Rio Grande Nature Trail,
Alamosa National Wildlife Refuge
Elevation
The Rio Grande Nature Trail has a maximum elevation of 7,473 ft., a minimum elevation of 7,467 ft. and an elevation range of 6 ft.
Metrics
| [ A to B ] or [ B to A ] | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Length 2 | Min Ele 3 | Max Ele 4 | Range 5 |
| 1.9 mi | 7,467 ft | 7,473 ft | 6 ft |
| [ A to B ] | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Time 6 | Floors 7 | Gain 8 | Loss 9 |
| 37 min | 0.3 | 4 ft | 8 ft |
| [ B to A ] | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Time | Floors | Gain | Loss |
| 37 min | 0.7 | 8 ft | 4 ft |
Calories
The following chart shows the total calories that you may expend on the trail while hiking in both directions. The chart is based on data derived from a statistical model of energy expenditure that relates gross weight, typical speed and trail topography.
Topo Maps
Download the PDF Rio Grande Nature Trail topo map and the adjoining quads to plan your hike. These are full-sheet, 7.5 Minute (1:24,000 scale) topographic maps.
Adjoining 7.5' Quadrangle Legend
- Northwest Topo Map: Mount Pleasant School, CO
- North Topo Map: Hooper SE, CO
- Northeast Topo Map: Dry Lakes, CO
- West Topo Map: Alamosa West, CO
- Topo Map: Alamosa East, CO
- East Topo Map: Baldy, CO
- Southwest Topo Map: La Jara, CO
- South Topo Map: Pikes Stockade, CO
- Southeast Topo Map: Lasauses, CO
Difficulty
The following chart illustrates the difficulty of hiking the Rio Grande Nature Trail compared to two other trails. The x-axis is cumulative elevation gain and the y-axis is maximum elevation. The length of the trail is reflected in the size of the bubble.
FAQ
What is the length of the Rio Grande Nature Trail?
The length of the trail is 1.9 miles (3.0 km) or 3,912 steps.
How long does it take to hike the Rio Grande Nature Trail?
A person in good physical health can hike the trail in 37 minutes in one direction and in 37 minutes in the opposite direction.
Warnings
Prevent tick bites: Treat clothing and gear, such as boots, pants, socks and tents with products containing 0.5% permethrin.
(cdc.gov)
- The American dog tick (Dermacentor variabilis) may be present in this area. The American dog tick transmits Tularemia and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.
- The Brown dog tick (Rhipicephalus sanguineus) may be present in this area. The Brown dog tick transmits Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.
- The Lone star tick (Amblyomma americanum) may be present in this area. The Lone star tick transmits Ehrlichia chaffeensis and Ehrlichia ewingii, (which cause human Ehrlichiosis), Heartland Virus, Tularemia, and STARI.
- The Rocky Mountain wood tick (Dermacentor andersoni) may be present in this area. The Rocky Mountain wood tick transmits Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Colorado Tick Fever, and Tularemia.
Footnotes
- Steps is a unit of distance equal to the sum of stride lengths that vary with the terrain.
- Length is the distance of the trail between the two trailheads, measured on the trail.
- Min Ele is the minimum elevation on the trail.
- Max Ele is the maximum elevation on the trail.
- Range is the difference between maximum and minimum elevation.
- Time is the typical total time required to hike the trail.
- Floors is the gain divided by twelve feet, the height of one floor.
- Gain (cumulative elevation gain) is the sum of every gain in elevation.
- Loss (cumulative elevation loss) is the sum of every loss in elevation.