande County Museum an unusual role as an introduction to Rio Grande County. Its programs are aimed at adults. Topics range from nature observation to regional history.
Birdlife, Rock Formations, and Trails
The wetlands of Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge are intensively managed as habitat for waterfowl. The Wildlife Drive extends for 2.5 miles; the Meadowlark Nature Trail and several overlooks offer additional opportunities for wildlife viewing. Check the current status of the trails and facilities before your visit.
The rocky landscape also features a variety of formations: Elephant Rocks is a five-mile formation of monolithic rock blocks in shortgrass prairie and shrubland. Penitente Canyon is home to almost 300 technical climbing routes. South-facing routes in the recreation area can be climbed year-round; trout fishing is also possible in La Garita Creek.
The Lookout Mountain Park Trails offer eight miles of natural-surface singletrack for hikers, runners, cyclists, and horseback riders. Middle Frisco Trail #879 is a 6.3-mile alpine route for mountain bikers and hikers that ends at Frisco Lake. Its seasonal opening depends on the weather. The figures indicate two different trail lengths and user groups; the Middle Frisco Trail also has a stated endpoint.
In the Limekiln Area, routes are distinguished by type and length: 9.3 miles of singletrack, 24.1 miles of motorized singletrack, and 29.2 miles of open roads suitable for driving. The Stone Quarry Trail System offers more than 9.5 miles of non-motorized singletrack through rugged rock-block canyons; this figure comes from a 2017 trail map. A 2017 trail map lists the Pronghorn Trails System as 9.5 miles long, with a trailhead 1.5 miles south of Del Norte on Rio Grande County Road 13. For these older map details, check current trail conditions and seasonal access before your visit.
History and Events
Built in 1912, the Monte Vista Cemetery Chapel is considered an unusual example of the Craftsman style in Monte Vista and Rio Grande County. Another historical connection leads to Penitente Canyon: it served as a place of worship for Los Hermanos Penitente, a small Catholic group. Summitville Historic Mining Camp was the site of one of the earliest gold discoveries in Colorado’s San Juan Mountains.
The Transportation of the West Museum exhibits early forms of transportation used in the San Luis Valley between the valley floor and the mining camps. The Rio Grande County Museum & Cultural Center offers insights into the county’s past and the history of its early settlers. In addition to cultural sites, the area’s routes of travel and settlement are also in focus.
The San Luis Valley Ski Hi Stampede Rodeo was founded in 1919. The SLV Ski Hi Complex in Monte Vista hosts rodeo events and trade shows; its program may change. Rhythms on the Rio is an annual benefit music festival held in Del Norte in early August. The exact date may vary.
Snowmobile Trails and the Silver Thread
For snowmobiling, the offerings in Rio Grande County include about 300 miles of groomed trails. There are also ungroomed side trails, open parks, meadows, and hills at elevations of 8,200 to 12,000 feet. Grooming and access depend on conditions; check conditions for your trip.
The Silver Thread Scenic Byway runs along State Highways 149 and 149A. It begins in South Fork, a town in Rio Grande County, and ends in Gunnison. If you plan to drive the route, check road conditions and seasonal access in advance.
Discover more destinations: South Fork, Monte Vista, Del Norte, Mesa, Gunnison County, Fremont, Otero and Broomfield.
Back to the main travel overview: Colorado.
