The wildlife refuges near Alamosa, and the crane migration

Just outside Alamosa, the Alamosa National Wildlife Refuge protects wetlands and river bottom along the Rio Grande. It is one of several refuges in the San Luis Valley managed by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, and it is a calm place to see birds and other wildlife.

A refuge is not a city park. It is managed first for wildlife, so the rules are a little different. There is a wildlife drive and a couple of nature trails, and general access usually runs from about an hour before sunrise to an hour after sunset. Some trails close for part of the year to protect nesting birds, and activities like camping, fires, and off-highway vehicles are not allowed. Knowing that going in saves a wasted trip.

The valley is best known among birders for its sandhill cranes. Twice a year, during spring and fall migration, large numbers of cranes stop in the San Luis Valley to rest and feed. The Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge, part of the same refuge complex a short drive west of Alamosa, is the best-known place to watch them, and the timing shifts a bit each year with the migration.

For trail closures and the wildlife drive, check the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service page for the Alamosa refuge. For current crane viewing information, see the Service’s pages for the San Luis Valley refuges, including Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge.