Dolores

Explore Dolores, Colorado

Outside Magazine calls the town of Dolores “adventure base camp for the whole family,” and we couldn’t agree more. With the Dolores River running south, and beautiful sandstone cliffs to the north, this charming town is only three blocks wide. Surrounded by the San Juan National Forest and McPhee Reservoir, you’ll feel like a local with mountain biking and hiking, paddle boarding or kayaking, snowshoe or cross country skiing opportunities straight from town or head up the mesa to the Boggy Draw trail system to start your adventure.

“Rio de Nuestra Senora de las Dolores” or The River of Our Lady of Sorrows, was named by Dominquez and Escalante, Spanish Catholic priests who came through the area seeking routes from the missions of Santa Fe, NM to California in 1776. In 1891, the railhead was established at the present site of Dolores, and became a major stop on the rail line between Ridgway, Telluride and Durango. A half rail car on the Rio Grande Southern Railroad, nicknamed the Galloping Goose, ran the mail and passenger routes and it lives on today at the Railroad Museum in Flanders Park.

Walk or float from Riverside Park to the east all the way to Joe Rowell Park to the west with access all along the public trail for some of the best fly fishing waters in Southwest Colorado. Dolores is your headquarters for local history and outdoor fun, with fascinating shops and boutiques, excellent restaurants including a local brewery, and river front and in-town lodging options to fit every traveler.

Mancos

Experience Mancos, Colorado

When Louis L’Amour wrote about the West, more often than not, he was talking about the Mancos River Valley. Nestled below the Mesa Verde Mountains, this riverside town still holds much of the same western charm contained within his many, beloved novels which featured the area. Historic buildings filled with art, quaint shops and a family owned bakery line the streets of downtown where modern day travelers and locals alike navigate amongst stagecoaches, cattle drives and cowboys.

In Mancos, you’ll find farm to table restaurants, farmers markets, natural food markets, coffee roasters and home town burger joints as well as one of the oldest continuously operating bars in Colorado. Stay at a bed and breakfast, historic hotel, guest ranch or a motel in the heart of town. With hot air balloon festivals, main street parades, gallery tours and street fairs, the opportunities to become part of this friendly community present themselves at every turn.

Creativity abounds in this small town. The artisans of Mancos craft beer and rum, leather goods and jewelry as well as world renowned bronze sculpture. Hand made western hats are designed to sit atop famous, hollywood heads along with the local, working cowboys who appreciate this time honored tradition of creating quality goods. This blend of the old and new, in art and in life, makes Mancos, where the west still lives, a must experience location within the communities of Mesa Verde Country.

Cortez

Explore Cortez, Colorado

Located just eight miles from the entrance to Mesa Verde National Park, Cortez features over 600 acres of parks, trails, and open space. To the North, you’ll find Carpenter Natural Area, with 176 acres and easy access to trails for biking and hiking. To the South, enjoy the 122-acre Hawkins Preserve with the opportunity for hiking, biking, rock climbing, and star-gazing from the slick rock trails to the canyon edge, overlooking McElmo Creek. There are even excavated archaeological sites contained within the preserve, which the Cortez Cultural Center owns.

Parque de Vida

At the heart of it all you’ll find beautiful Parque de Vida with ponds for fishing and feeding ducks, as miles of sidewalks wind through the park systems and bring this community together with outdoor amphitheaters for summer festivals. The Rec Center has something for every age group with pools, a climbing wall, racquetball courts, indoor basketball courts, BMX track, a performance stage, skate park, a playground, fitness area, and more. A 50 meter outdoor pool with a 125 foot double loop water slide, a splash pad with spraying jets and play features including a 60 gallon dumping bucket. All of these amenities are just one block north of Main Street near the Colorado Welcome Center where you can also purchase your tickets for ranger-guided tours at Mesa Verde. The ideal jumping-off point for many adventures, Cortez has a wide variety of lodging, shopping and dining opportunities including local breweries and wineries. A weekly Farmer’s Market features the agricultural heritage and commitment to local, organic foods which are featured at many restaurants in the region. Several exceptional galleries, museums and trading posts reflect the culture and creativity of the Southwest. Cortez remains the trading center of the Four Corners as it has for over 2,000 years with artistry passed down through generations to create a community which celebrates the traditions of the past and a collective vision for the future.

