<h4 style="text-align: center;"><em><strong>A quick detour from I-285 S in the town of Monte Vista leads you into the Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge.</strong></em></h4>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img data-attachment-id="5333" data-permalink="https://roadtripsandtinytrailers.com/2019/10/12/monte-vista-wildlife-refuge-co-15/sandhill-cranes-during-the-annual-spring-migration-in-monte-vista-colorado/" data-orig-file="https://roadtripsandtinytrailers.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Monte-Vista-Crane-Festival-Joe-Rubino.jpeg" data-orig-size="1920,940" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{";aperture";:";8";,";credit";:";Phillip Rubino - stock.adobe.com";,";camera";:";NIKON D500";,";caption";:";";,";created_timestamp";:";1520672525";,";copyright";:";2018 Phillip Rubino";,";focal_length";:";600";,";iso";:";360";,";shutter_speed";:";0.0005";,";title";:";Sandhill Cranes during the annual spring migration in Monte Vista, Colorado";,";orientation";:";1";}" data-image-title="Sandhill Cranes during the annual spring migration in Monte Vista, Colorado" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://roadtripsandtinytrailers.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Monte-Vista-Crane-Festival-Joe-Rubino.jpeg" data-large-file="https://roadtripsandtinytrailers.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Monte-Vista-Crane-Festival-Joe-Rubino.jpeg" class="wp-image-5333 aligncenter" src="https://roadtripsandtinytrailers.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Monte-Vista-Crane-Festival-Joe-Rubino.jpeg" alt="flying Sandhill Cranes with mountains in the background" width="488" height="239" /></p>
<p style="text-align: right;">As you enter the town of Monte Vista along I-285, stay on the Hiwy and watch as it <span style="font-size: 1em;">turns into Broadway, Gunbarrel and finally into Highway 15 South. In<img data-attachment-id="5325" data-permalink="https://roadtripsandtinytrailers.com/2019/10/12/monte-vista-wildlife-refuge-co-15/dsc01334-2/" data-orig-file="https://roadtripsandtinytrailers.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/DSC01334-2.jpg" data-orig-size="2560,1669" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{";aperture";:";11";,";credit";:";";,";camera";:";ILCE-7M2";,";caption";:";";,";created_timestamp";:";1564144847";,";copyright";:";";,";focal_length";:";70";,";iso";:";100";,";shutter_speed";:";0.00625";,";title";:";";,";orientation";:";1";}" data-image-title="DSC01334 (2)" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://roadtripsandtinytrailers.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/DSC01334-2.jpg" data-large-file="https://roadtripsandtinytrailers.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/DSC01334-2.jpg" class="wp-image-5325 alignright" style="font-size: 1em;" src="https://roadtripsandtinytrailers.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/DSC01334-2.jpg" alt="Welcome sign at Monte Vista Wildlife Refuge" width="323" height="211" /> app</span><span style="font-size: 1em;">rox 6.5 miles (from when you past 1st St), you will find yourself at the </span><a style="font-size: 1em;" href="https://www.fws.gov/refuge/monte_vista/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge</a><span style="font-size: 1em;">. Watch for the sign at the parking lot.</span></p>
<p style="text-align: right;">At the parking lot there is information posted about the Refuge and the San Luis Valley. There is also a restroom. Take a few minutes for a tailgate picnic and then head into the Refuge.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><img data-attachment-id="5331" data-permalink="https://roadtripsandtinytrailers.com/2019/10/12/monte-vista-wildlife-refuge-co-15/dsc01371-2/" data-orig-file="https://roadtripsandtinytrailers.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/DSC01371-2.jpg" data-orig-size="5893,3929" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{";aperture";:";11";,";credit";:";";,";camera";:";ILCE-7M2";,";caption";:";";,";created_timestamp";:";1564146079";,";copyright";:";";,";focal_length";:";70";,";iso";:";100";,";shutter_speed";:";0.005";,";title";:";";,";orientation";:";1";}" data-image-title="DSC01371 (2)" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://roadtripsandtinytrailers.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/DSC01371-2-300x200.jpg" data-large-file="https://roadtripsandtinytrailers.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/DSC01371-2-1024x683.jpg" class=" wp-image-5331 alignleft" src="https://roadtripsandtinytrailers.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/DSC01371-2.jpg" alt="moss covered lake on Plains" width="363" height="242" /></p>
