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San Luis Valley

Submitted By: John McNamee on Feb 26, 2006
Administrators: Ben Mottinger, Leo Paik, John McNamee, Frances Fierst, Monomaniac
Latitude: 37.6947  Longitude: -106.3480 
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Map of the San Luis Valley


Introduction 

Spanning almost 8,000 square miles, the San Luis Valley is the world's largest alpine valley. The average altitude is 7,500 feet, so it can be very warm in the summer and very cold at night in the winter. With the Sangre de Cristo Mountains to the east and the Rio Grande to the west.

The San Luis Valley sits atop the Rio Grande Rift, a split in the crust of the Earth where the sides are pulling away from each other. If the Valley floor were excavated, bedrock would be down about 30,000 feet, making the bottom of the Valley close to 4 miles below sea level. Over millenia, the mountains surrounding the Valley have eroded away, filling in the hole with rock, sand and earth. Quite a few streams flow into the Valley, only to sink into the ground before they go very far.


Getting There 

This is part of the reorg of the Colorado site.

From the Denver Metro area you can go US 285 W all the way into the valley. You can also take I-70 to CO 91 through Breckinridge to US 24 S to US 285.

From Grand Junction, you can take US 50 E to US 285 near Poncha Springs, then go south on US 285.

From Durango, you can take US 160 E to US 285 N.


Resources 

Camping is availabe at Penintente Canyon; however, it now costs a bit and has standard BLM regulations. Water is provided down the road from the climbing / camping area (another recent development - follow the signs), and the nearest 'goods' can be found at the 'La Garita Cash Store'.

There are a variety of small, charming B&B type accomodations throughout the valley, in Poncha Springs, La Garita, Del Norte. There are a smattering of motels/hotels in the area as well.

Alamosa is the largest town in the valley for supplies, etc.


The Classics

Mountain Project's determination of some of the classic, most popular, highest rated routes for San Luis Valley:
Ligneous Embracer   5.9     Sport   Rock Garden
How The West Was Won   5.9     Sport   Penitente Canyon : Penitente - Inner Canyon
Captain America   5.10a     Sport, 1 pitch   Penitente Canyon : Penitente - Entrance Area
Bucket Slave   5.10b     Trad, Sport, 1 pitch   Penitente Canyon : Penitente - Entrance Area
Jewel Of The Mild   5.10c     Sport, 1 pitch   Penitente Canyon : Penitente - Inner Canyon
Yah-Ta-Hei   5.10c     Sport, 1 pitch, 60 feet   Penitente Canyon : Penitente - Entrance Area
Breakdown Dead Ahead   5.10d     Sport, 1 pitch, 70 feet   Penitente Canyon : Penitente - Inner Canyon
Tanks for the Hueco   5.10d     Sport, 1 pitch, 70 feet   Penitente Canyon : Penitente - Inner Canyon
Brown Sugar   5.11a     Sport, 1 pitch   Penitente Canyon : Penitente - Inner Canyon
Whipping Post   5.11a     Sport, 1 pitch, 50 feet   Penitente Canyon : Penitente - Entrance Area
Not My Cross To Bear   5.11a/b     Sport, 1 pitch   Penitente Canyon : Penitente - Inner Canyon
Copasetic   5.11b     Sport, 1 pitch, 50 feet   Rock Garden
Dos Hombres   5.11b     Sport, 1 pitch, 40 feet   Penitente Canyon : Penitente - Entrance Area
Lunge for Jesus   5.11b     Sport, 1 pitch, 50 feet   Witches Canyon : Main Canyon
Shear Strength   5.11     Sport, 1 pitch, 40 feet   Penitente Canyon : Penitente - Inner Canyon
Los Hermanos de la Weenie Way   5.11c     Sport, 1 pitch   Penitente Canyon : Penitente - Inner Canyon
Forbidden Fruits   5.12a     Sport, 1 pitch, 50 feet   Penitente Canyon : Penitente - Entrance Area
Dazed and Confuzed   5.12a     Sport, 1 pitch, 50 feet   Penitente Canyon : Penitente - Inner Canyon
Bullet the Blue Sky   5.12c/d     Sport, 1 pitch   Penitente Canyon : Penitente - Inner Canyon
A Virgin No More   5.13a     Sport, 1 pitch, 70 feet   Penitente Canyon : Penitente - Inner Canyon
Browse More Classics in San Luis Valley

Featured Route For San Luis Valley
Pulling through what I think was the crux

Breakdown Dead Ahead 5.10d  CO : San Luis Valley : ... : Penitente - Inner Canyon
This is the line just right of Tanks for Hueco. It shares the same start (a lieback up a black corner) and then heads up the fantastic pockets on the overhanging wall. In my opinion a more appropriate finish (in terms of difficulty) than Tanks for Hueco. Oh, the guide rates it at 11b, but it is not nearly that hard....[more]   Browse More Classics in CO


Photos of San Luis Valley Slideshow Add Photo
Pair of bald eagles with Little Bear and Blanca Peaks in the background.

Pair of bald eagles with Little Bear and Blanca Pe...

Evening t-storm spattering the Sangre de Cristos in the San Luis Valley.

Evening t-storm spattering the Sangre de Cristos i...

Steve Mestdagh climbing at Penitente, photo: Bob Horan.

Steve Mestdagh climbing at Penitente, photo: Bob H...

GATORS IN COLORADO!?!?!? Gotta stop here if you have a rest day.

GATORS IN COLORADO!?!?!? Gotta stop here if you ha...

Totally worth the $10.

Totally worth the $10.

fun at the dunes, soo much to do

fun at the dunes, soo much to do


Comments on San Luis Valley Add Comment
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By Scott Miller
From: Denver, CO
May 3, 2006

Hey, Honest mistake it's not often you meet a Colorado legend in the dark. Thought he was some bum trying to talk shit, "Yeah I wrote the guide book." Anyway, can't thank you enough for all the hard work Bob.
About the ticks, I've seen a growing number of them in the past few years. (Castlewood, Penitente, Boulder,and Summit County) I seem to be a magnet for them, just a little heads up to all with dogs and little ones. Nasty little buggers.