Costilla County
Author(s): Andrew Spencer
County Seat: San Luis
County Size: 1,227 square miles
Low Elevation: 7,295 ft. - Rio Grande River on the NM border
High Elevation : 14,345 ft. - Blanca Peak
Best Birds : Bendire's Thrasher (1993), Black Phoebe (1996)
Checklist : Download pdf | View HTML
Introduction: Costilla County is home to the oldest continually inhabited town in Colorado, the southernmost fourteen-thousand-foot peak in the US, and one seriously messed up road-numbering system. What it is not home to is public property. Because the entire county was created out of the Sangre de Cristo Land Grant, public property is limited to three SWAs (all reservoirs) and a tiny piece of land on the Huerfano/Las Animas lines. An entire mountain range almost completely limited to the county (the Culebra Range of the Sangres) is privately owned! Despite this great shortcoming, Costilla can be a productive county to bird. The SWAs are often birdy, and many privately owned areas can be birded from the road. Habitat in the county varies from agricultural lands to sagebrush flats, PJ woodland, high mountain habitats of all descriptions (though mostly hard to access), and the aforementioned decent lakes and reservoirs.
Birding Locations
Blanca Massif
Description - While I have never birded these three fourteeners (Blanca, Lindsey and Little Bear), they have just about the only accessible alpine habitat in the county. The peaks are privately owned, but the owner allows access. From what I hear, the publicly accessible areas are too rocky for ptarmigan, but it never hurts to keep an eye out. Brown-capped Rosy-Finch would be a better bet. There is no publicly accessible sub-alpine habitat here. A very strenuous hike is required to reach any of the peaks.
Habitat - Cliff Face
Directions - To get to the trailhead, from the intersection of US 160 and CO 150 on the Alamosa/Costilla county line, head north on CO 150 about 3 miles and turn right (east) onto a rough road that heads northeast. It is unlikely you will make it far without a 4WD vehicle, and even then five miles may be the limit, but whatever you can drive, you don't have to walk. Do not attempt this climb unless you are a skilled mountaineer with all the necessary maps, route information, equipment and physical prowess.
Delorme - 81 D6-D7
Roads of Colorado - 136 A3
La Veta Pass area
Aliases - North La Veta Pass, Pass Creek Pass
Description - La Veta Pass, North La Veta Pass and Pass Creek Pass provide the only road-accessible montane habitat in the county. Unfortunately, they are not very high (about 9400 feet), and the habitat is not of very high quality, so some of the rarer high-elevation specialties are not seen here. However, this is a necessary stop for any Costilla County lister. Keep in mind that the Costilla County portions of these passes are all private property and so can be birded only from the road. This is much safer (and quieter) on La Veta Pass along SS road than it is on North La Veta Pass along the busy US Highway 160. Pass Creek Pass has little to impress anyone. It does have some fragmented aspen habitat and a few patches of spruce-fir, but the birding is generally better at the La Veta passes.
Habitat - Mountain Meadow, Aspen Grove, Mixed Conifer Forest
Directions - From Walsenburg, head west on US 160 some twenty-five miles to the pass area. La Veta Pass is accessible via Huerfano CR 443, which becomes Costilla CR SS at the pass. US 160 itself heads over North La Veta Pass. To get to Pass Creek Pass, continue west on US 160 from North La Veta Pass about two miles to CR 29 and turn right (north); the pass is about a mile from the highway.
Delorme - 82 D1
Roads of Colorado - 136 B3
Blanca and Fort Garland
Aliases - Fort Garland
Description - Birding in the small towns of Blanca and Fort Garland may be worth some small effort, especially if you can find some feeders. Outside these towns, roadside birding along US 160, the main route through the county, can be surprisingly productive. If you are driving it in the evening or early morning, look for Great Horned Owl, and Northern Shrike is seen surprisingly often in the winter. Blanca has sewage lagoons on the west side of the road to Smith Reservoir (q.v.) a quarter mile south of US 160.
Habitat - Urban/Suburban
Directions - Blanca and Fort Garland are four miles apart on US 160 between Walsenburg and Alamosa.
Delorme - 91 A6-A7
Roads of Colorado - 135 F4, 136 A4
Mountain Home Reservoir State Wildlife Area
Description - This small lake is generally the least productive of Costilla's three larger reservoirs, but it's still worth a check. Most regular species of waterfowl have been seen here at one time or another, as well as Common Loon. The PJ habitat around the lake can be worth birding too.
Habitat - Pond/Lake/Reservoir, Pinyon/Juniper Forest
Directions - From Ft. Garland, head east on US 160 a little over two miles to Trinchera Ranch Road and turn right (south). Continue about two miles south to Icehouse Road. From here you can head a mile west to the north entrance, or a mile south to the south entrance.
Delorme - 91 A7
Roads of Colorado - 152 A1
San Luis
Description - This small, somewhat rustic town is the oldest continually inhabited place in Colorado. Drive around the town looking for city birds (possibly including Eurasian Collared-Dove) and feeders. There are often some hummingbird feeders around town, with as many as four species possible in the late summer/early fall. The two small sewage ponds south of town sometimes have a few ducks. Bendire's Thrasher showed up about a mile west of town in 1993.
Habitat - Urban/Suburban, Pond/Lake/Reservoir
Directions - From US 160 in the town of Fort Garland, head south on CO 159 about fifteen miles to San Luis.
