If you have a day to spare, the Cumbres & Toltec steam railroad is a great trip. Ride the train from Antonito to Chama and a bus back and slowly transition from high arid region up thru mountain passes and alpine valleys with a stop for lunch mid way. Alamosa has a fairly good KOA should you decide to stay over.
https://cumbrestoltec.com/
Great Sand Dunes NP is also a good side trip. Especially April to mid June when Medano Creek is running across the lower part of the dunes. But July is very hot there and the creek will be dried up.