20 Attractions to Explore Near Western Slope Conservation Center

Mount Lamborn is a mountain summit in the West Elk Mountains range of the Rocky Mountains of North America. The 11,402-foot peak is located in Gunnison National Forest, 5.9 miles southeast by south of the Town of Paonia in Delta County, Colorado, United States. The summit of Mount Lamborn is the highest point in Delta County.

Landsend Peak is a prominent wedge-shaped mountain located in the West Elk Mountains range northeast of Crawford, Colorado. The summit of Landsend Peak has an elevation of 10,806 ft rising dramatically about 4,000 ft above the valley below. Both peaks lie within the Gunnison National Forest near the physiographic boundary of the Rocky Mountains and the Colorado Plateau provinces. Geologically, Landsend Peak and Mount Lamborn are exposed igneous intrusions that geologists call laccoliths.

Needle Rock is an iconic landmark visible from Highway 92 near the town of Crawford. The surrounding terrain is characterized by laccolithic mountains flanked by precipitous cliffs, extensive talus aprons, forested mesas, canyons, and spacious, well-watered intermontane basins. The massive rock feature originated in the Oligocene geological epoch when magma intruded between existing sedimentary rocks as the crown of a buried laccolith or possibly the underlying conduit of a laccolith.

Saddle Mountain is a large, conical mountain located on the western side of the West Elk Mountains southeast of Crawford, Colorado. It has an elevation of 10,005 ft with over 3,000 ft of vertical relief above the valley below. Although it has the classic shape of an extinct volcano, Saddle Mountain is an exposed igneous intrusion that geologists call a laccolith.

Mount Gunnison resides just inside of the northern boundary of the West Elks Wilderness, which is encompassed by the beautiful Gunnison National Forest. Mount Gunnison is also Colorado’s 13th most prominent mountain, ranking ahead of 94 of the states highest 100 mountains, including 46 fourteeners. The mountain is named in honor of John Williams Gunnison who explored the area.

Crater Peak is the highest point on Grand Mesa. Despite it's modest elevation Crater Peak ranks number 58 in the state in prominence. Crater peak itself is not especially striking, it does however have an excellent vantage point for photographing aspens in the fall. From the summit to the east, you have a clear view of Capital, Hunstmans Ridge, and the Raggeds.

Crawford State Park is a Colorado State Park that encompasses Crawford Reservoir located about 1 mile south of the town of Crawford in Delta County, Colorado. The 760-acre park was established in 1964 on the shore of Crawford Reservoir, a 400 acres lake with boat ramps and a swimming beach. Other facilities include camp sites, picnic sites and a visitors center.

Crawford Dam impounds water for Crawford Reservoir in Delta County, Colorado about a mile south of the town of Crawford. The earthen dam was completed in 1962 by the United States Bureau of Reclamation with a height of 162 feet and 580 feet long at its crest. It impounds Iron Creek for irrigation flood control, one element of the Smith Fork Project. The reservoir is encompassed within Crawford State Park with Park Headquarters located on a peninsula along the northeastern shore.

This village of two dozen historic structures was erected by the Surface Creek Valley Historical Society on the old Bar I Ranch site, whose only surviving structures are three silos. Made of 2-by-6-inch boards stacked flat and standing 40 feet high, these sturdy eight- and nine-sided grain storage towers are the centerpiece of Pioneer Town.

Marcellina Mountain is a prominent mountain summit in the West Elk Mountains range of the Rocky Mountains of North America. This wilderness encompasses 176,000 acres of Gunnison National Forest, making it the fifth largest wilderness in Colorado. The volcanic ridges and long valleys of this pristine area offer an extensive selection of hiking and climbing

East Beckwith Mountain is a laccolith, formed when magma intruded into Mancos Shale approximately 30 million years ago. The 12,441-foot peak is located in the West Elk Wilderness of Gunnison National Forest. It is noted for its distinctive glacial landforms. On the north side of this elongated, east–west oriented mountain, there are five glacially carved cirques with intervening arêtes, and moraines fan out from the mountain's base.

Chair mountain is a majestic mountain gang which overlooks some of Colorado’s most picturesque mountain terrain. Undoubtedly, Chair Mountain is the McClure Pass showpiece and everything else is just details. This is the land where purple, maroon, grey, and shinning white rocks rise above alpine carpets of lush iridescent green and vast tracts of gigantic aspen. Common sights include 5,000-ft of steep mountainous relief, crystal clear rivers negotiating box canyons and so more.

The Black Canyon of the Gunnison Wilderness is located in Montrose County, Colorado. This wilderness area is bounded by the Gunnison River on the west and the Uncompahgre Plateau on the east. The canyon itself is approximately 12 miles long and 2,000 feet deep. The walls of the canyon are steep and lined with various types of rock, including granite, gneiss, and schist. The canyon floor is strewn with boulders and debris from rockslides.

Nestled in the majestic San Juan Mountains of southwestern Colorado, Pulpit Rock Overlook provides breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape. The overlook is located just a short hike from the town of Montrose, making it the perfect destination for a day trip. From Pulpit Rock, visitors can see the nearby towns of Ouray and Telluride, as well as the 14,000-foot peaks of the San Juans. The overlook is also a popular spot for bird watching, as it is home to a variety of different species.

Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park is located in western Colorado, about 12 miles east of Montrose. The park derives its name from the black granite walls that soar 2,000 feet above the Gunnison River. The canyon is one of the deepest and narrowest in North America, and it offers visitors spectacular views of the river below. In addition to hiking and camping, visitors can also enjoy fishing, boating, and horseback riding. The park is open year-round.

Eggleston Lake is a reservoir in Colorado and has an elevation of 3,087 metres. Eggleston Lake is situated nearby to Eggleston Boat Ramp, and close to Crag Crest Campground. It is popular for wishing and also so many other leisure activities are possible here.

Grand Mesa is the largest flat-topped mountain in the world and covers an area of about 500 square miles. The mesa is timberline, with dense forests of pine and fir trees, and is covered in alpine meadows and fields of wildflowers. There are more than 300 lakes on the mesa,that are only accessible by trail. The Mesa is a popular recreation area, with hiking, camping, fishing, and horseback riding opportunities. ski resort is located on the mesa. In the winter, the Mesa is blanketed in snow.

West Elk Peak, elevation 13,042 ft, is the highest summit in the West Elk Mountains of Gunnison County, Colorado. The mountain is in the West Elk Wilderness, northwest of Gunnison. The terrain consists mostly of volcanic breccia, known in this area as West Elk Breccia, dated at 35 to 30 million years old.A good trekking destination and also you can explore some nice hisotirc locations where you can see the history of this location.

The Cobbett Lake is located in Delta County, Colorado. It has beautiful scenery and is located on Colorado’s Grand Mesa. It is open to non-motorized watercraft, making it a perfect place for canoeing and fishing. Keep your eye out for deer and elk. There is also hiking trails and a campground nearby.

West Elk Wilderness within Gunnison National Forest is 176,412 acres, the fifth largest Wilderness in Colorado. The area supports large elk and deer populations and is busiest during the fall hunting season. A good location to get interact with the wilderness and also there are so many things to see and do here.