COLORADO 5 Monte Vista Crane Festival What better way to immerse yourself in Colorado’s majesty than watching thousands of birds with 6-foot wingspans dot the sky in front of the snowcapped San Juan Mountains? Now in its 42nd year, March’s Monte Vista Crane Festival is an event-filled adventure. Offerings range from a craft and nature fair to movie screenings, speakers and expert-led bus tours in Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge to learn about sandhill crane migrations. Keep your binoculars ready to spot other birds, too, including ducks, geese, owls, eagles and raptors. If you prefer to explore on your own, the refuge has a walking trail, interpretive auto-tour route and designated pull-offs to maximize your viewing opportunities. Make the most of it: Looking for an all-encompassing San Luis Valley trip? Just 40 miles east of Monte Vista are the tallest dunes in North America — found in Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve. Monte Vista Crane Festival 6 International Snow Sculpting Championship Each January, visitors flock to this frosty fest in Breckenridge to watch pros from around the world gently coax intricate sculptures out of 25-ton blocks of snow. Over the course of five days, they create jaw-dropping and whimsical scenes of mythical creatures, larger-than-life natural phenomena and elaborate abstract artworks — all without the use of power tools. Food trucks, hot cocoa, music performances and a beer garden keep things lively, and those in the know go around sunset to see golden hour’s sparkling effect on the frozen masterpieces. PATRICK MYERS; MATT INDEN/MILES PARTNERSHIP Make the most of it: Viewing the sculptures while they’re being carved is free, but timed-entry reservations may be required. International Snow Sculpting Championship in Breckenridge COLORADO . COM 125
Colorado Official State Vacation Guide 2025: Page 125
