Just off of Highway 17, directly to the west of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains & Great Sand Dunes National Park is the very fun and interesting UFO Watchtower. It’s basically an International Dark Sky Area so you’re bound to see not only stars, planets, and satellites, but also some extraterrestrial visitors! The valley is full of UFO sightings. Apparently, since 1566. The little museum features the skeleton of the first horse mutilation in the valley, the ill-fated Snippy the Horse.

There are campgrounds for RVs and tents, a little gift shop, vortexes, a healing garden, and a 10 foot tower with a 360° view of the San Luis Valley, the San Juans, the Sangre de Cristo, the stars, and our little green friends. I want to believe.