Conejos County
Author(s): Andrew Spencer, Nathan Pieplow
County Seat: Conejos
County Size: 1,290 square miles
Low Elevation: 7,295 ft. - Rio Grande River on the NM border
High Elevation : 13,172 ft. - Conejos Peak
Best Birds : Golden-winged Warbler (1998), Black Phoebe (1996)
Checklist : Download pdf | View HTML
Introduction: Conejos County. This southern San Luis Valley county is little-birded, but has big potential. It is a county of high mountains, large reservoirs, extensive sagebrush plains and bad bridges. In short, this is one of those magical counties that has a little bit of everything!
Birding Locations
Alamosa Canyon and Cat Creek Canyon
Aliases - Cat Creek Canyon
Description - Both these canyons sport extensive riparian cottonwoods along their bottoms that may be good for breeders and migrants.
Habitat - Lowland Riparian
Directions - The riparian area in Cat Creek Canyon, along FR 250, is 2.5 or so miles east of the intersection of FR 250 and FR 255 right by Terrace Reservoir. Alamosa Canyon, along CR BB, can be reached by going 25 miles from the intersection of state route 15 and US route 285, following state route 15 when it bends north, to CR BB, and going west (left) on CR BB 4.5 miles. It can also be reached from Terrace Reservoir by going 4 miles east on FR 250 and bearing left onto CR BB and going 0.5 miles to the riparian area.
Delorme - 89 A7, 90 A1
Roads of Colorado - 150 A1-B1
Hot Creek State Wildlife Area
Description - This remote SWA has an enormous spring system with extensive marsy areas that are good for both rails, Yellow-headed Blackbird, Savannah Sparrow and other species typical of this habitat. Pinyon Jays can usually be found in the surrounding P-J forest. The road in requires high clearance, mostly due to a stream crossing with 2-3 feet of water.
Habitat - Wet Meadow, Pinyon-Juniper Forest
Directions - This SWA is reached by going 2.8 miles from the intersection of state route 15 and FR 255 (see the directions to Terrace Reservoir), and taking a left onto an unmarked rough road. A low-clearance vehicle will not be able to travel far down this road. The best habitat is from 1 to 2 miles along this road from FR 255.
Delorme - 90 B1
Roads of Colorado - 134 B1-2
Trujillo Meadows State Wildlife Area
Description - A stone's throw from New Mexico, this terrific area is not to be missed. The large wet meadow adjacent to C-17 near Cumbres Pass can be good for willow specialists such as Fox and Lincoln's Sparrows and Wilson's Warblers. Pine Grosbeaks permeate the surrounding trees. The forest along the road to the lake is good for this and other high mountain specialties. The lake itself has had diving ducks including Lesser Scaup, Ring-necked Duck and Common Merganser. After birding the lake, if you have not gotten enough beautiful montane habitat, you can continue on to explore Forest Road 118c.
Habitat - Spruce-Fir Forest, Mixed-Conifer Forest, Mountain Meadow, Streamside Willow, Reservoir
Directions - From Antonito, travel 35 miles on state route 17 over La Manga Pass to FR 118. Go right on FR 118 and follow 2 miles to the reservoir boat ramp, the best place to scan the lake.
Delorme - 89 D6
Roads of Colorado - 149 E3
Terrace Reservoir
Description - As one book aptly put it, this is the prettiest dead reservoir in Colorado--mostly due to extreme mineral contamination by nearby mines. However, the streamside riparian and spruce habitats just west of here are good for many montane species, including Dusky Grouse.
Habitat - Reservoir, Streamside Willow, Spruce-Fir Forest
Directions - From the intersection of US 287 and CO 15, travel west on CO 15 for 10.5 miles to where it turns north. Follow route 15 right and then take an immediate left onto FR 255. Follow FR 255 for 11 miles to the reservoir. There are multiple entrances to the SWA off FR 255, but depending on water levels the easternmost ones may be of no use.
Delorme - 89 B7
Roads of Colorado - 150 A1
Conejos Canyon
Aliases - Mogote Recreation Area
Description - All along this road, look for typical ponderosa birds, as well as dipper and riparian species. The Mogote Recreation Area at the entrance to the canyon is a particularly good place to access various habitats: ponderosa around the campground, PJ on the south-facing slope across the highway, and mid-elevation riparian along the stream. In the recreation area (a fee area) you can get things like Warbling Vireo, Cassin's Finch, Dusky Flycatcher, bluebirds, etcetera.
Habitat - Ponderosa Forest, Pinyon-Juniper Forest, Lowland Riparian, Stream
Directions - From Antonito, take CO 17 west. CO 17 passes through Upper Conejos Canyon starting at FR 250 east. There are multiple pullouts along the road between FR 250 and Antonito. The Mogote Recreation Area is some twelve miles west of Antonito on the south side of CO 17.
