The San Luis Valley has no shortage of incredible places to photograph the season change! We rounded up some of our favorite locations perfect for inexperienced and profeccional photographers alike. Read along to see what San Luis Valley photo stops you need to make to add the perfect shot to your Alamosa photo journal!
The North River Pavilion and Oxbow Trail Access
The North River Pavilion and Oxbow Trail Access is a photographer's dream and a leaf viewers playground. Set against the backdrop of the staggering mountains and at the banks of the Rio Grande, one can escape and truly be one with the fall season. The drive to the parking lot is scenic as well as you will be driving by Blanca Vista Park and the Cattails Golf course along the way. The cottonwood trees beam with beautiful fall colors and the water glistens on the lake making for an award worthy fall photograph. There are also two other access points you can choose from, the State Street Bridge allows for the closest access and the Simpson Loop Trailhead is the last access point, located roughly 1.9 miles from State Street Bridge. No matter how you get there, it is well worth the views that you will take in. Take your time, breathe in the crisp fall air, listen to the peaceful river run, and listen to the birds sing all around you. Keep in mind to bring your own water and snacks to this location as there is none available on site. There is also no access to public restrooms, so be sure to plan accordingly! Learn more about this location here.
Silver Thread Scenic Byway
Silver Thread Scenic Byway is not to be overlooked when traveling to the San Luis Valley. This will be a full day trip that will go well into the evening if your home base is in Alamosa, but it is worth every one of the 117 miles of epic scenery you are about to see! This historic journey will begin in South Fork CO and will take you through winding mountains covered in fall foliage before ending in Creede CO, another mecca for up close and personal leaf viewing. Be sure to budget extra time because you will want to take your time at the waterfalls, exploring Creede and Lake City, and enjoying all of the captivating scenery along the way. Learn more about this route and some of the exciting things to do and see along the way here.
Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge
Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge is a bird and wildlife photographer's perfect backdrop for that one in a million shot! This location is a traveler's favorite and is most popular when the cranes are migrating–and there is always a chance of seeing these birds in the first few weeks of September, but the fall season brings in those looking to capture Colorful Colorado in a whole new way! With hundreds of acres of wetlands, trees changing colors, and mountain filled backdrops, the bold fall colors paint the perfect photo opportunities. Take your time and bring something warm to sip on, various wildlife make their way through the refuge often and you don't want to miss the chance to capture it. This is a great option that keeps you close to Alamosa, but also allows you to immerse yourself in nature and take in the season. Learn more about this must see stop here.
The Del Norte River Walk
The Del Norte River Walk is the perfect place to head for a refreshing stroll along the Rio Grande River. The cottonwood trees are seemingly endless on this path and one could say the same for the photo opportunities that are presented! Find a bench and listen to the river sing as you watch the leaves float down and the cool fall air nips at your nose, don’t lose yourself too much however, you may forget to capture the perfect fall shot! Including drive time to and from Alamosa, we recommend that you budget no less than 4 hours for this stop. It will allow plenty of time with nature, and a little extra for you to explore historic Del Norte and all that it has to offer! Learn more about the Del Norte River Walk here.
Alamosa Wildlife Refuge
Though it might be a little biased, we LOVE this location, and we know that you will too! A short drive from your home base in Alamosa, the Alamosa Wildlife Refuge is a local favorite for photography, wildlife viewing, or simply to escape for just a little while. The fall colors in this location are perfect for a morning of photographing the fall sunrises or sunsets! The refuge is open one hour before the sun rises to one hour after the sun sets, allowing plenty of time to snap the perfect shot. Allowing extra time increases the chance of seeing deer, coyotes, various birds and other wildlife that calls the area home. This is the perfect fall escape and even the least experienced photographer will capture something wonderful here! Learn more about this beautiful location here.
Fall is the perfect time to Visit Alamosa! Fewer crowds, shorter wait times, and of course, epic fall foliage viewing that is hard to beat! All of us here at Visit Alamosa sincerely hope you enjoy all of the scenic stops that we have recommended for this glorious season and as we always say, we are just a phone call away should you need more recommendations!
Happy Leaf Viewing!
