📷 Photo by Hoang Dang Khoa on UnsplashUFO Watchtower
Hooper, CO
A quirky roadside viewing platform and garden on CO-17 where visitors leave trinkets and scan the huge sky of the San Luis Valley.
- Nearest town
- Hooper, CO
- Category
- Roadside oddities
- GPS
- 37.7650, -105.8780
Hours, fees and access change. Confirm with the operator or park before you go.
Good to know
Best time to go
The most pleasant months are usually May and September–October. Still fine, with some compromises, in April and June. Hot in July. Cold, short days in January. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
Featured in these trip guides
Nearby
Campsites nearby
- Sand Dunes Recreation AreaMotorhome stopover1 mi from UFO WatchtowerMotorhomesElectricityWaste disposalWi-Fi
- UFO WatchtowerMotorhome stopover2 mi from UFO WatchtowerMotorhomesToilets
- Mosca CampgroundCampsite10 mi from UFO Watchtower
- North Crestone CampgroundCampsite20 mi from UFO Watchtower
- Pinyon Flats CampgroundCampsite20 mi from UFO WatchtowerTentsCaravansDrinking waterToilets
- KOA AlamosaCampsite21 mi from UFO WatchtowerTentsCaravansElectricityDrinking waterShowersToiletsWaste disposal
All campsites in Colorado · Campsite data: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL 1.0 · Updated October 3, 2026
FAQs
Where is UFO Watchtower?
UFO Watchtower is in Hooper, CO, at GPS 37.7650, -105.8780. It is about 19 mi from Crestone.
Can you camp near UFO Watchtower?
Yes. The nearest campsite listed in OpenStreetMap is Sand Dunes Recreation Area, about 1 mi away; within 25 mi there are 15 campsites and motorhome stopovers.
Which road trips pass UFO Watchtower?
UFO Watchtower is a stop on these CampingSpirit trip guides: San Luis Valley: Great Sand Dunes and Colorado’s oldest town.
What is there to see near UFO Watchtower?
Places worth a stop nearby: Great Sand Dunes National Park (16 mi), Zapata Falls (20 mi), Stations of the Cross Shrine (46 mi) and Royal Gorge Bridge (57 mi).
When is the best time to visit UFO Watchtower?
The most pleasant months are usually May and September–October. Still fine, with some compromises, in April and June. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)