MiniTour

Summer Splendor in Gunnison and Montrose Counties

A mountain biker enjoys the view near Crested Butte, Colorado Crested Butte Mountain Resort/Tom Stillo

The mountain regions of our state offer much in terms of entertainment, activities and scenic attractions throughout the year. This month's AAA Mini Tour focuses on one such area in an around the broad, fertile valley of the Gunnison River, including Gunnison, Crested Butte, Blue Mesa Reservoir, Black Canyon National Park and Montrose.

Begin the tour in the town of Gunnison. Settled in 1874, Gunnison once was the trade center for the area's ranching operations and mining industry. Today, many local ranches continue to prosper, and a distinctly western flavor still permeates the town. For a glimpse at past and present local life, 20 self-guided circle tours of the area are outlined in a brochure available at the Gunnison Chamber of Commerce at 500 E. Tomichi Ave. Another worthwhile stop is the Pioneer Museum, occupying a restored rural schoolhouse and seven other buildings. Exhibits include farming implements, dolls, china, antique cars, as well as mineral and arrowhead collections.

Summer in Gunnison is packed with activities and festivals, including the annual Cattlemen's Days Rodeo from July 17 to 22. Billed as Colorado's oldest rodeo (2001 marks the 101st anniversary), the five-day event includes an old-fashioned parade, stock show, dance, barbecue and carnival. For more information, call 800-323-2453.

From Gunnison, head north 28 miles on US Highway 135 to Crested Butte. This beautiful drive winds into Gunnison National Forest and passes through the small town of Almont. Picturesque Crested Butte is best known for its skiing at Mt. Crested Butte Resort and summertime mountain biking events. The town is also a National Historic District, with shops occupying brightly painted Victorian buildings. The City Hall and Protestant Church, both built in 1883, and the Elk Mountain House, dating back to 1881, are reminders of Crested Butte's origins as a gold and coal mining camp. Early July is the peak time for vibrant wildflowers in this area. Crested Butte celebrates with an annual Wildflower Festival, running July 9 to 15. The festival offers guided hikes, garden tours, art and photography classes, and cooking classes. For further details, call 970-349-2571.

Crested Butte is also home to the Mountain Bike Hall of Fame and Museum. Founded in 1988 to chronicle the history of the sport, the museum houses hundreds of items of memorabilia, including vintage bikes, classic photos, press clippings and highlights from historic races and events. It is located in downtown Crested Butte at 126 Elk Ave., phone 970-349-6817.

For another diversion, continue north nine miles on County Road 317 to Gothic, a ghost town reminding us of the area's rough-and-tumble mining past. In its silver-mining heyday, Gothic boasted a peak population of 8,000 and was called the "City of Silver Wires" after the abundant native wire silver found in nearby mines. The Silver Panic of 1893, caused by the demonetization of silver, led the town's inevitable demise, occurring virtually overnight.

The tour now returns to Gunnison and westward to the Curecanti National Recreation Area, which parallels US Highway 50. Curecanti has three reservoirs on the Gunnison River: Blue Mesa, Morrow Point and Crystal. Morrow Point Dam, one and one-half miles off US 50 from the Cimarron turnoff, is said to be the first double-curvature, thin-arch concrete dam in the country.

Blue Mesa Reservoir, Colorado's largest body of water, offers fishing, water sports, picnic areas and campgrounds. Two marinas rent boats and fishing equipment from mid-May to October.

From the Reservoir, take US 50 east to the turnoff toward the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park-upgraded from a national monument in the fall of 1999. Embracing 13,672 acres, the 53-mile canyon (12-mile gorge) is spectacularly deep and dark, with one of the most amazing geological displays in the West. The canyon takes its name from the somber-colored granite and other Precambrian rocks that line the sheer canyon walls. Various minerals create interesting markings and "veins" in the rock. The river has cut into some of the earth's oldest base rocks, up to a 3,000-foot depth. The narrowest width at the top measures about 1,100 feet, but one point at the bottom narrows to a mere 40 feet. The more heavily-visited South Rim is open year-round and offers a visitor center, campgrounds, nature and hiking trails and numerous canyon overlooks, as well as daily and evening programs led by rangers during the summer months.

Heading back to US 50 and continuing west, the final stop is the town of Montrose. Founded in the 1882, shortly after the Ute Indians were forcibly removed from the area, Montrose served as a supply point for miners along the Uncompahgre River into the silver-laden San Juan Mountains. Montrose now serves a similar purpose for the ranching, farming, mining and recreational interests in the area. It boasts 20 parks and more than seven miles of recreation trails for biking or walking.

While in town, visit the Montrose County Historical Museum at 11 N. 1st Street. Located in the former Denver and Rio Grande Train Depot, the museum focuses on early day pioneer life. The inside houses a country store, railroad memorabilia, Indian artifacts, buggies, wagons and more. Open mid-May through October, 970-249-2085. Backtrack east on US 50 to Gunnison, wrapping up this month's summer tour of Gunnison and Montrose Counties.

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