Silverton

Experience Silverton, Colorado

The Warmer Days

The most frequent question Silvertonians field each summer is, “So, when does your town close?”. It’s true that the bulk of our tourist traffic flows in the summer. The scenic train is in full swing bringing thousands of visitors up that majestic canyon. And Silverton’s 4th of July Festival is not to be rivaled with its exquisite fireworks display, Rhubarb Festival, and brass band concert in the park. The Hardrock 100 running race and the Iron Horse Classic bicycle race brings thousands of athletes for each event, and August’s Hardrock Holidays honor the mining tradition that built the town.

But what is little understood by our summer guests is that Silverton doesn’t close. It simply changes pace. As the frenzy of June through August passes, the mountains quiet while everyone and everything takes a breath.

September chill tells the Aspens it’s time for their show, and hills of brilliant green turn yellow, gold, and fire red. There is no better place in the San Juans to test your photography skills during our high mountain fall. Trails are quieter, and that peaceful walk in nature that you might have missed earlier can easily be enjoyed in later seasons.

Winter in Silverton

Winter, brings its own brand of recreation and fun. Take those snowshoes and head up into the woods or along the river. In the crystalline silence, you may see a fox, hare, or even a lynx padding through the snow. Cross-country skiers access groomed trails right from town. Kendall Mountain Recreation Center offers a family-friendly ski hill, and if you have the skill and nerve, nothing beats Silverton Ski Mountain for the ultimate extreme ski experience.

February brings a heckuva good time every President’s Day weekend when Silverton Skijoring hits Blair Street. Imagine the cultural cross-over of epic ski-racing and the finest horse and rider teams in the southwest matching skills to bring a purse race to this tiny community. While hundreds of spectators ring cowbells and cheer their favorite teams, horse and riders race along the course pulling a low-flying skier over jumps and through gates. It’s a popular two-day event, so if you plan to come, it’s best to book your hotel room early.

And no winter outing would be complete without a warm beverage at day’s end, available at any of Silverton’s restaurants or bars, many of which remain open in winter.
Our “off” seasons are November and April, so call ahead for the availability of services during those months.

Gunnison

Explore Gunnison, Colorado

Gunnison is a place that harkens back to the Old West. The community retains its ties to a century of ranching with its wide open spaces, friendly folks and Cattlemen’s Days, one of the oldest rodeos in Colorado. Its location offers easy access to the largest body of water in the state at Blue Mesa Reservoir. Whether it is waterskiing, sailing, fly fishing, or camping with the family, Gunnison provides the perfect recreational and western getaway.

Gunnison History

Named after John W. Gunnison, a US Army officer who surveyed for the transcontinental railroad in 1853. With the mining boom in the 1870s along with an increase of ranchers, there was a population increase during this time. The D&RGW was the main railroad serving this area for about 70 years for townspeople and ore. It was a major producer of hay and other various grains most of which shipped to Crested Butte.

Home to Western Colorado University.

Gunnison CO Fall

Pueblo

Activities in Pueblo, Colorado

Find out for yourself why this flavorful southwest city was named one of the nation’s four “most livable cities” by Partners for Livable Communities, a Washington D.C. non-profit organization.

Perhaps one of the state’s most faithful chronicles of life in this area is the Colorado Historical Society’s El Pueblo History Museum. Located on the actual site of the El Pueblo trading post built in 1842, the museum is now in the heart of downtown Pueblo. Take a stroll in the Union Avenue Historic District along a mile of painstakingly restored buildings. Shop the outdoor exhibits of southwestern art and pottery. Be sure to walk through the grand old Pueblo Union Depot with its mosaic tile flooring, polished wood wainscoting and stunning, stained glass windows.

History aside, the people of Pueblo spend the summer outdoors-as well as the fall, winter and spring! The mild climate of southern Colorado means bicycles and golf clubs stand at the ready year-round.

