San Luis Valley: Great Sand Dunes and Colorado’s oldest town
Over Poncha Pass into a vast high valley, with a UFO watchtower, North America’s tallest dunes, a hidden waterfall and the Hispanic village of San Luis.
- Distance
- 267 km (166 mi)
- Driving
- 2 h 58 min
- Suggested days
- 3
- Stops
- 8
- States
- CO
- Updated
- July 28, 2026
At a glance: 3-day road trip of about 267 km (166 mi) with 8 stops, from Salida to Stations of the Cross Shrine. About 2 h 58 min of driving in total.
More road trips in Colorado
Route description
Start in Salida, a river town with a historic brick downtown on the Arkansas River. US-285 climbs over Poncha Pass and drops into the San Luis Valley, a vast, flat basin at about 7,500 feet between two mountain ranges.
Follow CO-17 south, with a detour to Crestone, a small village of retreat centers at the foot of the Sangre de Cristo peaks. Further south, the UFO Watchtower is a quirky stop in the huge open sky.
At Great Sand Dunes National Park, the dunes rise up to about 750 feet against the mountains. In late spring, Medano Creek flows across the sand and becomes a beach for families. Nearby, a short trail and some wading lead to Zapata Falls, hidden in a rock crevice.
Alamosa is the valley’s main town. Continue southeast to San Luis, founded in 1851 and the oldest town in Colorado, where a path with bronze Stations of the Cross climbs a mesa above the village. Nights are cold even in summer.
Stop-by-stop itinerary
In driving order. Distances are estimates between consecutive stops.
- 1Start
Salida
CO - 278 km
Crestone
CO - 336 km
UFO Watchtower
OdditiesHooper, COA quirky roadside viewing platform and garden on CO-17 where visitors leave trinkets and scan the huge sky of the San Luis Valley.
- 430 km
Great Sand Dunes National Park
NatureMosca, COThe tallest dunes in North America rise against the snowy Sangre de Cristo peaks. You can rent a sandboard nearby.
- 524 km
Zapata Falls
NatureMosca, COA waterfall hidden in a rock crevice, reached on a short trail and then by wading up the creek. Great views over the dunes from the parking lot.
- 639 km
Alamosa
CO - 759 km
San Luis
CO - 80 km
Stations of the Cross Shrine
HistorySan Luis, COBronze sculptures along a path up a mesa above Colorado’s oldest town, ending at a small chapel with valley views.
FAQs
How long is San Luis Valley: Great Sand Dunes and Colorado’s oldest town?
3-day road trip of about 267 km (166 mi) with 8 stops, from Salida to Stations of the Cross Shrine. About 2 h 58 min of driving in total.
How many days do you need for San Luis Valley: Great Sand Dunes and Colorado’s oldest town?
We suggest 3 days: about 2 h 58 min of driving, which leaves time for the stops.
Where does San Luis Valley: Great Sand Dunes and Colorado’s oldest town start and end?
It starts in Salida and ends in Stations of the Cross Shrine.
Which states does San Luis Valley: Great Sand Dunes and Colorado’s oldest town pass through?
Colorado.
