Buying real estate in Montrose, Colorado offers you the opportunity to get out and explore the amazing places in western Colorado. There are endless activities and things to do in and around Montrose. Within a relatively short radius there are hundreds of miles of trails for hiking, mountain biking, off-roading, and more. You can go rock climbing in the summer and ice climbing in the winter. Hit the ski slopes when it’s cold outside and cool off in one of the many rivers or lakes when it gets hot. As you can see, you can truly “stay here and play everywhere”!
Parks with Biking and Walking Paths in Montrose
The city of Montrose has many miles of biking and walking paths throughout the town. These paths go along major roads but they also meander along the Uncompahgre River through quieter areas of nature. These paths make walking the dog, getting out and exercising, and even biking to work more enjoyable and accessible. There are many different trailheads to start at. You can head to the Riverbottom Park and Baldridge Park to start the trail right along the river. These parks also offer outdoor activity areas as well as picnic areas. Riverbottom Park offers access to the Uncompahgre River with launch points for kayaks and paddleboards. Cerise Park is located just down the trail with the Montrose Dog Park close by. The West Main Trailhead parking area is just off of Main Street before it turns into Spring Creek. This trailhead is closer to the Colorado Outdoors development area with trails that go north towards the Mayfly building.
Black Canyon National Park
Black Canyon National Park is located only 20 minutes from Montrose and offers year-round activity options. There are many hiking trails, scenic drives, as well as many winter activities such as cross country skiing and snowshoeing. At its deepest, the Black Canyon of the Gunnison is 2,722 feet deep at Warner Point. There are multiple entrances to Black Canyon National Park, but the one that is the closest to Montrose is the entrance to the South Rim. The South Rim visitor center is also located here. The rangers can give you updates on what is going on in the park as well as giving you recommendations for hikes and other activities. Keep in mind that some access to the park is seasonal. North Rim Road and East Portal road usually close in November and open up in April. South Rim Drive remains open in the winter but only to the visitor center. The rest of South Rim Drive is closed to vehicles due to snow but opens up to people who want to snowshoe and ski.
Adventure in Ouray, Colorado
Ouray is known as a local hotspot for adventure and is located 45 minutes south of Montrose, right at the base of the San Juan Mountains. There are many Jeep touring companies as well as others that offer OHV tours in the Ouray area. The Alpine Loop is a backcountry trail system for Jeeps and other off-highway and all-terrain vehicles that goes over several mountain passes and offers a view into parts of Colorado that not many people get to see.
Ouray also offers ice climbing in the Box Canyon and other areas around Ouray. Some guide services offer ice climbing for beginners, or if you’d prefer, you can watch the ice climbing from above during the Ouray Ice Climbing Festival. Ouray has all sorts of other activities as well. Many hiking trails start right within the town of Ouray or are only a short drive away. Drive the scenic Million Dollar Highway and see the amazing canyons and red mountains. There are many rock climbing areas suitable for both beginners and experts. No matter who you are, there is some sort of adventure for everyone in Ouray. And after a long, fun day, relax in the natural hot springs and soak in the natural mineral water. It’s open year-round so you can hit up the hot springs any time you want!
Silver Jack Reservoir and Owl Creek Pass
Located in the Cimarron area, Silver Jack is a reservoir offering camping, fishing, hiking, and other activities. It is located about an hour from Montrose with beautiful views of Owl Creek Pass and the Cimarron Ridge. It’s a great area for a quick little getaway. If you want to see the best fall colors around, you definitely need to make the drive to Owl Creek Pass and Silver Jack! The county roads are accessible for most vehicles but do close near the top in winter.
San Juan Mountains
The San Juan Mountains are some of the most rugged, beautiful mountains in all of Colorado and you can see them right from the town of Montrose! The alpenglow that softly lights up the mountains at both sunrise and sunset is always so beautiful to see. The mountain towns such as Ouray, Ridgway, and Telluride are right at the base of the San Juan Mountains and offer easy access to the national forests and wilderness areas. Buying real estate in Montrose is a great decision because the cost of living is less than the mountain towns, yet the mountains aren’t far away. The San Juan Mountains cover such a vast area that it is easy to get away from people and escape to the mountains!
Driving the Rimrocker Trail to Moab, Utah
The Rimrocker Trail is a 160 mile trail that goes from Montrose to Moab and takes you a little more off the beaten path. Rain and other conditions can quickly turn parts of the trail into a mess so be sure to check current trail conditions! The trail also branches off into other areas such as Paradox Valley and the Dolores River Canyon. Be sure to allow at least a half-day to do the trail. Some parts of the trail are easy while other areas take a little more skill to navigate.
Once you’ve made it to Moab, check out the area and stay for a bit! Moab is not far from Montrose and is a great area for a weekend trip. The Moab area offers a lot of unique scenery such as Arches National Park and Canyonlands. Moab is said to be the Mecca for adventure enthusiasts. The Rimrocker Trail was also recently named as the number one best off-roading destination in western Colorado by OutThere Colorado.
Grand Mesa National Forest
Did you know that the Grand Mesa National Forest is one of the best places in Colorado to spot moose? There are an estimated 400+ moose on Grand Mesa! Grand Mesa is also the largest flat-top mountain in the world. As with everything is Colorado, there are plenty of things to do no matter what time of year it is. Many roads take you through aspen forests to dozens of lakes and ponds scattered across Grand Mesa. These areas offer great places for fishing. During the winter months, man roads close due to snow. But opportunities for snowshoeing, cross country skiing, snowmobiling are abundant in the winter! The Grand Mesa Nordic Council maintains over 30 miles of groomed cross country skiing trails for you to enjoy.
Grand Mesa can be seen from Montrose and in the distance, it may not seem that significant and looks like just another line on the horizon. But once you get up close, you realize just how massive it is! There are a lot of hidden gems up on Grand Mesa. Stop at the Grand Mesa Visitor Center and they can provide you with many maps of the area and give you advice on where to go. For some classic Grand Mesa views, check out such areas as Land’s End Overlook, the Crag Crest trail, and the Lost Lake trail.
Skiing and Snowboarding in Crested Butte and Telluride
Montrose is located between two world-class ski resorts in Crested Butte and Telluride. The town of Crested Butte is located near Mount Crested Butte. Both Telluride and Crested Butte have direct flights from many major cities in the U.S. Take a skiing or snowboarding lesson for the first time. Or, if you want something more advanced, try one of the double black diamond ski runs.
Are you ready to get started with buying Montrose, CO real estate? Contact me to see how I can help! I specialize in real estate in the greater Montrose area, as well as the western slope of Colorado. Come experience living on the western slope!
