Montrose Guidebook
Sightseeing
Dennis Weaver Memorial Park
Riversage DriveBlack Canyon of the Gunnison National Park (10 minutes E)
(https://www.nps.gov/blca/planyourvisit/fees.htm)
7 Day Vehicle Pass $30.00
7 Day Motorcycle Pass $25.00
7 Day Individual Pass $15.00 (pedestrian or bicycle)
Black Canyon Annual Pass $55.00
Check the site for free days
Rim Drive with access from Montrose has many turnouts, most require some walking. Gunnison River (The Gunni) flows through the Canyon. Climbers, kayakers, hikers, and people fishing the River don’t appreciate rocks being thrown over the edge. There are rest rooms and an interpretive center. Rim Drive is closed in winter but excellent for snowshoeing and X-country skiing. I personally feel the far or North Rim with access from Crawford has the best viewing places. It’s more of a ”WOW” park than and ”OH, COOL” Park.
153 locals recommend
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park (10 minutes E)
(https://www.nps.gov/blca/planyourvisit/fees.htm)
7 Day Vehicle Pass $30.00
7 Day Motorcycle Pass $25.00
7 Day Individual Pass $15.00 (pedestrian or bicycle)
Black Canyon Annual Pass $55.00
Check the site for free days
Rim Drive with access from Montrose has many turnouts, most require some walking. Gunnison River (The Gunni) flows through the Canyon. Climbers, kayakers, hikers, and people fishing the River don’t appreciate rocks being thrown over the edge. There are rest rooms and an interpretive center. Rim Drive is closed in winter but excellent for snowshoeing and X-country skiing. I personally feel the far or North Rim with access from Crawford has the best viewing places. It’s more of a ”WOW” park than and ”OH, COOL” Park.
Gunni (51 mi. E) is a small town where cold lives in winter. Montrose is a mile high. Gunnison is 2,000 feet higher. Great summer arts and crafts show. Pretty amazing drive past Blue Mesa Reservoir. Check Hiway 50 conditions before you go.
23 locals recommend
Gunnison
Gunni (51 mi. E) is a small town where cold lives in winter. Montrose is a mile high. Gunnison is 2,000 feet higher. Great summer arts and crafts show. Pretty amazing drive past Blue Mesa Reservoir. Check Hiway 50 conditions before you go.
Orvis Hot Springs (30 mi. S) This is a private, clothes optional, hot springs. Places to camp or rent. Rates aren’t on their site.
63 locals recommend
Orvis Hot Springs
1585 County RdOrvis Hot Springs (30 mi. S) This is a private, clothes optional, hot springs. Places to camp or rent. Rates aren’t on their site.
Powderhorn Mountain Resort (68 mi. N) This ski area is on the North side of Grand Mesa. Besides skiing, in summer there is mountain biking, hiking, chairlift rides wherein the scenery is stupendous.
81 locals recommend
Powderhorn Mountain Resort
48338 Powderhorn RdPowderhorn Mountain Resort (68 mi. N) This ski area is on the North side of Grand Mesa. Besides skiing, in summer there is mountain biking, hiking, chairlift rides wherein the scenery is stupendous.
Four Corners Monument (174 mi S) Where else can you stand in four different States at the same time. No place!
Anasazi Ruins are in the Four Corners region. The where, how, and why of their exacting architecture is beyond explanation. Problem with this nationally known monument is that it’s hot and crowded at the season’s peak.
36 locals recommend
Four Corners Monument
597 NM-597Four Corners Monument (174 mi S) Where else can you stand in four different States at the same time. No place!
Anasazi Ruins are in the Four Corners region. The where, how, and why of their exacting architecture is beyond explanation. Problem with this nationally known monument is that it’s hot and crowded at the season’s peak.
Ute Indian Museum
17253 Chipeta RdNative American history of the Western Slope.
Preserved Nineteenth Century buildings and shops. Interesting to see what much of the American West looked like before the iPhone.
7 locals recommend
Museum of the Mountain West
68169 Miami RdPreserved Nineteenth Century buildings and shops. Interesting to see what much of the American West looked like before the iPhone.
All water sports, camping, yurt rental, great hiking. Entrance fee.
29 locals recommend
Ridgway State Park
28555 Highway 550 All water sports, camping, yurt rental, great hiking. Entrance fee.
Sightseeing
Weaver was a TV actor on Gunsmoke, McCloud, and a suspenseful movie called, ”The Duel.” The sculpture is dramatic.
11 locals recommend
Dennis Weaver Memorial Park
Riversage DriveWeaver was a TV actor on Gunsmoke, McCloud, and a suspenseful movie called, ”The Duel.” The sculpture is dramatic.
(36 mi. S) (https://ourayhotsprings.com/rates-2/) There are public and motel hot springs. Large place to soak or get the kids wet. Ouray is pronounced, you ray. Old mining town, great walking, hiking, shops, places to eat. Pretty touristy and crowded in summer. Soaking in that setting is quite amazing. Winter sees fewer people. Summer visitors can spot rock climbers occasionally.