The 35-mile River Trail System is a paved ribbon that stretches from Colorado State University-Pueblo on the city’s northeastern fringe clear down to Lake Pueblo to the west, where surreal limestone cliffs rim the 60-mile shoreline of the reservoir. Bicyclists, in-line skaters, joggers and power-walkers populate this recreational roadway.

Along the Arkansas River is Pueblo’s new urban kayak course. Located between the 4th Street Bridge and Union Bridge at Corona Street in downtown Pueblo, the course features seven fun and challenging holes, with easy access and parking at either end.

Steamboat Springs

Things to Do in Steamboat Springs, Colorado

From horse-drawn sleigh rides to winter fly-fishing, charming boutiques and day spas, to hot live music and nightspots, Steamboat offers activities for everyone, from the young to the young-at-heart. Incredible skiing and riding brings powderhounds to Steamboat, but this real ranching town with a wide array of adventure filled activities is what turns visitors into long-time locals. Try a soak in the legendary natural hot springs, ride a snowmobile along the Continental Divide, and enjoy the majestic views of the Rocky Mountains from a hot-air balloon, or hone your skills at the Winter Driving School.

Telluride

Vacation in Telluride, Colorado

Framed by the stunning beauty of the San Juan Mountains, Telluride is surrounded on three sides by jagged rock, roaring waterfalls, green canyons, and native wildflowers.

Home to Telluride Ski Resort, Arts and Culture

Home to the Telluride Ski Resort, an active arts and cultural community, you can enjoy performing arts, live music, world-class dining, local crafts, a farmer’s market, or the many Summer festivals that keep Telluride alive.

The Free Gondola – Mountain Village

Take a ride on the Telluride – Mountain Village FREE gondola. This gondola connects the town of Telluride with Mountain Village and provides practical transportation between the two locations. It’s also a great way to get a bird’s eye view of the spectacular canyon and surrounding forest and sightseeing fun for guests of all ages.

Telluride History

This tucked-away mountain community, although small, is rich with historical significance. Like many other Colorado mountain towns, Telluride was a mining boom town and one of the wealthiest of its kind. A great way to get to know Telluride is to learn about its history.

Winter Park

Things to Do in Winter Park, Colorado

Winter Park is most renowned as a ski area but offers much more, especially for those seeking a Colorado adventure. This is the great outdoors you’ve dreamed about, where fresh air and gorgeous natural surroundings meet high-alpine adventures and soothing retreats. It’s the perfect convergence of life, nature, and the elements. Winter Park inspires visitors from around the world and constantly rewards those lucky enough to call this home. See for yourself.

Getting to Winter Park

Take the “Winter Train” or the California Zephyr Train straight from Union Station in LoDo Denver to Winter Park. Make a connection at Union Station on the A-line, which goes directly to Denver International Airport (DIA).

Take the Short Drive From Denver

A mountain drive just 67 miles from Denver. As you crest the 11,400-foot summit of Berthoud Pass and make your way down US Highway 40, the valley opens up before you like your own four-season playground. The area shimmers with life, from the snowcapped peaks of the Continental Divide to the northern runout of the Fraser River and its tributaries. Home to unbelievable outdoor adventure, spectacular scenery, and family fun. With over 324” of snow each year, it makes for excellent skiing, snowboarding, tubing, snowmobiling, sleigh rides, and snow angel making. It is a playground sure to please anyone’s inner child.

Ouray

Explore Ouray, Colorado

A Victorian winter wonderland or summertime exploration of hiking trails, historical off-road mining routes, and some of Colorado’s best natural hot springs. Ouray is a unique mountain destination for world travelers for over 100 years, with quality lodging, restaurants, shops, and activities available year-round. Ouray is home to hundreds of miles of historic Jeep roads, natural sulfur-free hot springs with stunning views, the world-renowned Ouray Ice Park, and spectacular back-county and cross-country skiing.

Take a step back in time and experience our legends and unique landscape. Enjoy Victorian architecture, friendly mountain people, and a peaceful atmosphere that runs on its own time—more about Ouray and the neighboring town Ridgeway.

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