Orient Mine Bat Flight Field Trip
When: Saturday, July 23, 2011
Photo from Colorado School of Mines
The historic Orient Mine of the San Luis Valley is home to Colorado’s largest colony of bats. Each evening from June through August, about 250,000 Brazilian free-tailed bats fly from the abandoned iron mine in search of food. Lasting about an hour, the bat flight is similar to the flight at Carlsbad Cavern, which has nearly 400,000 bats. Join wildlife biologist Kirk Navo of the Colorado Division of Wildlife in this special opportunity to experience a significant evening bat flight. Through arrangements with the Division of Wildlife, the Saguache Field office of the Bureau of Land Management and US Forest Service, and the private Orient Land Trust, field trip participants will have the opportunity to view the flight from the Bureau of Land Management viewing area.
Bat flight outside of Orient Mine, photo by Orient Land Trust
Joining the field trip is geologist Mark Maslyn, who has studied the Leadville Limestone at the Orient Mine. Mark will talk about the geology of the mine, and the ascending mineral water cave development within the limestone. Mining in the late 19th and early 20th century intersected several significant caves and paleokarst features. The mine was closed by Colorado Fuel & Iron in 1938. Owing to concerns about the spread of the Geomyces destructans pathogen to the bats of the colony, the cave has been closed to visitors since 2009.
Travel to the San Luis Valley
Take Colorado Highway 82 east through Aspen, over scenic 12,100 foot Independence Pass, to US Highway 24 south to US 285, then south through Buena Vista and Poncha Springs to the San Luis Valley. For an alternate longer route, take Colorado Highway 82 east to Carbondale, then Colorado Highway 133 south through Redstone, Paonia and Hotchkiss to Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park; then east on US Highway 50 and Colorado Highway 114 to US Highway 285 in the San Luis Valley.
Location
The Orient Mine Land Trust Trailhead is reached from Saguache County Road GG, located at the junction of US Highway 285 and Colorado Highway 17, about 25 miles south of Poncha Springs. Follow County Road GG to the east approximately six miles to the Orient Mine Land Trust. This maintained county road is suitable for all vehicles; park in the visitor lots on the right when arriving at the Land Trust.
Photo from Colorado School of Mines
From the trailhead, the trail leads north just over a mile to the viewing area. This marked trail is along an old road and gentle for the first mile, then moderately steep to the viewing area near the rim of the Glory Hole. Elevation is approximately 9,000 feet. Bring lights for the hike back to the vehicles and rain gear if skies are threatening. A light jacket and day pack with water are also advisable.
Meeting Time
Participants should meet at the Orient Land Trust Trailhead at about 5:30 p.m.
Trip Limit
There is a limit of 25 persons for this field trip.
Ages
This field trip is open to physically able persons of all ages.
Fee
There is no fee for this trip.
Post Flight Lodging
Camping for field trip participants may be arranged with the Joyful Journey Hot Springs, just south of the junction of US Highway 285 and Colorado Highway 17 – about ten minutes from the Orient Land Trust. A limited number of hotel rooms, yurts and tipis are available for overnight rental. RV parking, with an option of electricity, is also available. Reservations are required for all lodging. For reservations, visit Joyful Journey Hot Springs or call 719-256-4328.
Other motels, campgrounds and hotels are available in the San Luis Valley. Visit the Alamosa Convention & Visitors Bureau for a listing of area lodging. The North Crestone Campground in the Rio Grande National Forest is located 1.5 miles from the town of Crestone to the south of the Orient Mine. Dispersed camping on USFS and BLM lands in the region is also permitted.
Hot Springs
There are several hot springs open to the public in the San Luis Valley. The most convenient for field trip participants are the Orient Land Trust’s Valley View Hot Springs and the Joyful Journey Hot Springs. Some participants may choose to arrive early at the Orient Land Trust and soak for a few hours before the 6 p.m. meeting time for the hike to the Orient Mine.
Valley View Hot Springs
Amazing view from Valley View Hot Springs, photo by Orient Land Trust
The Orient Land Trust has six pools and ponds for soaking, open until 10 p.m. The Land Trust has a policy of clothing optional for guests, so keep this in mind if you choose to visit. The large swimming pool is 80 feet long with a temperature of about 90 degrees. Other pools, some reached by short hikes, range in temperature from 90 degrees to 104 degrees. Reservations are required for guests.
Telephone: 719-256-4319 (9 a.m. – 10 p.m. MDT).
Online: Orient Land Trust / Valley View Hot Springs
Reservations open July 9.
Joyful Journey Hot Springs
Located ten minutes from the Land Trust, Joyful Journey has three pools for soaking, open until 11 p.m. Temperatures range from 98 to 108 degrees. Reservations are suggested, but not required. Spa treatments are also available.
Telephone: 719-256-4328.
Online:Joyful Journey Hot Springs
Sand Dunes Swimming Pool
The Sand Dunes Swimming Pool is a large, family-friendly public pool located west of Great Sand Dunes National Park near Hooper, on Colorado Highway 17. Open until 10 p.m., the facility has two pools – a large pool with a temperature of 100 degrees, and a small pool at 107 degrees. Camping and RV space is also available on site. Reservations suggested.
Telephone: 719-387-2807
Online: Sand Dunes Swimming Pool
Nearby Visitor Attractions
Great Sand Dunes National Park is located approximately 25 miles south of the Orient Mine. There are three hot mineral springs in the San Luis Valley that are open to the public. The Orient Land Trust and the Joyful Journey Hot Springs are located within five miles of the Orient; the Sand Dunes Swimming Pool is located approximately 20 miles from the Orient. The historic mining community of Crestone, now a summer vacation and spiritual center, is located approximately 15 miles southeast of the Orient. There are two scenic railroads in the San Luis Valley. The Rio Grande Scenic Railroad is located in Alamosa, approximately 40 miles south of the Orient. The Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad is located about 80 miles from the Orient, near the New Mexico border.
Colorado Bats
Learn more about Colorado bats at the Colorado Division of Wildlife website.
Post Convention Field Trip Leaders
Richard Rhinehart – nss (at) rockymountaincaving.com
Kirk Navo – K.Navo (at) state.co.us
Mark Maslyn – mmaslyn (at) msn.com
Please contact us to register your intention to attend this field trip, indicating the number of participants. The trip will be filled on a first-come, first-serve basis.