Delorme - 91 C7
Roads of Colorado - 152 A2
Culebra Creek
Description - CR 19 along Culebra Creek goes through the best wetland habitat in the county. The seasonally flooded fields and meadows here can have Savannah Sparrow, Yellow-headed Blackbird, migrating ibis, and possibly rails.
Habitat - Wet Meadow
Directions - From CO 159 at the south end of the town of San Luis, head southeast on CR 19 along the creek.
Delorme - 91 C7
Roads of Colorado - 152 A2-A3
San Pedro Mesa
Description - Definitely the best PJ habitat in the county. Driving the maze of roads here can be very confusing, but also provides access to high-quality PJ habitat with possibilities for Bushtit, Western Scrub and Pinyon Jays, Rock Wren, Black-chinned Hummingbird, and maybe even a Juniper Titmouse if you're very lucky. Keep in mind that this area is a private subdivision in the process of being developed.
Habitat - Pinyon/Juniper Forest
Directions - From San Luis, follow CO 159 south about twelve miles. Two miles past the intersection with CR H, turn left (east) on the access road to the mesa, which winds around through a mix of sage and PJ before coming out atop the mesa. Once you're up there, navigation is up to you.
Delorme - 91 C7-D7
Roads of Colorado - 151 F3, 152 A3
Sanchez Reservoir State Wildlife Area
Description - This is the second-best reservoir in the county. While scanning the birds here can be a challenge (especially the southern part of the lake, which can involve a long walk), at least there are usually birds here! Large duck flocks can contain almost every expected species, along with white geese, and potentially a loon or an interesting grebe. Sanchez has shorebird potential also. The small cottonwood stands around the entrance should be investigated for passerines. Swallows abound around the dirt banks in season.
Habitat - Pond/Lake/Reservoir
Directions - From the intersection of CO 159 and CO 142 in San Luis, head east on the continuation of CO 142 (CR P.6) about three miles to CR 21 and turn right (south). From here it is about five miles south to the SWA. Check the seasonal ponds and the brush along the way for ducks and sparrows, respectively, but do it from the road.
Delorme - 91 D7
Roads of Colorado - 152 A3
Stabilization Reservoir
Description - On the list of birding reservoirs in the state, this one is pretty darn low. It may be worth a check, however, as I did see a Common Merganser here, once, and other people have reported a few diving ducks and gulls. The sagebrush across the highway from here is some of the best in the county. One spring, playing a tape here resulted in 6 or more Sage Sparrows, plus Brewer's Sparrows and Sage Thrasher.
Habitat - Pond/Lake/Reservoir, Sagebrush
Directions - From San Luis, head south/west on CO 159 about five miles. The reservoir is on the west side of CO 159.
Delorme - 91 C6
Roads of Colorado - 151 F2
Costilla CR G
Description - Some of the higher-quality sagebrush may have Sage Thrasher, and Sage and Brewer's Sparrows. I saw a pair of breeding Mountain Plovers here once. The Rio Grande Gorge, where CR G crosses the Conejos County line, is treated on that county's page. Beware the bridge here -- it can strike fear into non-believers.
Habitat - Sagebrush
Directions - From CO 159 about ten miles south of San Luis, head west on CR H. At seven miles, turn left (south) on CR 7. You can then turn right (west) on CR G in a little over a mile.
Delorme - 91 D5
Roads of Colorado - 151 E3
Smith Reservoir State Wildlife Reservoir
Description - Smith Reservoir is the greatest redeeming feature of Costilla County. During the spring and fall there are usually large duck flocks with many species, and more shorebird species have been seen here than anywhere else in the county. Even rarities have shown up here, such as Whimbrel and Short-billed Dowitcher. The roads nearby are often good for hawks, including Ferruginous. A few trees may have sparrows or other landbird migrants.
Habitat - Pond/Lake/Reservoir, Hedgerow/Shelterbelt
Directions - From US 160 on the west end of Blanca, head south on CR 12 (Airport Road) approximately three miles to the SWA on the left.
Delorme - 91 A6
Roads of Colorado - 151 F1
Trinchera Peak
Description - This is another remote peak I have not visited, but may be worth the hike. Part of the peak's east slope is in the tiny sliver of the San Isabel National Forest that lies in Costilla County, and is reportedly good for White-tailed Ptarmigan. (See the Cucharas Creek Road site on the Huerfano County page).
Habitat - Alpine Tundra, Krummholz, Spruce-Fir Forest
Directions - Access is on foot only, via a hike from Huerfano County to the east. From US 160 about 13 miles west of Walsenburg, take the left branch of the Y intersection, following CO 12 south about five miles to and through the town of La Veta. Twelve or thirteen miles later, turn right (west) on Cucharas Creek Road (FR 413/FR 422). The trailhead for Trinchera Peak leaves from a Forest Service campground near the end of this road.
Delorme - 92 B1
Roads of Colorado - 136 C2
Rio Grande at CR Z
Description - Possibly the best birdable patch of lowland riparian habitat in Costilla County is on the south side of CR Z just east of the Rio Grande, which is the Conejos/Costilla county line. Like practically all birding sites in the county, this is private property, so stay on the road.
Habitat - Lowland Riparian
Directions - From US 160 on the west end of Blanca, head south on CR 12 (Airport Road) ten miles and turn right (west) on W.5 road. Go west about 2.5 miles, then turn north, go two miles, and turn left on CR Z. The riparian area is just over seven miles west on the south side of the road, just before the bridge.
Delorme - 91 B5
Roads of Colorado - 151 E1