Delorme - 89 C7-D7, 90 D1-D2
Roads of Colorado - 150 A3-B3
Platoro Reservoir
Description - This spectacular high-mountain reservoir is spectacularly devoid of birds, like many deep steep-sided mountain reservoirs in Colorado. However, the surrounding forest can be good for mountain birds. Of particular note is Forest Road 380 north of the reservoir, which winds through some tremendous old-growth spruce-fir forest. We have found Boreal Owl along this road just north of the Rio Grande county line.
Habitat - Reservoir, Spruce-Fir Forest, Mountain Meadow, Streamside Willow
Directions - Note: distances are approximate. This lake not only spectacularly devoid of birds, it is spectacularly remote! From Antonito, travel 22.5 miles west on State Route 17 to FR 250. Take a right onto FR 250 and follow it for 24 miles to FR 247. Go left onto FR 247. A smaller lake is .4 miles along FR 247, and the actual reservoir starts at .6 miles from FR 250.
Delorme - 89 B5
Roads of Colorado - 149 E1
La Jara Reservoir State Wildlife Area
Description - Simply put, this is the best lake in the county. In the fall, this lake has ducks galore, with a good mix of dabblers and divers, as well as the occasional gull and grebe. It would definitely be worth checking out for rarities. Pinyon Jay and Bushtit can be found along the road to the reservoir. (Note: as of fall 2003, the reservoir was nearly empty of water.)
Habitat - Reservoir, Aspen Grove, Sagebrush
Directions - La Jara Reservoir is reached by going .5 miles from the intersection of FR 255 and state route 15 (see the directions to Terrace Reservoir) and taking a left onto FR 240 (there is a sign to La Jara Reservoir at the intersection). Follow FR 240 for 12 miles to FR 259 and take a left. Follow FR 259 for 1 mile to the reservoir dam and a good place to scan the south end of the reservoir. FR 259 also goes along the eastern edge of the reservoir for a ways and provides further vantage points.
Delorme - 89 B7
Roads of Colorado - 150 A2
Small pond along CR 24
Description - When it has water, this small intermittent pond can be among the best in the San Luis Valley, with good concentrations of dabblers, divers and shorebirds, as well as the occasional American Bittern.
Habitat - Pond, Marsh
Directions - From the intersection of the Conejos/Alamosa county line and US route 285 go east on Alamosa CR 15 s/Conejos CR CC for 6 miles to Conejos CR 24. Take a right on CR 24 and go 1.5 miles to the pond, on the left.
Delorme - 90 B4
Roads of Colorado - 151 D1
Pond along CR Z by Costilla county line
Description - Though hard to see from the road, this pond should be checked for waders, ducks and dabblers. White-faced Ibis has been seen here. In normal springs and wet summers the fields all along this road can flood, creating great habitat for ducks, waders, phalaropes and the like.
Habitat - Pond
Directions - From the previous location, go 1.5 miles south to CR Z and take a right onto CR Z. Follow CR Z for 3.5 miles to where it bends south. Follow CR Z around the bend and go another .5 miles to where it bends back east. This bend is generally the best viewing point for the pond, which is just NE of this point.
Delorme - 91 B5
Roads of Colorado - 151 E1
Sego Springs State Wildlife Area
Description - This SWA and the adjacent creek have extensive lowland riparian habitat, as well as a couple of small ponds with associated cattail marshes, good for Marsh Wren and dabblers. Sage Sparrows breed along the entrance road. The SWA is probably good for migrants, but is closed from roughly March to August, during the waterfowl breeding season.
Habitat - Pond, Marsh, Lowland Riparian, Sagebrush
Directions - From the intersection of CO 142 and US 285 in Sanford, go east 6.5 miles on CO 142 through Manassa, over a river crossing and past the point where the route bends slightly north to a small dirt road on the left. Follow this road about .75 miles, staying right at all the intersections, til you reach a small parking lot overlooking two small ponds that are sometimes dry.
Delorme - 90 C3-C4
Roads of Colorado - 151 D2
San Luis Hills
Description - (Submitted by John Rawinski) These large hills on the eastern edge of the county are on BLM land but are accessible only on foot. They harbor populations of several species which are rare or absent elsewhere in the SLV, including Black-throated and Sage Sparrows, Bewick's Wren and Blue-gray Gnatcatcher. Juniper Titmouse, a very rare bird in the Valley, has been seen here. The sparrows are usually in the lower canyon and around the parking area; the gnatcatchers nest in the upper canyon, along with such birds as Virginia's Warbler and Dusky Flycatcher; the Bewick's Wrens are up on top. Typical PJ birds like Pinyon Jay, as well as both towhees, can be common throughout the area.
Habitat - Pinyon-Juniper Forest, Sagebrush
Directions - From the junction of Highway 285 (Main Street) and 8th Ave in Antonito (odometer 0.0) travel east on the paved road. At 3.8, the road turns to gravel and at 9.7, there is a cattle guard (grate) across the road. About 100 feet east of the cattle guard, there are two primitive jeep roads that head to the north. Take the east branch and you will be heading northeast for about a mile. Then the road turns to the northwest for another mile, until you see the fence and entrance to John James Canyon. Park there and start your hike up the trail. Passenger cars can make it to this point in dry weather with some care. (Note that these are technically the Pinon Hills, in case your map is confusing you.)
