Overview
Crestone is a town with about 75 permanent residents, located in the south central region of Colorado. It lies at the foot of the western slope of the Sangre de Cristo Range in the northern part of the San Luis Valley. Crestone was a small mining town, but insufficient ore led to a population decline, and for several years only 40 permanent residents remained. In the 1970s a large land development, the Baca Grande, was established to the south and west and several hundred houses have been built, most of them vacation homes.
2 places to eat · 1 bars & cafés
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: Jun–Aug. Summer highs reach about 79°F; winter lows dip to about 5°F. Cold months (Jan, Dec) can bring snow and ice; check road conditions. Wettest: Aug and Jul. (climate data from nearby Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- ALS San Luis Valley Regional Airport/Bergman Field, Alamosa — 40 mi away. Directions
- PUB Pueblo Memorial Airport, Pueblo — 68 mi away. Directions
- COS City of Colorado Springs Municipal Airport, Colorado Springs — 78 mi away (major hub). Directions
Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Food for you
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Photos
Understand
Crestone was founded in 1880 by the platting of two homesteads, which lay north of the Baca Grant, by George Adams, the owner of the ranch, a Mexican land grant. It became the local center, replacing Teton, a local mining camp lying to the southeast (all the houses in Teton were moved to Crestone). Lots were sold by the Grant, but sales were slow, with a substantial number remaining in the ownership of the Baca Grant.
See
The Crestone area, which includes the Baca Grande and Moffat, Colorado, is a spiritual and new age center with several religions represented. There is a Hindu temple, a Zen center, a coed Carmelite monastery, several Tibetan Buddhist centers, and miscellaneous new age happenings. The local newspaper, Crestone Eagle, has up-to-date information of local events.
Do
Crestone has ample accommodation: a National Forest Service campground is about a half mile north of town, and rooms are available in the town itself. There are opportunities for camping, fishing, hiking, climbing as well as spiritual explorations.
Eat
Eat Shambala Cafe
A cute cafe with lots of variety in the menu.
Eat Desert Sage Restaurant and Bakery
Drink
Nearby
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My experience
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