As one of the largest high desert valleys in the world, the San Luis Valley, with its soaring jagged peaks of the Sangre De Cristo Mountains, rolling sand dunes, and eclectic personality, really comes to life with the Monte Vista Crane Festival.

Every year, over 20,000 Sandhill Cranes migrate in early spring to the San Luis Valley to feed, before heading north to their breeding locations. Visitors can witness this spectacular display at the Monte Vista Wildlife Refuge, as the cranes put on a show of flight, extravagant dancing, and confident struts.

To celebrate this magnificent show, the town hosts the annual Monte Vista Crane Festival in early March. Discover below why this event should be on your Colorado bucket list.

Epic views

The Monte Vista Wildlife Refuge is located in the heart of the San Luis Valley, which sits at an elevation of 7,800 feet. There are three distinct mountain ranges that surround the valley, including the Sangre de Cristo, San Juans, and Saguache ranges. The most prominent feature is the view of Blanca Peak. As the fourth-highest peak in the Rocky Mountains at 14,351 feet in elevation, the massive mountain is just as much an attraction as the cranes. The wintery golden fields and snow-capped mountains create the perfect backdrop for photographing the migration.

Take a tour

For those looking to learn more about the cranes and see the secret spots to see them, sign up for a guided tour. There are several free tours offered, one at the Alamosa Wildlife Refuge and the Blanca Wetlands. Free meet-ups at the Monte Vista Wildlife Refuge are also offered all weekend long. Each tour is led by wildlife experts and provides information about cranes and migration. Due to COVID restrictions, there will be no bus pick-up or transfer. You will need to provide your own transportation.

Wildlife photography workshops

For those interested in learning more about photographing cranes and other wildlife, several photography workshops are offered during the festival weekend. One of which is led by professional nature photographer and Friends of Refuge member Ed MacKerrow.

I took a class from wildlife photographer expert Ed MacKerrow at In Light of Nature. I learned a lot about these dancing little divas and the art of capturing them in motion. It was much more educational than I had expected. Here is what I learned about these captivating birds:

5 facts about the sandhill cranes

1. Cranes are monogamous, and once a pair forms, they mate for life.
2. The “dance” of the sandhill crane is a fanciful mating behavior that includes bowing, jumping, running, and wing flapping to exhibit signs of courtship. And while this is the main tactic for finding a match, similar behavior can be seen outside the breeding grounds to relieve tension and strengthen the bond between the pair.
3. Their natural color is gray, but sometimes looks more reddish due to their preening habit of rubbing mud-stained iron oxide on their feathers.
4. They fly up to 4,000 miles during their migration periods. Traveling up to 300 miles per day at an average speed of 30 MPH.
5. Cranes are amongst the oldest living species on the planet, dating back over 9 million years. The sandhill cranes have been migrating to the San Luis Valley for several thousand years.

The festival runs during the first part of March. To learn more about the Monte Vista Crane Festival and to sign up for tours and workshops, visit their website.

*All images by Jessica Hughes.