Land Management Agencies
One Valley. Six Agencies. From the U.S. Forest Service to Colorado Parks & Wildlife, here's who manages the public lands around you — and how to learn more about each.
United States Forest Service (USFS)
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Established in 1905, the U.S. Forest Service is responsible for 193 million acres of public lands across 154 national forests and 20 grasslands in 43 states.
San Luis Valley Office
Rio Grande National Forest
The Rio Grande National Forest, located in south-central Colorado, encompasses the Valley with over 1.8 million acres of the wildest terrain in the Southern Rockies. It is home to the headwaters of the Rio Grande — the lifeblood of the San Luis Valley.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
U.S. Department of the Interior
The Bureau of Land Management stewards 245 million acres, mainly across the West. Created in 1946, the Bureau manages 40% of America’s public lands under a ‘multiple-use and sustained yield’ mandate.
San Luis Valley Office
San Luis Valley Field Office
The San Luis Valley Field Office oversees the transitional landscape between the Valley’s agricultural basin and the Rio Grande National Forest. They manage over 500,000 acres across the Upper Rio Grande basin, including some of the Valley’s most popular destinations.
National Park Service (NPS)
U.S. Department of the Interior
Scattered across all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories, the National Park Service protects more than 430 units. These treasured sites include national parks, preserves, and more.
San Luis Valley Office
Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve
The Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve is an iconic landmark of the San Luis Valley for both past and present inhabitants. Towering at nearly 750 feet, these massive dunes blanket 30 square miles at the base of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains.
United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)
U.S. Department of the Interior
The United States Fish and Wildlife Service oversees a vast network of 570 refuges to conserve fish, wildlife, and plants, along with their natural habitats, spanning millions of acres of water and land.
San Luis Valley Office
San Luis Valley National Wildlife Refuge Complex
The San Luis Valley National Wildlife Refuge Complex consists of three distinct refuges: Alamosa, Baca, and Monte Vista. These protected habitats span nearly 140,000 acres of wetlands, grasslands, and riparian areas that are critical for migratory birds and resident wildlife.
Colorado Parks & Wildlife (CPW)
Colorado Department of Natural Resources
Colorado Parks and Wildlife cares for state parks, wildlife areas, bodies of water, and some trust lands to protect and manage Colorado's valuable natural resources and wildlife populations.
Colorado State Land Board (CSLB)
Colorado Department of Natural Resources
The Colorado State Trust Land consists of nearly 3 million acres, mostly closed to the public, managed by the State Land Board. These lands generate revenue for public education and other state institutions.
