UFO Watchtower

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Don't panic! The visiting aliens are harmless. Or mostly harmless anyway. And if you're eager for a glimpse (or perhaps want to leave an offering for a weary interstellar hitchhiker), then a stop at the UFO Watchtower is a must. About 15ft high, the tower is unlikely to improve your chances of actually spotting a flying saucer, but the garden and its assorted treasures is definitely something to behold.

The watchtower is located off Hwy 17 near Hooper (about 30 miles west of the national park), and is easiest to access if you're driving south toward the dunes from Salida.

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Nearby attractions

1. San Luis State Wildlife Area

14.34 MILES

This state wildlife area is a patch of bleak terrain on the edge of the Great Sand Dunes National Park, where dunes covered with saltbush and rabbitbrush...

2. Great Sand Dunes National Park

21.83 MILES

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3. Blanca Wetlands

22.16 MILES

The Bureau of Land Management has restored the wildlife habitat at Blanca Wetlands, northeast of Alamosa. Activities include fishing for bass or trout in…

4. San Luis Valley Museum

25.06 MILES

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6. Alamosa National Wildlife Refuge

27.53 MILES

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