May 15-19, 2026
Alamosa is the gateway city to Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve. I stayed at the Alamosa KOA and explored the area for three days.
My first night there I went out to a local spot for dinner and had Rocky Mountain Oysters for the first time; I just had to. The owner told me they sell more of that appetizer than any other. They were pretty good but I tend to avoid deep fried food so probably will never get them again.
Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve
The next day I headed to the dunes.
The dunes are enormous covering 39 square miles and the tallest dune rises 750 feet above the valley plain.
It was a Saturday and the park was pretty crowded. The main attraction is sledding and / or boarding down the dunes. Unfortunately there is no ski lift to take you back to the top and it is a workout to hike the dunes. My original intent was to make it to the top of one of the lower peaks but I gave up about half way up.
This about where I turned around. Much easier walking down than up.
Zapata Falls – Part 1
Zapata Falls is a popular hike in the nearby mountains. Hiking guides warn that you need to “wade” across the creek if you want to see the falls. It’s about a 3/4 mile hike from the trail head to the falls. I wanted to see what “wading” a creek would be like.
As I hiked from the trail head most of the hikers coming the opposite direction looked completely dry so I was hopeful that I could the falls without getting wet.
Once there I decided that I would definitely end up with wet feet if I went for it and did not want that. I committed to return with proper foot wear.
Stations of the Cross
Not far from Alamosa is the oldest town in Colorado – San Luis. The town is home to The Stations of the Cross bronze sculptures by internationally known San Luis artist Huberto Maestas.
Station 1 – Pilates condemns Jesus to die
Station 2 – Jesus accepts his cross
Station 3 – Jesus falls the first time
Station 4 – Jesus meets his mother
Station 5 – Simon helps carry the cross
Station 6 – Veronica wipes the face of Jesus
Station 7 – Jesus falls the second time
Station 8 – Jesus speaks to the women
Station 9 – Jesus falls the third time
Station 10 – Jesus is stripped of his garments
Station 11 – Jesus is nailed to the cross
Station 12 – The crucifixion, Jesus dies on the cross
Station 13 – Jesus is taken from the cross
Station 14 – Jesus is laid in the tomb
Station 15 – The resurrection of Jesus
The Chapel
Zapata Falls – again
After touring The Stations of the Cross I went to a local outfitter and bought proper water shoes so I could revisit Zapata Falls. I also bought trekking pole as I didn’t trust my balance walking on the river rock.
The water was cold but I just went for it. You enter about a 50 ft slot canyon and then you see the falls. This was a Monday and it was much less crowded than on Saturday.
Definitely a cool hike and worth the investment in shoes and trekking poles.