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Southwest-Colorado-Ophir-Needles-OutThere-Colorado.png

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Things To Do in Southwest

The San Juan Mountains are Colorado’s largest unbroken mountain range: They stretch from the San Luis Valley in the east to the deserts of the Four Corners Region to the west, from the Gunnison Valley to the north and south into New Mexico. This is Colorado at its wildest, the final refuge of the grizzly bear in the state and the location of the state’s largest wilderness, the mighty Weminuche. It can take days or a lifetime to explore these mountains, be it on foot or on some of Colorado’s most hair-raising four-wheel-drive roads.

The story of this region is also the story of the small towns, established during the gold and silver rush days of the late 1800s. Durango, Telluride, Ouray, Silverton, Lake City, Crested Butte, Creede – some of Colorado’s prettiest towns can be found nestled in canyons here, along with old mines built in seemingly impossible spots above the towns. Rough Jeep roads like Ophir Pass and Engineer Pass connect the towns and attract off-road vehicle enthusiasts from across the country. Passenger car drivers can get a glimpse of its splendor on U.S. Highway 550, “The Million Dollar Highway,” connecting Durango and Ouray and offering some of the finest scenery along a paved road in the West.

Some remarkable places can be found along the fringes of the San Juans. To the east is the San Luis Valley, known for its many hot springs. Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park covers a massive canyon that has to be seen to be believed. Southwest of the San Juans is Mesa Verde National Park, home to the famous Ancestral Puebloan cliff houses built 1,000 years ago.

Some of the state’s finest ski areas are located in this region: Crested Butte is located to the north, Telluride to the west, Purgatory to the south and Wolf Creek, known for getting the most snow in Colorado, to the east.



UFO Watchtower

UFO Watchtower

Crystal Mill

Crystal Mill

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020
Wheeler Geologic Area

Wheeler Geologic Area

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020
Dallas Divide

Dallas Divide

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020
Coal Bank Pass

Coal Bank Pass

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020
Red Mountain Pass

Red Mountain Pass

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020
Molas Pass

Molas Pass

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020
Monarch Pass

Monarch Pass

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020
Durango BMX Track

Durango BMX Track

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020
Bachelor Loop Scenic Drive

Bachelor Loop Scenic Drive

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020
South Fork to Creede Scenic Drive

South Fork to Creede Scenic Drive

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020
Alta Ghost Town

Alta Ghost Town

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020
Kebler Pass

Kebler Pass

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020
Owl Creek Pass

Owl Creek Pass

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020
Unaweep – Tabeguache Scenic and Historic Byway​

Unaweep – Tabeguache Scenic and Historic Byway​

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020
La Garita Caldera

La Garita Caldera

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

Durango Ice Climbing Area

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

Lake City Ice Climbing Area

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

Telluride Ice Climbing Area

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

Hartman Rocks Bike Park

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020
Curecanti National Recreation Area Scenic Drive

Curecanti National Recreation Area Scenic Drive

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020
Crested Butte Zipline Tour

Crested Butte Zipline Tour

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020
Cottonwood Pass

Cottonwood Pass

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020
Cumberland Pass

Cumberland Pass

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020
Slumgullion Pass

Slumgullion Pass

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020
Chapman Ski Hill

Chapman Ski Hill

  • Updated Jun 25, 2020

Uncompahgre Peak Trail

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

Warner Point Nature Trail

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

Washington Gulch Trail

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

Willow Lake Trail

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

Ophir Pass Trail

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

Perimeter Loop

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

Petroglyph Point Trail

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

Piedra Falls Trail

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

Potato Lake Trail

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

Rainbow Hot Springs Trail

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

Redcloud And Sunshine Peaks Trail

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

Sand Canyon Trail

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

Sneffels Highline Trail

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

Spruce Canyon Trail

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

Spud Lake Trail

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

Hartman Rocks Trail

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

Highland Mary Lakes Trail

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

Ice Lake Basin Trail

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

Jud Wiebe Memorial Trail 432

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

Judd Falls Trail

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

Lower Box Canyon Falls

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

Mount Sneffels – Yankee Boy Basin Trail

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

Blue Lakes Trail

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

Cannibal Plateau Trail

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

Cascade Falls Of Ouray Trail

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

Chasm View Nature Trail

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

Chief Ouray Mine Trail

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

Cliff Palace Trail

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

Colorado Trail – Hoffheins Connection Trail

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

Crag Crest Trail

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

Crater Lake Trail 2

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

Cuchillo Trail

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

Doctor Park Loop

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

East Bellows Creek Trail

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

El Rito Azul Trail

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

Fourmile Lake Trail

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

Garner Creek Trail

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

401 Trail

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

Anasazi Descent Trail

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

Animas Mountain Loop

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

Baby Bathtubs Trail

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

Bear Creek National Recreation Trail

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

Bear Creek Preserve Trail

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020
Beaver Lake (Marble)

Beaver Lake (Marble)

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020
Tomboy Ghost Town

Tomboy Ghost Town

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020
Crystal Ghost Town

Crystal Ghost Town

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020
Carson Ghost Town

Carson Ghost Town

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020
Animas Forks Ghost Town

Animas Forks Ghost Town

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020
Evolution Bike Park

Evolution Bike Park

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020
Ouray Ice Park

Ouray Ice Park

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

Dunton Hot Springs

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

Hartwell Park

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

Trout Lake (Telluride)

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

Williams Creek Campground (Gunnison)

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

Williams Creek Campground (San Juan)

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020
Wupperman Campground

Wupperman Campground

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

West Fork Campground

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

Vallecito Campground

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

Trujillo Meadows Campground

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

Ute Campground

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

Teal Campground

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

Transfer Park Campground

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

Spruce Campground (Gunnison)

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

Pine Point Campground

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

Pine River Campground

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

Miller Creek Campground

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

North Canyon Campground

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

Middle Mountain Campground

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

Mill Creek Campground

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

Lower Piedra Campground

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

Hidden Valley Campground

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

Florida Campground

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020
Graham Creek Campground

Graham Creek Campground

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

Deer Lakes Campground

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020
Cimarrona Campground

Cimarrona Campground

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

Blanco River Campground

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

Chipeta Falls

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020
Uncompahgre National Forest

Uncompahgre National Forest

  • Updated Jun 25, 2020
San Juan National Forest

San Juan National Forest

  • Updated Jun 25, 2020
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