Alamosa 2019 VG-final

In the early 20th century, the canyon was a refuge for the
Penitente Brotherhood of Catholic monks (Los Hermanos
Penitentes), a secluded group that left its mark on the
landscape by painting a blue Madonna on the cliff that’s
known today as Virgin Wall. It’s also a quick hike on the
Penitente Canyon Loop Trail from the end of North Witches
Canyon Road to see a set of wagon wheel ruts carved into
the soft sandstone. The Penitente Canyon Loop is just over
2.5 miles, if you do the full loop, and is generally considered
to be moderate. The ruts, in fact, are a remnant of the
Old Spanish Trail, cut into the rock by countless passages
of conestoga wagon wheels over the decades. Penitente
also contains the San Luis Valley’s highest concentration of
pictographs, so it’s worth taking a full day to fully explore
the area.
3. FREMONT’S CHRISTMAS CAMP
Few explorers of the American West are as well known as
John C. Fremont, who led four major expeditions to the
West in the mid-19th century. Fremont also had a career
as a military officer and politician, and was, in fact, an
early presidential candidate of the anti-slavery Republican
Party. His career wasn’t entirely glorious, though: His fourth
expedition, over the winter of 1848-1849, was a complete
disaster. Fremont and a guide led a group of 35 men into
the San Juan Mountains, intending to scout a railroad route
through the Central Rockies that would be accessible yearround.
Unsurprisingly, the group was caught in abysmal
weather, including waist-high snow, and was unprepared to
spend a winter in the harsh conditions. The group split up
into smaller parties as supplies dwindled, and eventually the
expedition lost 10 men before being rescued in early 1849.
Today, visitors can hike to what’s been dubbed “Christmas
Camp,” where the party spent much of that December. The
hike begins at Cathedral Campground and runs 4.5 miles to
the erstwhile campsite.
4. ORIENT MINE
Once Colorado’s most prolific producer of iron ore, the
Orient Mine operated from 1880 until 1932. Thanks to its
location on the eastern edge of the San Luis Valley, the
mine’s name was apparently derived from the Latin word for
“east” or “rising sun.” The mine had two town sites, active
during different periods of its existence, and neither of which
still exists today. In its heyday, though, the town sites housed
as many as 400 people and included boarding houses, a
saloon, a library, school, and barbershop, plus a number of
other small local businesses. Today, the Orient Land Trust
works with the Colorado State Historical Society to preserve
the area’s history, and you’ll find interpretive signs along
the trail to the now-defunct mine. For several decades, the
Orient Mine has housed nearly a quarter-million migratory
bats, which play a crucial role in keeping the San Luis Valley
chemical- and pesticide-free. Hike the 3.25-mile roundtrip
trail at dusk to observe the bats as they fly by the thousands
from the Orient Mine.
If you want to explore more of the San Luis Valley’s
many trails, stop by the Colorado Welcome Center in
Alamosa or go to Alamosa.org to find the San Luis Valley
Trail Guide. Whether you are looking for a challenging
alpine adventure or a casual hike with beautiful Colorado
scenery, there is a trail for you.
Sangre De Cristo Weekend Camping Guide