Area Information
The San Luis Valley is the world's largest high altitude alpine valley where controlled crops can grow. It offers a near perfect environment for growing potatoes and other crops. The elevation of the valley floor varies from 7,500 to 8,000 feet above sea level and stretches roughly 60 miles from east to west and 120 miles north to south, surrounded by Sangre de Cristo Mountains on the east and the San Juan Mountains on the west. The San Juan range on the west is the continental divide. The spiny Sangre de Cristo Range on the east is one of Colorado's tallest and rugged mountain ranges. The fourth tallest peak in Colorado, Mt. Blanca, at 14,345 feet overlooks the Valley floor.
It has been called the highest, largest, mountain desert in North America. The San Luis Valley receives less than 7-8 inches of precipitation per year. The Rio Grande River, the main river of the Valley, arises high in the San Juan Mountains beginning its journey from the west to the southeast going through Colorado, New Mexico, Texas and eventually to the Gulf of Mexico. The Rio Grande River is one source of water for valley farmers to irrigate crops, or most recently, to recharge the two large aquifers beneath the Valley floor. The two large aquifers, called the unconfined aquifer and the confined aquifer, are used extensively to irrigate the many crops in the Valley primarily through sprinkler irrigation today.
Agriculture is big business in the San Luis Valley. Crops grown in the Valley include potatoes, barley (malting and feed), wheat, alfalfa, oats, carrots, lettuce, spinach, canola, cattle and sheep. Actually, farmers began growing potatoes in Colorado's San Luis Valley about 1875, making it one of the oldest potato growing areas in the country. Colorado's fall potato crop is grown exclusively in the Valley. Colorado is also the nation's sixth-leading barley producer. Nearly 83% of the state's barley production comes from the San Luis Valley. The Valley's barely is typically devoted to beer production, however, if the quality fails, the crops is partially salvaged by using it for feed. Alfalfa has become a very large cash crop in the San Luis Valley. Large dairies that have moved into New Mexico like the high protein content of the Valley's alfalfa has.
Tourist attractions within the San Luis Valley include the Great Sand Dunes
National Monument located in the northeast part of the Valley nestled by the
Sangre de Cristo Mountains. It roughly covers 39 square miles of which is
mostly are designated wilderness. Historic Creede, an old mining tourist town,
is located in the northwest part of the valley in the mountains. There are
many interesting sites to see in the this area . The Cumbres & Toltec
Scenic Railroad is located in the southeast part of the Valley, and is America's
most authentic steam railroad. It winds its way through the San Juan Mountains,
and actually travels into New Mexico. Skiers have close access to three ski
areas which consist of Wolf Creek Ski Area near South Fork Colorado, Monarch
Area near Monarch Colorado, and Toas Ski Area near Toas New Mexico. Other
activities in the winter time include snow mobiling, snow shoeing, cross country
skiing, and ice fishing.
During the summer time, outdoor enthusiasts can go four wheeling, hiking,
horseback riding, ATV wheeling, fishing and photography.
The Rio Grande and San Isabel National Forests have large land holdings in
the region. During the fall months, large numbers of hunters travel to the
area to begin big game hunting and bird hunting.
Summer is short and frost may occur anytime in high elevations. Annual temperature extremes range from the mid- 90 degrees in summer to 30 degrees below zero in winter. Rapid weather changes, with changes of 40 degrees in periods as short as four to six hours occur frequently. The growing season averages approximately 90 days in the central part of the Valley, increasing to over 100 days in the north and west areas. July and August are usually the only frost free months.
Located in Alamosa, there are two higher education colleges serving the area.
Adams State College is an ideal liberal art college that provides superior
academic programs and a dynamic campus community. Trinidad State Junior College
(TSJC) is becoming an ever larger part of the area leaning towards degrees
of Associate of Arts, Associate of Science, Associate of General Studies,
Associate of Applied Science and Certificates. TSJC offers instruction in
liberal arts transfer programs and vocational technical areas.
Pro-View Real Estate
ELEVATION : 7,500 to 8,000 FT
POPULATION : COUNTIES
Alamosa 14,966
Conejos 8,400
Costilla 3,663
Mineral 831
Rio Grande 12,413
Saguache 5,917
MAJOR CITIES & TOWNS
Alamosa
Monte Vista
Del Norte
Center
Saguache
Conejos
San Luis
Creede