No matter your preferred landscape, you are sure to find it here in Colorado. If you love the mountains, you can easily find it throughout the center of the state. Prefer the quiet prairie? Head out east! Grand mesas with lush orchards and vineyards? It sounds like the Slope is the place for you! As if all of this wasn’t enough, Colorado is also home to the world’s largest alpine valley, which comes complete with nearly all of the above. Here’s more on San Luis, the largest valley in Colorado:
Located in the south-central portion of the state, the San Luis Valley is the largest alpine valley on earth at 122 miles long and 74 miles wide.
Wikimedia Commons
Housing such iconic landmarks as the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve (pictured), the San Luis Valley features different landscapes like the arid desert, majestic mountains, and prairie brush.
Wikimedia Commons
Stretching from the San Luis Hills of Colorado all the way down to the Taos Plateau of northern New Mexico, most of the San Luis Valley sits at an elevation of 7,664 feet, making it not only the world’s largest but also one of the world’s highest valleys.
Flickr/Jasper Nance
Said to have been formed millions of years ago by volcanic eruptions and earthquakes, the San Luis Valley holds an important historical significance, not only in the way it was formed…
Flickr/Mike Lewinski
…but also in that it housed nomadic hunters and gatherers some 10,000 years ago, as well as the Southern Utes thousands of years later.
Flickr/Photo_Hiker_Dave
(Fun fact: The San Luis Valley is also home to San Luis; the oldest permanent settlement in Colorado!)
Flickr/Photo_Hiker_Dave
Today the San Luis Valley is a popular tourist destination because of its numerous attractions, and even boasts a thriving potato, head lettuce, and barley agricultural scene.
Flickr/Photo_Hiker_Dave
Wikimedia Commons
Flickr/Jasper Nance
Flickr/Mike Lewinski
Flickr/Photo_Hiker_Dave
What are your thoughts on the largest valley in Colorado? Have you visited recently? We’d love to hear about your experiences in the comments below!
To learn more about the San Luis Valley’s most famous attraction, click on You’ll Want To Add This Marvelous National Park To Your Colorado Bucket List.
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.
Address: San Luis Valley, Colorado 81136, USA
The OIYS Visitor Center
The Largest Valley in Colorado August 25, 2020 Beth C. What are the most famous landmarks in Colorado? Colorado is notorious for its abundance of must-see attractions. At the top of the list of the most famous landmarks in Colorado is, of course, Rocky Mountain National Park. Encompassing some of the most majestic peaks in the state, Rocky Mountain National Park is a treasure trove of mountains, tundra, alpine meadows, lakes, and more. Whether you’re a hiker or wildlife enthusiast, you’ll love what this park has to offer. Other famous landmarks in the Centennial State include Mesa Verde National Park, Garden of the Gods, Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, Pikes Peak, the Great Sand Dunes, Royal Gorge Bridge and Park, and Breckenridge Ski Resort. How many of these have you visited? What are the most picturesque hiking trails in Colorado? Many of Colorado’s most well-known hiking trails can be found inside Rocky Mountain National Park. However, there are literally thousands of trails in Colorado, so you can find plenty of them that are off-the-beaten-path. Some of the most picturesque hiking destinations in Colorado include St. Mary’s Glacier Loop, Mount Goliath Research Natural Area, Golden Gate Canyon, Royal Arch Trail, Roxborough State Park, and Ouzel Falls. Looking for more hiking inspiration? Check out this list of some of the most breathtaking hiking trails you’ll find in Colorado. What is the most scenic town in Colorado? There are so many beautiful towns in Colorado that it’s difficult to pick just one! That being said, many folks agree that Crested Butte certainly belongs on the list of Colorado’s most scenic towns. Crested Butte has a population of just 1,500 year-round residents, though it’s a popular seasonal destination, especially in the summer. Crested Butte is also known for being a must-visit ski town. It’s home to Crested Butte Mountain Resort, and there are a handful of Nordic ski trails located around town. The town also hosts extreme skiing competitions throughout the winter months. During warmer months, Crested Butte is popular for its breathtaking hiking trails, most of which showcase an abundance of colorful wildflowers.
