Quick Tips
- Fly fish Huerfano Creek
- Visit Sand Dunes National Monument
| species | general Size | trophy potential |
|---|---|---|
| Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep | 160"-170" | 170"+ |
On The Ground
Located in south central Colorado, this unit has thousands of acres of BLM and national forest allowing hunters plenty of space to hunt rams. Extremely steep and rugged terrain will provide a physically strenuous and challenging hunt. Expect to hunt high elevations, and plan to be in shape prior to this hunt. This season is only offered to Colorado resident hunters at this time.
Terrain
Mt. Blanca sets a backdrop at over 14,000 feet above the San Luis Valley. Alpine terrain has several headwaters, Huerfano and Manzanares Creeks, basins and deep steep canyons. Axtel and Denton and California Gulch all lead to irrigated farms on the valley floor.
Roughly 490 square miles
53.4% public land
Elevations from 7,507-14,344 feet
Vegetation
Alpine tundra, lush grassy basins, steep areas of dark timber consisting of Spruce and fir, ponderosa pines, aspens, oak brush, mountain mahogany, sagebrush, cottonwoods and willows can be found in all elevations throughout this area.
Access
San Isabel and Rio Grande National Forest provide thousands of acres. Sangre de Cristo Wilderness restricts motorized travel. There are miles of backcountry hiking on trails, and off trails. Backpack camping will help to access some of the more remote parts of the unit. West of Gardner, County Road 550 heads toward the eastern side of the Sangre De Cristo Range. County Road 575 heads south and leads to the Manzanares Creek Trailhead. County Road 580 continues west to Ute Trail and Lily Lake Trailhead. From the west, use Colorado Route 150 that leads to the Great Sand Dune National Monument at the Mosca Pass Trailhead.
Camping and Lodging
Both San Isabel and Rio Grande National Forest provides dispersed camping. Alamosa, the largest community in the San Luis Valley, provides motels, restaurants, fuel options and medical care. Walsenburg on the eastern edge along Interstate 25 has motels, cafes, gas, diesel and limited medical care.
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