Great Sand Dunes & Medino Pass

[krazykat69]

Marc,
I did live in Salida, then in a 1908 farm house between Monte Vista and Del Norte.
Currently in El Rito, NM but we'll eventually end up back in Del Norte. As much as we love NM (my native state) there is no place on earth like the San Luis Valley. Mt. Blanca and the peaks above Del Norte got a heavy dusting of snow this morning.

Are you bringing the 100? There's a published back roads route tour thing into the mountains from Creede. Wheeler Geologic area for another 4x4 adventure. Summitville is a great high elevation drive. One of endless possibilities...

Otherwise, Creede is full of galleries and museums. Del Norte has funky shops and that river walk. Great museum...

The San Dunes are sublime...

It's endless...

Totally agree with your thoughts on the San Luis valley area, So much to see in this area. We did a trip up to South Fork last year and explored those areas you mentioned. Summitville!! Missed the Wheeler area, so next time. So much history to explore. Would add the Valley View Hot Springs as a good place to soak off the big city pollution. LOL!!!

 

[alia176]

Marc - go to the Rio Grande reservoir from a little ways away from Creede. You'll get lots of fishing and dirt wheeling opportunities. There are couple of small ponds before you get to the actual reservoirs which I think you might find more appealing. The reservoir itself is Meh, at best but I'm not an angler. You can technically go all the way to Silverton on this dirt trail, but your wife will murder you, again, and again, and again......

 

[alia176]

 

[marcfj60]

Marc - go to the Rio Grande reservoir from a little ways away from Creede. You'll get lots of fishing and dirt wheeling opportunities. There are couple of small ponds before you get to the actual reservoirs which I think you might find more appealing. The reservoir itself is Meh, at best but I'm not an angler. You can technically go all the way to Silverton on this dirt trail, but your wife will murder you, again, and again, and again......

I've driven Stony Pass twice from Silverton, over to the reservoir, and back. The last time was 2 months ago during the annual Cruisers on the Rockies event (I was actually the trail leader both times) . I fished the Rio Grande above the reservoir this last time and caught a very healthy rainbow. But I've never been downstream from the reservoir so I'm looking forward to seeing what that looks like. I'll keep my eyes open for the smaller ponds but I prefer river/stream fishing when I am fly fishing.