The OIYS Visitor Center
The Largest Valley in Colorado
August 25, 2020
Beth C.
What are the most famous landmarks in Colorado? Colorado is notorious for its abundance of must-see attractions. At the top of the list of the most famous landmarks in Colorado is, of course, Rocky Mountain National Park. Encompassing some of the most majestic peaks in the state, Rocky Mountain National Park is a treasure trove of mountains, tundra, alpine meadows, lakes, and more. Whether you’re a hiker or wildlife enthusiast, you’ll love what this park has to offer. Other famous landmarks in the Centennial State include Mesa Verde National Park, Garden of the Gods, Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, Pikes Peak, the Great Sand Dunes, Royal Gorge Bridge and Park, and Breckenridge Ski Resort. How many of these have you visited? What are the most picturesque hiking trails in Colorado? Many of Colorado’s most well-known hiking trails can be found inside Rocky Mountain National Park. However, there are literally thousands of trails in Colorado, so you can find plenty of them that are off-the-beaten-path. Some of the most picturesque hiking destinations in Colorado include St. Mary’s Glacier Loop, Mount Goliath Research Natural Area, Golden Gate Canyon, Royal Arch Trail, Roxborough State Park, and Ouzel Falls. Looking for more hiking inspiration? Check out this list of some of the most breathtaking hiking trails you’ll find in Colorado. What is the most scenic town in Colorado? There are so many beautiful towns in Colorado that it’s difficult to pick just one! That being said, many folks agree that Crested Butte certainly belongs on the list of Colorado’s most scenic towns. Crested Butte has a population of just 1,500 year-round residents, though it’s a popular seasonal destination, especially in the summer. Crested Butte is also known for being a must-visit ski town. It’s home to Crested Butte Mountain Resort, and there are a handful of Nordic ski trails located around town. The town also hosts extreme skiing competitions throughout the winter months. During warmer months, Crested Butte is popular for its breathtaking hiking trails, most of which showcase an abundance of colorful wildflowers.
The OIYS Visitor Center
The OIYS Visitor Center
Colorado is notorious for its abundance of must-see attractions. At the top of the list of the most famous landmarks in Colorado is, of course, Rocky Mountain National Park. Encompassing some of the most majestic peaks in the state, Rocky Mountain National Park is a treasure trove of mountains, tundra, alpine meadows, lakes, and more. Whether you’re a hiker or wildlife enthusiast, you’ll love what this park has to offer. Other famous landmarks in the Centennial State include Mesa Verde National Park, Garden of the Gods, Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, Pikes Peak, the Great Sand Dunes, Royal Gorge Bridge and Park, and Breckenridge Ski Resort. How many of these have you visited?
What are the most picturesque hiking trails in Colorado?
Many of Colorado’s most well-known hiking trails can be found inside Rocky Mountain National Park. However, there are literally thousands of trails in Colorado, so you can find plenty of them that are off-the-beaten-path. Some of the most picturesque hiking destinations in Colorado include St. Mary’s Glacier Loop, Mount Goliath Research Natural Area, Golden Gate Canyon, Royal Arch Trail, Roxborough State Park, and Ouzel Falls. Looking for more hiking inspiration? Check out this list of some of the most breathtaking hiking trails you’ll find in Colorado.
What is the most scenic town in Colorado?
There are so many beautiful towns in Colorado that it’s difficult to pick just one! That being said, many folks agree that Crested Butte certainly belongs on the list of Colorado’s most scenic towns. Crested Butte has a population of just 1,500 year-round residents, though it’s a popular seasonal destination, especially in the summer. Crested Butte is also known for being a must-visit ski town. It’s home to Crested Butte Mountain Resort, and there are a handful of Nordic ski trails located around town. The town also hosts extreme skiing competitions throughout the winter months. During warmer months, Crested Butte is popular for its breathtaking hiking trails, most of which showcase an abundance of colorful wildflowers.
