The San Luis Valley Outdoor Report for the week of April 1, 2026.
Alamosa’s tree canopy is slowly changing. On the latest episode we’re joined by Allison Steere, project director for Alamosa’s Tree Access Project, and Max Muller, a forester with the Colorado State Forest Service.
They’re planting more trees this month with a tree-planting event at the Alamosa dog park. It’s called Bark & Bark. It’s April 18 and a wide variety of trees that will add to Alamosa’s diversity will be planted that day. It’s a community event and if you want to plant some trees, be sure to join them.
Tune in here, or wherever you get your podcasts. We hope you enjoy.
OUTDOOR CONDITIONS
We might actually see a bit of moisture this week in Alamosa and the greater San Luis Valley. The forecast shows a 50 percent chance for rain on Wednesday, April 1. No foolin’.
But that’s about the extent of it as March created an amazing wave of heat that launched an early spring runoff.
The closing days of March saw 12 out of 13 days establish new daily high temperatures — from March 18 to March 30.
In that stretch were nine consecutive days of new daily high marks. The hottest of the days was 83 degrees on March 21, which is also now the hottest day ever recorded in March, and then on March 25 the mercury reached 81.
What’s new is that this century an 80-degree reading had never been registered in the month of March until 2026.
The rest of spring looks warm and dry. The hope is for an El Niño summer that would bring rain along with the heat.
The hot spring weather is creating scary wildfire conditions.
The Chama Canyon fire in Costilla County was successfully contained after burning 146 acres. It’s the Valley’s largest fire of the season so far. Brush fires were found in many parts of the Valley. Much of the Valley remains under fire weather watch advisories and red flag warnings. Conejos County has implemented outdoor water restrictions for its residents.
The Morrill Fire in Nebraska, the largest fire in its state history, is now 100 percent contained after burning more than 642,000 acres.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
TREE SALE
The City of Alamosa is having a low-cost tree sale. Bring more shade, beauty, and resilience to your neighborhood. The city of Alamosa Tree Board is offering tree planting kits for $20 each.
The pre-order deadline is April 3. Reserve your tree here.
Pre-order required to reserve your tree. Any unsold trees will be available first-come, first-served on April 17.
Trees must be planted within city limits. Purchasers must live in the city of Alamosa.
Each tree planting kit includes:
- 1 tree (5-gallon sized)
- 5 gallon bucket with drainage holes (for easy watering)
- Bucket filled with mulch
Questions? Contact Allison at steere.tree.landscape@gmail.com
Trees purchased through the Colorado Tree Coalition in partnership with the city of Alamosa Tree Board.
BIRD WATCHING
Join SLV GO! for a morning of bird watching at Oxbow Trail this Saturday, April 4, from 7:30-9:30 a.m. The meet up is at the Alamosa Disc Golf Course
Then join again on the evening of Sunday, April 4, at the Homelake State Wildlife Area. Bird watching at Homelake is from 5-7 p.m.
Two more bird watching events are set for April 11 at the Ripiarian Park in Alamosa and April 12 at the Monte Vista Wildlife Refuge.
The Valley Calendar on AlamosaCitizen.com has these bird watching events and more.
MOUNTAINFILM ON TOUR
MountainFilm on Tour, the travelling documentary film festival, will be in Monte Vista on Thursday, April 16. This year the films will be shown at The Church Project Community Art Center.
This is the fifth year that MountainFilm on Tour has stopped in the San Luis Valley and its first year at the Church Project.
Doors open at 5:30 p.m. for a social hour that includes a raffle drawing and food from Suavecito Grill.
The 90-minute selection of films will begin at 6:30 p.m. with a brief intermission.
The Monte Vista Church Project is located at 256 S Broadway St. in Monte Vista. General admission is $20. Buy your tickets at the door or online here.
Tune into the latest Creative Citizen podcast to listen to SLVGO’s Dani Robben talk about the upcoming fest.
“As opposed to an image, videography really allows you to connect to a place on a deeper level and to the people that are in the film and the people that are behind the camera. It draws you to the people and the place in a really powerful way,” Robben said.
COLORADO E-BIKE RIDES
Join the Colorado E-Bike Shop in the heart of the San Luis Valley for the Dunes and Peaks Pedal, a one-of-a-kind e-bike adventure that showcases the wide-open beauty and bold landscapes surrounding Alamosa.
The ride will roll out from Cole Park in Alamosa on Saturday, May 2, at 8:30 a.m. This fully supported ride is routed across the Valley floor with stunning views of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, glimpses of the Great Sand Dunes, and quiet, peaceful roads.
Dunes and Peaks Pedal is designed to be approachable and fun, for all experience levels. With the help of e-bikes, the landscape opens up to everyone.
Expect a relaxed, community-focused atmosphere, ride support along the route, and plenty of moments to take it all in. This isn’t a race, it’s a celebration of rural Colorado, fresh air, and experiencing the outdoors together.
Register for this ride here.
BIKE 2 BUILD
The 2026 Bike2Build San Luis Valley bike ride is Saturday, July 25. Hosted and supported by the San Luis Valley Habitat for Humanity, Bike2Build helps fund affordable housing in the community.
The ride will host a Half Century 56-mile ride and a shorter 26-mile loop.
- Early Morning Check-In: 7-7:30 a.m., Alamosa Recreation Center
- Group Photo and Grand Start: 7:30 a.m.
- Cyclists depart together for a scenic journey through the heart of Alamosa County.
The Rides – Choose your challenge:
- Half Century (56 Miles): A rewarding distance for seasoned riders looking to soak in the expansive valley vistas.
- The 26-Mile Loop: A shorter, scenic option perfect for intermediate cyclists or those who want more time to explore downtown later.
Post-Ride Celebration:
- Enjoy a well-earned post-ride meal with fellow cyclists at the Recreation Center.
- After-Hours at the Brewery – Evening, Colorado Farm Brewery, a relaxing evening of live music.
Registration is open here. Please email any questions to bikes@slvhabitat.org.
OUTDOOR NEWS
FISHING LICENSES ON SALE
Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) is selling fishing licenses for the 2026-2027 fishing season. Fishing licenses are valid from March 1, 2026, through March 31, 2027 (13 months). Regulations and pricing for annual, daily and multi-day fishing licenses are available in the new 2026 Colorado Fishing Brochure (Pesca en Colorado En Español). Youth age 15 and younger fish for free.
Anglers can purchase a license online at cpwshop.com, by phone at 1-800-244-5613, in-person at a CPW office or through a sales agent. CPW also offers specialty licenses and passes for veterans, people with disabilities, seniors, income eligible residents and first responders.
VILSACK RESIGNS FROM CO BLM
Doug Vilsack, Colorado’s director of the Bureau of Land Management, resigned earlier in March instead of taking a different position. As part of a shuffling of western BLM directors from the Trump Administration, Vilsack said that BLM leadership in Washington D.C. had transferred him to the National Operations Center in Lakewood. He said instead of taking that position, he decided to resign.
Signing off in his email, he wrote to his employees, “I’m sure our paths will cross in years to come in our professional lives or, even better, on a river or trail. Until then, keep up the good work. Our country needs good people like you caring for our treasured public lands.”