In case you haven’t heard, Colorado is home to a place sometimes referred to as the ‘Bermuda Triangle of the West’ – the San Luis Valley. Remote and vast, it’s a spot known for UFO sightings, the supernatural, unexplained phenomena, and plenty of local folklore.
Here are a few factors that contribute to it’s nickname:
1. The UFO sightings
In a place where artificial lights are sparse and starry nights are easy to see, it’s no surprise that locals and visitors tend to notice celestial sights that are hard to explain. A 2025 article from KRCC indicates that 304 UFO sightings have been documented at the UFO Watchtower in the town of Hooper, alone, and it’s likely that number has grown since then. San Luis Valley reports are even documented on the CIA website, including one related to two teens who saw lights on the local prairie estimated to be 50 times larger than those of headlights. And then there’s a book called ‘The Mysterious Valley,’ which was written by author Christopher O’Brien, who has documented more than 1,000 paranormal events in the San Luis Valley since 1992, many of which involve unidentified objects in the sky.
2. Snippy the Mutilated Horse
This case perhaps relates to something extraterrestrial or maybe something else. Either way, the story of Snippy the horse is one that’s sure to contribute to the San Luis Valley’s mysterious lore.
This three-year-old horse was found mutilated in the San Luis Valley near Alamosa in 1967 with its head and neck stripped of flesh. Oddly, no blood was found around the horse yet odd smells of a chemical nature were reported in the area. Adding to the mystery, numerous darkened patches found nearby seemed to look like scorch marks and a bush was flattened, as if something had landed from the sky before taking off again.
To this day, the case of Snippy doesn’t have a definitive explanation, though many theories exist.
3. The Spiritual Nature of the Valley
Over the years, a wide range of spiritual groups have found a home in Crestone, Colorado. While the town’s population is less than 150 residents, it’s home to more than two dozen religious sites representative of many different groups. This stems from a change in 1977, when a Canadian businessman purchased a large swath of land in the Crestone area and after a mystic told him that the land held ‘unique spiritual qualities,’ decided to give land away for free to religious groups looking to establish a spiritual center in the area.
It’s not just Crestone that has a spiritual past, either. The valley’s Penitente Canyon is believed to have been where some ritualistic crucifixions were conducted by a non-traditional Catholic sect.
Then there’s also talk of energy vortexes that are present in the local landscape.
To this day, numerous religious and spiritual groups believe there’s something happening in the San Luis Valley that’s hard to understand.
4. A Connection to the Underworld
According to a report published by the New Mexico Geological Society, legends told by some Pueblo Indians claimed that ancestors emerged from the underworld through a lake that’s believed to be the San Luis Lakes – now a state wildlife area near Mosca. There are also rumors floating around related to how dunes in the area may form a bridge between spirits and the living, though these rumors are difficult to substantiate.
5. It’s Vast Openness
Stretching about 122 miles long and 74 miles wide, the San Luis Valley is considered the world’s largest alpine valley. With all of that size comes a lot of emptiness and at night, a lot of darkness, as well.
There aren’t many population centers and even the valley’s main city, Alamosa, seems to shut the lights off early. As a result, it’s easy to see oddities in the night sky and traveling from one place to another can feel like a drive into nothingness at times. It’s isolated, it’s remote, it’s sparsely populated, and it’s vast. This seems to contribute to the area’s – for lack of better words – ‘creepy’ nature. Of course, many people find that these same attributes make it a peaceful part of the state, too.
6. It’s Many Quirky Stops
Further contributing to the San Luis Valley’s reputation as being ‘a bit strange’ are its many roadside attractions. From the UFO Watchtower to the Colorado Gators Reptile Park to the Indiana Jones Bed & Breakfast, the San Luis Valley is home to plenty of odd stops. While many of these roadside attractions are totally worth checking out, their presence does contribute to the peculiar nature of the area.
7. Darker Moments of the Valley’s Past
The San Luis Valley has attracted various nefarious characters over the years, from early settlers who enslaved natives to a serial killer who was arrested and sentenced to life in prison in recent years. It’s also been said by History Colorado that the Espinosa Brothers of the area were considered America’s first serial killers, starting their killings in 1863. And then there’s the long list of people who have gone missing in the area, one of whom – Kristal Reisinger –gained quite a bit of national coverage after last being seen near the tiny town of Crestone. Granted, the many wild areas found around the valley that are remote and rarely traveled may be behind some of these disappearances, but it’s hard to believe that accounts for all of the vanishings that have taken place.
One of Colorado’s Most Overlooked Spots
While there are many factors contributing to how the San Luis Valley can feel a bit…odd, it’s perhaps one of the most over-looked places to visit in Colorado – and a trip there is totally worth it. From the stunning sand dunes to entertaining attractions like the Colorado Gators reptile rescue to many trails to be explored amid a general lack of crowding, the San Luis Valley belongs on your summer bucket list.
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