Delorme - 90 C4, 91 C5
Roads of Colorado - 151 D2-E2
Antonito area
Description - For some reason the county roads east of Antonito are particularly good for raptors, including Ferruginous and Rough-legged Hawks, at least in fall/winter. The roadside vegetation can be birdy as well; you might find breeding Southwest Willow Flycatchers in the willows.
Antonito itself has Eurasian Collared-Doves, but then so do all the towns in the San Luis Valley. More interesting for birding are Conejos and Guadalupe, two tiny hamlets just northwest of Antonito. Tiny Conejos hosts not only the county seat but also Colorado's oldest church, a sight worth seeing by itself. When you're ready to look at birds, explore the great willow and riparian habitat along the road between Conejos and Guadalupe (private property; remain on the road). The road heading southwest out of Conejos runs past some marshes and wet fields with breeding blackbirds, rails, etcetera.
There are a few ponds north of Antonito worth checking for ducks, swallows etcetera. One cluster of ponds is on the west side of US 285 just north of CR L, about 4 miles north of town. There is another pond on the west side of 285 four miles farther north, at the junction with CR R. The last pond in the area is a square holding pond 2.5 miles west of the previous pond on the south side of CR R. To scan it you will have to drive or walk up the embankment, or else stand on the roof of your car.
Habitat - Urban/Suburban, Sagebrush, Lowland Riparian, Stream, Pond, Marsh
Directions - Antonito is along US 285 about five miles north of New Mexico. The best raptor roads are CR G for the first five miles east of Antonito, and CR 18 (4.5 miles east of Antonito on CR G) for the first 1.5 miles south of CR G. To get to Conejos, head north out of Antonito on US 285 and turn left (west) just north of town at the sign for Conejos and for Colorado's oldest church. (You can see the church from the intersection.) The road to Guadalupe leaves from just north of the church--it is not signed and can be hard to find, but there is only a small area to search.
Delorme - 90 D3-D4
Roads of Colorado - 150 C3, 151 D3
Rio Grande Canyon
Description - Beware the bridge over the Rio Grande on G road. It appears to predate statehood--and at least as of May 2005, it was completely out. However, it is here that the Black Phoebe was found, and the short cliffs can have Rock Wren and Say's Phoebe.
Habitat - Cliff Face, Stream
Directions - The Rio Grande River is a little over 14 miles east of Antonito along CR G.
Delorme - 91 D5
Roads of Colorado - 151 E3
La Jara and Sanford
Description - These two nice little towns have similar habitat: large deciduous trees in a residential setting, including some conifers, always worth a check for migrant and resident landbirds. A pond southwest of Sanford at the junction of CR 18 and CR T may be worth a check for waterbirds. Another pond is about 3.4 miles west of La Jara, on the west side of CR 13 just south of CO 15. This is a raised-berm irrigation pond that you must stand on your car to scan. Just south of here CR 13 crosses La Jara Creek; a Willow Flycatcher was seen nearby in June 2005, and so you may want to check the creek for breeders.
Habitat - Urban/Suburban
Directions - La Jara is on US 285 about thirteen miles north of Antonito. Sanford is three miles east of La Jara on CO 136.
Delorme - 90 B3
Roads of Colorado - 150 C2, 151 D2
Pike's Stockade
Description - Pike's Stockade is a modern reconstruction of the fort built somewhere along the Conejos River by Zebulon Pike in 1805. Owned by the state historical society, it is being renovated for visitors and will eventually be open during summer to tourists. The entrance road behind the gate happens to pass through a remarkable willow swamp that has a good population of "Southwest" Willow Flycatchers, and the riparian forest that abuts the state property is absolutely the best in the SLV. Everything off the state property is off-limits, but enough is birdable from the area around the stockade to make this a must-stop visit for birders in summer...now if it were only open in migration! Also note that mosquitos here are an order of magnitude worse than ANYWHERE else in Colorado, EVER--I will brook absolutely no argument with this statement! Bring repellent.
Habitat - Lowland Riparian, Streamside Willow, Pond/Lake/Reservoir, Wet Meadow
Directions - From US 285 in the town of La Jara, head east on CO 136, which bends south a time or two on its way to and through the nearby town of Sanford. A mile east of Sanford, turn left (north) off 136 onto CR 21, go north three miles and turn right (east) onto CR Y. In three miles CR Y ends in a T intersection with CR 24. The gate to Pike's Stockade is on the left (south). If it is not open, do not enter the property. However, it is sometimes possible to see and hear the Willow Flycatchers along the entrance road from outside the gate.
Delorme - 90 B4
Roads of Colorado - 151 D1