27 locals recommend
Ouray Hot Springs
(36 mi. S) (https://ourayhotsprings.com/rates-2/) There are public and motel hot springs. Large place to soak or get the kids wet. Ouray is pronounced, you ray. Old mining town, great walking, hiking, shops, places to eat. Pretty touristy and crowded in summer. Soaking in that setting is quite amazing. Winter sees fewer people. Summer visitors can spot rock climbers occasionally.
(50 Mi. N) It is the largest flat top (from a distance) mountain in the world. Once you get up there it ain’t so flat. Some call it the ”Land of 300 Lakes.” One of the notable features is that in under thirty minutes you can move from a desert ecosystem to an alpine ecosystem. One disappointing aspect is that you can’t see further than your finger can point.
Winter and summer activities
55 locals recommend
Grand Mesa
(50 Mi. N) It is the largest flat top (from a distance) mountain in the world. Once you get up there it ain’t so flat. Some call it the ”Land of 300 Lakes.” One of the notable features is that in under thirty minutes you can move from a desert ecosystem to an alpine ecosystem. One disappointing aspect is that you can’t see further than your finger can point.
Winter and summer activities
City/town information
Crested Butte (57 mi. E) is a winter ski and summer wild flower festival town. Neat shops, and atmosphere. Good walking town, hiking, touristy during summer. Winter and summer activities
46 locals recommend
Crested Butte
Crested Butte (57 mi. E) is a winter ski and summer wild flower festival town. Neat shops, and atmosphere. Good walking town, hiking, touristy during summer. Winter and summer activities
Silverton (60 mi. S) They have a narrow gage train ride in the summer, lots of shops, places to eat. The most significant thing about Silverton is how to get there. If you haven’t been over the passes already, you probably won’t believe it.
Winter and summer activities
77 locals recommend
Silverton
Silverton (60 mi. S) They have a narrow gage train ride in the summer, lots of shops, places to eat. The most significant thing about Silverton is how to get there. If you haven’t been over the passes already, you probably won’t believe it.
Winter and summer activities
Telluride (66 mi. SE) is an old mining town, as were most tiny towns on the West Slope of the Rockies in the latter 19th Century. This quaint ski town is real trendy, prices prove it; lots of shops, restaurants, summer festivals. A gondola ride in any season is spectacular. Nikola Tesla, with the financial help of others, built the world’s first commercial grade AC power plant there. Winter and summer activities.
148 locals recommend
TelluRiders
Telluride (66 mi. SE) is an old mining town, as were most tiny towns on the West Slope of the Rockies in the latter 19th Century. This quaint ski town is real trendy, prices prove it; lots of shops, restaurants, summer festivals. A gondola ride in any season is spectacular. Nikola Tesla, with the financial help of others, built the world’s first commercial grade AC power plant there. Winter and summer activities.
Ridgway (27 mi. S) is a wide spot on Hiway 50. A few shops and restaurants ring one side of an expansive park. It is the center of festivals and community activities. It is the home of two seasonal museums: Ouray County Ranch History Museum and Ridgway Railroad Museum, both of which are surprisingly interesting.
39 locals recommend
Ridgway
Ridgway (27 mi. S) is a wide spot on Hiway 50. A few shops and restaurants ring one side of an expansive park. It is the center of festivals and community activities. It is the home of two seasonal museums: Ouray County Ranch History Museum and Ridgway Railroad Museum, both of which are surprisingly interesting.
Santa Fe (320 mi S) Upscale art in a wonderful ex-sleepy town. Great food and accommodations, wine, history, culcha. They got lotsa culcha in Santa Fe; visual and performing arts. They got opry even, plus you can do things outdoors.
233 locals recommend
Santa Fe
Santa Fe (320 mi S) Upscale art in a wonderful ex-sleepy town. Great food and accommodations, wine, history, culcha. They got lotsa culcha in Santa Fe; visual and performing arts. They got opry even, plus you can do things outdoors.
Food scene
Durango (107 mi. S) Getting there is half the fun. Hiway 50 drives you through Ridgway, Ouray, Silverton over the ”Million Dollar Hiway.”
Lots of switchbacks, steep drop offs, an actual hairpin turn with no guardrails make passage interesting. It’s not dangerous if you pay attention. There are plenty of camera turnouts. The scenery is beyond description.
Flatlanders may find the pass somewhat intimidating. Durango is the reward.
35 locals recommend
Durango
Durango (107 mi. S) Getting there is half the fun. Hiway 50 drives you through Ridgway, Ouray, Silverton over the ”Million Dollar Hiway.”
Lots of switchbacks, steep drop offs, an actual hairpin turn with no guardrails make passage interesting. It’s not dangerous if you pay attention. There are plenty of camera turnouts. The scenery is beyond description.
Flatlanders may find the pass somewhat intimidating. Durango is the reward.
City advice
Don't miss
Million Dollar Hiway
Enjoy hairpin turns, thousand foot drop-offs, no guard rails, and some of the most exhilarating views in the Western Hemisphere. The hiway is safe, just pay attention.
Don't miss
Blue Mesa Reservoir toward Gunnison
Check Hiway 50 on Colorado Dept of Transportation (CDOT) site. There are closures and/or single lanes.
Reservoir is at 39 % capacity. They are sending water down the Colorado River to keep the lights on in Las Vegas. And thank goodness for that!