Backroads & Byways of Colorado by Drea Knufken

Author:Drea Knufken [Knufken, Drea]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-1-58157-161-5
Publisher: Countryman Press
Published: 2013-03-05T16:00:00+00:00

Mile Marker 150 (CO 17)—Alamosa: Nearly 30 miles north of the beginning of the byway lies Alamosa, the largest town in the San Luis Valley. Alamosa, or “cottonwood grove,” was historically a major railroad stop along the Rio Grande. In the old days, one remarkably large tree located near both the Rio Grande and the railroad served as the town’s gallows. Early train riders were often welcomed to town by a swinging corpse.

Surrounding Alamosa are the spongy canals and wetlands around the Rio Grande. You’ll find the Alamosa and Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuges here. Throngs of migratory birds take respite here, from cranes and teals in the summer to majestic bald and golden eagles in the winter. For more information, as well as self-guided driving tours, head to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at the Alamosa National Wildlife Refuge on El Rancho Lane. If you’re here in mid-March, don’t miss the Crane Festival, where flocks of migrating sandhill cranes fly overhead and people celebrate their passage with wildlife art exhibits, a photo contest, wetlands education, and food.

Today, the town serves as a major intersection for valley travelers. You’ll find antique shops, a variety of restaurants, a theater, galleries, and other shopping—and quite a few motels. It’s a good place to get a meal and rest for the night. Chain hotels, such as the Holiday Inn Express Hotel Alamosa on 3418 Mariposa Avenue, are easy to find in town.

You can indulge in an all-you-can-eat Mexican buffet at Calvillo’s Mexican Restaurant on 400 Main Street, which serves everything from sopapillas to ceviche. Milagros Coffeehouse at 529 Main Street offers quality coffee, reasonably priced café fare for breakfast and lunch, as well as a gallery, used bookstore, and community information center. A light breakfast here is the perfect way to end your journey. Fortunately, there’s plenty of beautiful road to see on the way home, no matter which direction you travel.

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