Opportunities to acquire land for public access are extremely rare in the San Luis Valley. COL collaborated with a private landowner to conserve 398 acres adjacent to Rito Seco Park. Now conserved, the landowner has sold the land to Costilla County to expand the park. Trail expansion and public access planning for this parcel will begin later in 2025.
The Rito Seco (meaning “dry creek“) twists its way through the property for 0.75 miles before emptying onto the valley floor and flowing through the Town of San Luis. The parcel is surrounded on three sides by the Sangre de Cristo Greenbelt. In addition to the benefits for humans, the mosaic of vegetation types on the property provides winter range habitat for mule deer and elk, as well as summer habitat for bear and for Canada lynx. The stream corridor provides plenty of aquatic and riparian habitat as evidenced by the multiple active beaver ponds.
Original landowner Mike Kruse said, “I think it is a very good easement for the County and for the community to work with because that land is very special. I’m so glad we don’t have to put houses there and we can leave the creek as it is. It deserves to remain open.”