The Great Sand Dunes are one of nature's most painstaking creations. Hundreds of feet high and more than a thousand miles from the nearest ocean beach, these huge drifting dunes accumulated over the eons as winds gathered and swept sand against the west face of the Sangre de Cristo Range. That slow, determined process reflects the spirit of the San Luis Valley - a high, enormous, sun-baked flat between the Sangres, and the San Juan foothills. Life here would not seem to have changed much since the 1600s, when Spain cast its claim over this region. Los Caminos Antiguos take you to Colorado's oldest surviving community (San Luis, 1851), the oldest church (Our Lady of Guadalupe, in Conejos), and one of its first military posts (Fort Garland). Drive, explore, take your time- there's plenty of it to spare.

Navigating the Byway:

• The byway begins in Alamosa.
• Take SR 17 north to Lane 6.
• Travel east on Lane 6 to SR 150 and turn south
• Follow SR 150 to the next intersection and turn east on SR 160.
• Follow US 160 through Blanca and Fort Garland.
• At Fort Garland turn south on SR 159 toward San Luis.
• At San Luis take SR 142 west toward Romeo passing through San Acacio, Manassa, and the Rio Grande.
• At Romeo turn south on US 285 toward Antonito.
• At Antonito turn west on SR 17 toward Megote and Las Mesitas.
• The byway continues onto US Forest Service land and through Manga and Cumbres passes. The route ends at the state border with New Mexico