Visit Us

Directions to Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge: From the town of Monte Vista, drive south on State Hwy 15 (Gunbarrel Road) for 6 miles to the entrance of the Refuge. The small office and visitor contact station at the Refuge is located at the start of the Wildlife Drive. The visitor contact station is operated by volunteers and may not be open on a regular schedule.  All brochures and refuge information will be posted in the kiosk located near the entrance of the Wildlife Drive.  

For more information, please call us at 719-589-4021 or by email at alamosa@fws.gov. You can also contact Friends of the San Luis Valley Refuges for more information.  http://slvrefuges.org/

Trails

The short Meadowlark Trail is one-quarter mile long. The trail meanders around a wetland and allows visitors up-close views of wildlife.  

Other Facilities in the Complex

About the Complex

The San Luis Valley National Wildlife Refuge Complex is made up of the Alamosa, Monte Vista, and Baca National Wildlife Refuges and is an area set aside for migratory birds and resident wildlife. These Refuges are a part of the National Wildlife Refuge System, a network of lands set aside and managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service specifically for wildlife. The Refuge System is a living heritage, conserving wildlife, and habitat for people today and generations to come. 

     The 12,026 acre Alamosa National Wildlife Refuge includes wetland areas, riparian riparian
Definition of riparian habitat or riparian areas.

Learn more about riparian
corridors, wet meadows, and river oxbows. The wetland and river habitats provide a wildlife oasis in this dry region. These habitats support a variety of wildlife, including songbirds, water birds, raptors, deer, beavers, coyotes, and more. 

    The artificially created wetlands on Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge’s 14,804 acres are intensively managed to provide habitat for a wide variety of waterfowl and other water birds. Mallards, pintails, teals, and Canada geese are common, as are American avocets, killdeers, white-faced ibises, egrets, and herons. Irrigation canals and wells provide precious water to maintain this important habitat. 

     The 93,000 acre Baca National Wildlife Refuge is a highly diverse combination of shrublands, grasslands, wet meadows, playa wetlands, and riparian areas. This Refuge was set aside not only as another haven for migratory birds and resident wildlife, but also as an important piece in a broader conservation effort to protect the wildlife, habitat, and water of the north and eastern portions of the San Luis Valley.

Rules and Policies

  • Refuge activities are permitted one hour before legal sunrise until one hour after legal sunset.
  • The Wildlife Drive is open year round to automobiles, foot travel, horseback, and bicycling, including e-bikes.
  • Pets must be leashed, and their waste picked up.
Prohibited Activities
  • Traveling off of designated trails or roads.
  • Entering Closed Areas of the Refuge.
  • Camping and Fires.
  • Possession or consumption of alcohol while hunting.
  • Possession of a controlled substance or drug paraphernalia while on all Federal property.
  • Unmanned aircraft systems, including drones.
  • Littering - including pet waste.
  • Searching for or removing cultural artifacts, fossils, or animal parts, including antler sheds.
  • Off-highway vehicles, such as snowmobiles, all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), or utility terrain vehicles (UTVs).

*** Please limit disturbance to wildlife.

Locations

Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge
6120 S Highway 15Monte Vista,CO81144

Refuge Information

The Refuge is open one hour before sunrise to one hour after sunset for Refuge permitted activities.

Know before you go:

When you plan for a trip to the Refuge, wear sturdy shoes for hiking and dress for the weather. Bringing water, food, binoculars, field guides, a hat, sunscreen, insect repellent and anything else that might make the outdoor experience more enjoyable.

Areas throughout the Refuge are designated as closed year-round to protect migrating waterfowl or for public safety. Maps of these areas are available at the refuge office kiosk and under the Maps section.

Driving Directions

Directions to Monte Vista Refuge: From the town of Monte Vista, drive south on State Hwy 15 (Gunbarrel Road) for 6 miles to the entrance of the wildlife. The small office and visitor contact station at the Refuge is located at the start of the Wildlife Drive. The visitor contact station is operated by volunteers and may not be open on a regular schedule.  All brochures and refuge information will be posted in the kiosk located near the entrance of the Wildlife Drive.  

For more information, please call us at 719-589-4021 or by email at alamosa@fws.gov. You can also contact Friends of the San Luis Valley Refuges for more information.

Hours
Outdoor Facilities (Wildlife Drive, Comfort Stations, Trails, etc.)
Open 7 days a week
One hour before Sunrise to One hour after Sunset