Pitkin

Once the site of a railroad boomtown, Pitkin is now a hub of outdoor recreation. A massive network of backcountry roads spiderwebs across this area, making it a haven for ATV-ing, gravel biking and snowmobiling.

Read about visiting the Gunnison Valley

Built in 1882, the Alpine Tunnel connected the Front Range and Western Slope of Colorado’s Rocky Mountains via railroad. The western side of the tunnel ended near Pitkin, then a booming mining town. Over the next 30 years, the tunnel was abandoned, and miners moved on to more productive areas. Today, the town is a basecamp for outdoor enthusiasts of all stripes due to the millions of acres of Gunnison National Forest that surrounds it. The closest city to Pitkin is Gunnison, about a 40-minute drive to the southwest.

Things to Do in Pitkin

The best way to explore this vast and mountainous area in summer is to rent a side-by-side UTV in town. Take in seemingly infinite views on nearby Cumberland Pass, explore the ghost town of Tincup, eat lunch on the banks of serene Mirror Lake or explore more motorized trails in nearby Taylor Park for the day. Adventurous gravel biking and bikepacking routes through this area deliver a combination of history and scenery. Elk and mule deer hunters try their luck in nearby units during fall hunting season.

For the first time since the railroad days, Pitkin businesses are now open through the winter: 31 miles of groomed roads allow for exploration via snowmobile, backcountry skis, cross-country skis and fat bikes. 

Catch live music at the Stumbling Moose, enjoy a hearty meal at the Bon-Ton Restaurant or munch on a snack in a rocking chair on Silver Plume General Store’s old-timey porch. Lodging accommodations range from cozy cabin rentals to a newly renovated historic hotel. 

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