Canyons and Buttes – See the Heart of Southwest Colorado

Total Number of Days/Nights: Five/Four

Itinerary Summary: Encompassing much of the Southwest region, this intensive itinerary is ideal for those who revel in variety. Mountain vineyards, history museums, gargantuan reservoirs, ample wildlife and welcoming communities are all ready stops along the route.

Day One

Overnight in Salida. At this point, you are 134 mi./216 km. from Denver and 100 mi./161 km. from Colorado Springs.

Outdoor Recreation

• Rent a bike and cruise around historic Salida
• Duckie or raft trip on the Arkansas River (1/2 or full day)
• Mt. Spirit Winery Tour (1/2 day)
• Fish the Arkansas River, Sand or Frantz lakes (1/2 day)

Culture and Heritage

• Walking tour of historic Main St., with art galleries and working studios (1/2 day)
• Visit the Salida Museum (1 hr.)
• Visit Buena Vista (28 mi./45 km. from Salida). Sites include the historic Turner Farm, Heritage & Train Museum and the St. Elmo Ghost Town.

Day Two

Overnight in Gunnison. At this point you are 65 mi./104 km. from Salida, 10 mi./16 km. from Almont, 28 mi./45 km. to Crested Butte, 65 mi./104 km. from Montrose, home of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, and 172 mi./277 km. from Durango.

Outdoor Recreation

• Visit Blue Mesa Reservoir (Colorado’s largest body of water) for boating and fishing.
• Lunch at Pappy’s at the Marina (1/2 day)
• Mountain bike, hike or horseback ride in Hartman Rocks Multiuse Recreation Area. Local outfitters are available (1/2 day).
• Rent a bike and cruise around historic Gunnison. Local rental shops are available.
• Visit the Gunnison Valley Observatory (1.5 hrs.)
• Visit Waunita Hot Springs Ranch. Hiking, horseback riding and group dinners are available at the ranch

Culture and Heritage

• Walking tour of historic downtown, which includes art galleries and shopping (1/2 day)
• Visit the Pioneer & Train Museum (3 hrs.)
• Guided tour of Aberdeen Quarry, source of state capitol building’s granite
• Visit the Gunnison Arts Center for galleries and an art store (1.5 hrs.)

Day Three

Overnight in Gunnison. Take a scenic drive up Taylor Canyon Road to Taylor Reservoir and view of the Collegiate Peaks Wilderness Area. Along the way, stop at bighorn sheep viewing areas. Or spend half a day rafting the river or fishing its banks. Contact Three Rivers Resort and Almont Anglers or Harmel’s Ranch Resort for fishing opportunities.

Day Four

Overnight in Crested Butte, a registered National Historic District and Wildflower Capital of Colorado.

Outdoor Recreation

• Guided or self-guided historic walking tour of Crested Butte (2 hrs.)
• Chair lift ride and gentle hike at the peak (2 hrs.) on Crested Butte Mountain Resort
• Bike rental for a cruise around town
• Mountain bike rental to experience epic mountain biking trail system
• Horseback rides in the Gunnison National Forest (2 hrs.)
• Wildflower hikes (guided available) for all levels
• Jeep tours of Paradise Divide with vistas of high-alpine meadows

Culture and Heritage

• Visit the historic town of Gothic and Museum, home of the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory (2 hrs.)
• Stop by the Crested Butte Mountain Theatre, the longest-running community theatre in Colorado
• Tour the Crested Butte Center for the Arts
• Visit the Crested Butte Mountain Heritage Museum and Mountain Bike Hall of Fame (1 hr.)

Day Five

Depart the Gunnison Valley and overnight in Montrose, Grand Junction, Sandstone, Aspen or Glenwood Springs.

Head west on Highway 50 to Blue Mesa and Curecanti National Recreation Area. The Blue Mesa Reservoir follows along Highway 50 for nearly 25 mi./40 km. for spectacular scenery along with grand mesas and the Dillon Pinnacles, an interesting geological formation, and the Gunnison National Forest. Stop at Morrow Point (just 25 minutes west of Gunnison) for a scenic boat tour (available from Memorial Day to Labor Day). Then stay on Highway 50 to the main entrance of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park in Montrose. From there, head northwest to Grand Junction and the Colorado National Monument, or travel southwest to Mesa Verde National Park and the Durango area.

Additional One-Day Itinerary

This route is an easy day’s drive with an overnight in Redstone, Glenwood Springs or Aspen. From Highway 50, take Highway 92 west at the Blue Mesa Dam. The route provides views of the south rim of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, which keeps you on the West Elk Scenic & Historic Byway.

On Highway 92, you travel through the historic towns of Crawford and Hotchkiss in the North Fork Valley, a prominent fruit-growing region and home of the Hotchkiss/Crawford Historical Museum. When arriving at Highway 133 in Hotchkiss, head north on Highway 133 to Paonia where you will find some of Colorado’s best wines and fruit orchards. Pay a visit to the Alfred Eames Cellars by Puesta Del Sol.

From there, continue on Highway 133 north, part of the West Elk Scenic & Historic Byway, and drive through the historic coal-mining town of Somerset. From town, take in beautiful vistas of the Paonia Reservoir and Paonia State Park. Further on up the road and over the spectacular McClure Pass, take in more incredible vistas and head on down in to the Crystal River Valley. A must see is the historic and quaint town of Redstone, where coke ovens from the 1800s line the highway (a great place for lunch or an overnight is at the imposing and historic Redstone Inn). The Crystal River follows along much of this section of Highway 133 that takes you on in to Carbondale. From Carbondale, you can either head west on Highway 82 to Glenwood Springs or east to Aspen.

Resources

www.gunnisoncrestedbutte.com
www.coloradoheadwaters.com
www.westerncolorado.org
www.alfredeamescellars.com
www.redstonecolorado.com
www.redstoneinn.com
www.aspenchamber.org
www.glenwoodchamber.com
www.visitmontrose.net
www.visitgrandjunction.com