4 sites · RVs5 acres · COThe area comprising the SAN LUIS VALLEY and RIO GRANDE NATIONAL FOREST has a rich and colorful history.Native American Paleo-Indian cultures, beginning with the Clovis and Folsom Complexes (11,000 years ago) were the first know inhabitants of the area. These and the following cultures of the Archaic Stage and the Ute Indians lived by hunting animals and gathering native plants found in the area.The Spanish began exploring the San Luis area during the late 1500’s. In an attempt to get people to settle the area, Mexico established numerous land grants within the Spanish territory. In 1770, Don Juan Baustista de Anza traveled through the San Luis Valley and over Poncha Pass in attempt to crush the Comanches who threatened the Spanish settlers.The valley remained largely unsettled until the area became the territory of the United States around 1850.The first permanent settlement in Colorado, known as San Luis de la Culebra, was established in 1851 on the Rio Culebra River on the Sangre de Cristo Grant.To protect the early settlers in the valley, Fort Massachusetts was established, north of San Luis, in 1852.La Loma de San Jose, near present Del Norte, was first inhabited by Hispanic families in 1859 that left the Santa Fe area. Irrigation ditches were constructed and farms established. More extensive farming activities began in the 1880’s near Hooper and the area near Monte Vista where large-scale irrigation systems were built.Gold and silver were discovered near Summitville in1870 which began the mining rush to the area. Other mining settlements followed at Bonanza, Creede, and along the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Del Norte, one of Colorado’s earliest cities, established in 1872, served as a supply point and gateway to the San Juan mining camps.In 1891, an Act of Congress authorized the establishment of Timber Reserves in order to conserve the nation’s timber, range and water resources. Portions of these established reserves were combined to form the RIO GRANDE NATIONAL FOREST in 1908.Learn more about this land:The San Luis Valley of Colorado is the largest alpine valley on earth. The Valley floor is approximately 7500 feet above sea-level and surrounded by beautiful mountain peaks many of which are 14,000 foot tall. An amazingly beautiful and peaceful location in Costilla County, Colorado. Road frontage, great wildlife, and million-dollar views. Billions of stars visible here at night for the stargazers. The town of San Luis is the oldest town in Colorado, founded in 1851. 4x4, atv's, and dirt bikes do well here because of the ideal terrain. Flyfishing in the Rio Grande, boating, and tubing. Hiking on any of the nearby peaks. North America’s tallest sand dunes are a dramatic backdrop against the Sangre de Cristo mountains at Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve, where you can sandboard or sled down the naturally occurring dunes. A drive along Highway 17 leads to the UFO Watchtower, a quirky roadside attraction with information on the valley’s surprising number of unexplained sightings. Or, check out the Colorado Gators Reptile Park, home to several scaly creatures. Speaking of animals, the Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge is a prime place to spot migratory birds GPS Center: 37.039464, -105.729561
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