Baca National Wildlife Refuge

Baca National Wildlife Refuge
IUCN category IV (habitat/species management area)
View southeast from the northwest corner of the original Luis Maria Baca Grant #4, now included in the Baca NWR, the Great Sand Dunes and the Sangre de Cristo Range are in the background
Location	Saguache & Alamosa counties, Colorado, United States
Nearest city	Alamosa
Coordinates	37°52′N 105°48′W / 37.867°N 105.800°W / 37.867; -105.800Coordinates: 37°52′N 105°48′W / 37.867°N 105.800°W / 37.867; -105.800
Area	78,697 acres (318.48 km2)
Established	2003
Governing body	U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Website	Baca National Wildlife Refuge

The Baca National Wildlife Refuge is a 78,697-acre (31,848 ha)United States National Wildlife Refuge located in southern Colorado. It is within the Sangre de Cristo National Heritage Area.

Many bird species such as the kestrel, great horned owl, northern flicker, robin, yellow warbler, and Bullock's oriole roam in the riparian areas of this refuge. Waterfowl that inhabit here include mallard, pintail, teal, Canada goose, avocet, killdeer, white-faced ibis, egret, and heron.

The wildlife refuge is located on the lands of the Luis Maria Baca Grant No. 4 near Crestone, Colorado in the San Luis Valley in southern Saguache and northern Alamosa counties, about 30 miles (48 km) northeast of the town of Alamosa, on the west side of the Sangre de Cristo Range.

The site was authorized by the United States Congress in 2000 as part of legislation that also authorized the nearby Great Sand Dunes National Park. It was formally established in 2003 when administration began under the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. It is administered jointly with the nearby Alamosa and Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuges, as part of the Alamosa/Baca/Monte Verde Complex.