<p style="text-align: left;">The Wildlife Refuge is a 2.5 mi loop, along which you&#8217;ll enjoy lakes, <a href="https://roadtripsandtinytrailers.com/2018/02/04/wetlands-fun-facts-landscapes" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">marshes</a>, and many different kinds of waterfowl. The are informational signs posted throughout where you can learn about this unique area. Make sure to have your camera ready!<strong><em><img data-attachment-id="5329" data-permalink="https://roadtripsandtinytrailers.com/2019/10/12/monte-vista-wildlife-refuge-co-15/dsc01352-2/" data-orig-file="https://roadtripsandtinytrailers.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/DSC01352-2.jpg" data-orig-size="2560,1707" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{";aperture";:";11";,";credit";:";";,";camera";:";ILCE-7M2";,";caption";:";";,";created_timestamp";:";1564145571";,";copyright";:";";,";focal_length";:";70";,";iso";:";100";,";shutter_speed";:";0.004";,";title";:";";,";orientation";:";1";}" data-image-title="DSC01352 (2)" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://roadtripsandtinytrailers.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/DSC01352-2.jpg" data-large-file="https://roadtripsandtinytrailers.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/DSC01352-2.jpg" class="wp-image-5329 alignright" src="https://roadtripsandtinytrailers.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/DSC01352-2.jpg" alt="signs about water fowl in San Luis Valley" width="326" height="217" /></em></strong></p>
<h5 style="text-align: center;"><strong><em> </em></strong></h5>
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<h5 style="text-align: left;"><strong><em>I</em></strong><strong><em>f you happen to be passing through in spring between mid-February and mid-April or in mid-October, check online for the Sandhill Crane Migration. It is a sight you will never forget!!</em></strong></h5>
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<p style="text-align: center;"> <em><strong>To return to I-285, continue on 15 South until you get to Hiwy 370 East. Go Left on 370 E for 14 miles, and you&#8217;ll be right back on I-285 just south of Alamosa. </strong></em></p>
<p style="text-align: right;"><img data-attachment-id="5328" data-permalink="https://roadtripsandtinytrailers.com/2019/10/12/monte-vista-wildlife-refuge-co-15/dsc01347-2/" data-orig-file="https://roadtripsandtinytrailers.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/DSC01347-2.jpg" data-orig-size="2560,1707" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{";aperture";:";10";,";credit";:";";,";camera";:";ILCE-7M2";,";caption";:";";,";created_timestamp";:";1564145362";,";copyright";:";";,";focal_length";:";70";,";iso";:";100";,";shutter_speed";:";0.00625";,";title";:";";,";orientation";:";1";}" data-image-title="DSC01347 (2)" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://roadtripsandtinytrailers.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/DSC01347-2.jpg" data-large-file="https://roadtripsandtinytrailers.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/DSC01347-2.jpg" class=" wp-image-5328 alignleft" src="https://roadtripsandtinytrailers.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/DSC01347-2.jpg" alt="Clouds reflected in water of a lake with yellow flower in foreground" width="294" height="196" /><img data-attachment-id="5330" data-permalink="https://roadtripsandtinytrailers.com/2019/10/12/monte-vista-wildlife-refuge-co-15/dsc01369-2/" data-orig-file="https://roadtripsandtinytrailers.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/DSC01369-2.jpg" data-orig-size="2560,1707" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{";aperture";:";8";,";credit";:";";,";camera";:";ILCE-7M2";,";caption";:";";,";created_timestamp";:";1564146044";,";copyright";:";";,";focal_length";:";300";,";iso";:";100";,";shutter_speed";:";0.0025";,";title";:";";,";orientation";:";1";}" data-image-title="DSC01369 (2)" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://roadtripsandtinytrailers.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/DSC01369-2.jpg" data-large-file="https://roadtripsandtinytrailers.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/DSC01369-2.jpg" class=" wp-image-5330 alignleft" src="https://roadtripsandtinytrailers.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/DSC01369-2.jpg" alt="moss covered lake with ducks on Plains" width="296" height="197" />To use the &#8220;20 min in Colorado&#8221; Category, read <strong><a href="https://roadtripsandtinytrailers.com/2017/08/13/introduction-to-20-min-in-colorado" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">HERE</a></strong></p>
<p style="text-align: right;"><strong>For the Homepage of this Website, Click <a href="https://wordpress.com/posts/roadtripsandtinytrailers.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">HERE,</a> &; <span style="text-decoration: underline;">remember to subscribe and leave a comment.</span> I&#8217;d love to hear from you!</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: right;"><strong>HOW TO NAVIGATE THIS WEBSITE CLICK <em><a href="https://roadtripsandtinytrailers.com/2019/03/01/https-wordpress-com-block-editor-post-roadtripsandtinytrailers-com-3237-how-to-use-this-website" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">HERE</a></em></strong></p>
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