Crawford

Crawford sits amidst expansive mesas, deep canyons and breathtaking mountains. The Old West is very much alive here — genuine cowboys run cattle drives right through the middle of this small town.

Situated on the West Elk Loop Scenic & Historic Byway, this small artisan community is the gateway to the North Rim in Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, located 15 miles south of town. At this stunning park, sheer black cliffs sandwich the Gunnison River, which rages thousands of feet below. Nearby, Crawford State Park offers camping, boating and fishing, and U.S. Forest Service access roads wind into the West Elk Mountain range, an ideal area for hunting and fishing.

Crawford affords splendid views of Needle Rock, a distinctive volcanic landmark rising out of the West Elk mountain range, three miles east of town. Each July during the Render the Rock festival, artists of all ages gather to recreate the spire in every medium from traditional oil paintings and pastels to fabric hats, soap carvings and flower arrangements. Famed rocker Joe Cocker visited Crawford and decided to make this southwestern community his home.