# 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.

Source: https://camping-spirit.com/guides/b8-san-luis-valley/

**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. 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 |
| Route | Salida → Stations of the Cross Shrine |
| States | CO |
| Updated | July 28, 2026 |

## 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

1. **Salida** (CO)
2. **Crestone** (CO)
3. **UFO Watchtower** (Hooper, CO): A quirky roadside viewing platform and garden on CO-17 where visitors leave trinkets and scan the huge sky of the San Luis Valley.
4. **Great Sand Dunes National Park** (Mosca, CO): The tallest dunes in North America rise against the snowy Sangre de Cristo peaks. You can rent a sandboard nearby.
5. **Zapata Falls** (Mosca, CO): A 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.
6. **Alamosa** (CO)
7. **San Luis** (CO)
8. **Stations of the Cross Shrine** (San Luis, CO): Bronze 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.