20 Attractions to Explore Near Gunnison National Forest

Sweitzer Lake State Park is a Colorado state park located in Delta County 1 mile south of Delta, Colorado. The 210-acre park established in 1960 includes a 137-acre reservoir. Facilities include a boat ramp, swim beach and picnic sites. Birdwatchers have spotted 170 different species in the park.

Sweitzer Lake is a smaller, day-use state park located in Delta. It's centered around water recreation on Sweitzer Lake. This lake offers a convenient water recreation for those on the Western Slope. Located only minutes from downtown Delta, the 210-acre park boasts exciting fishing and boating. The picturesque lake is 137-acres, providing visitors with a nice swim beach and lots of lakeside picnic tables.

A beautiful park that was centred around the sixty-acre Confluence Lake, behind downtown Delta. It’s open year-round for recreation, with good places to fish, hike, bike, and boat. It includes Bill Heddles Recreation Center, Fort Uncompahgre living history museum, 18 hole disc golf course, 7 miles of walking and mountain bike single track trails, 70 acre fishing/paddle boarding lake w/ADA accessible fishing peninsula, dog park, RV dump station, and so much more.

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.

This is a special place nestled within the remarkable canyon country of the Uncompahgre Plateau. Red-rock canyons and bluffs hold geological and paleontological resources spanning 600 million years, as well as many cultural and historic sites from the past 10,000 years. Known for its breathtaking scenery, Dominguez-Escalante NCA is a fine example of the spectacular canyon country of the Uncompahgre Plateau.

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.

The Montrose County Historical Museum is located in the city of Montrose in southwestern Colorado. The museum's collections focus on the history of the region, with exhibits on topics such as Native American culture, the early days of exploration and settlement, and the area's role in the development of the American West. The museum also maintains a research library and archives, which are open to the public.

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.

The Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area is located in western Colorado, near the town of Montrose. The area is known for its dramatic gorge, which was carved by the Gunnison River. The gorge is home to a variety of plant and animal life, including bighorn sheep, eagles, and canyon Offense. Visitors can enjoy hiking, camping, fishing, and rafting in the Gunnison Gorge. In addition, the area offers several scenic drives, as well as opportunities for backcountry exploration.

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.

The Ute Indian Museum in Montrose County, Colorado is a small museum with a big focus on the history and culture of the Ute people. The museum tells the story of the Ute people from their time as nomadic hunters to their forced relocation onto reservations. The exhibits feature a variety of artifacts, including traditional clothing, tools, and art. The museum also has a number of interactive displays, such as a life-size teepee and a replica wickiup.

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.

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.

The Uncompahgre Plateau is located in western Colorado in Montrose County. It is an elevated plateau that consists of high desert terrain. The average elevation is around 7,500 feet and it is home to several mountain ranges including the San Juans and the West Elk Mountains. The area is well known for its unique geological features, including canyons, mesas, and buttes. It is also home to a variety of wildlife. There are many hiking trails and camping areas on the plateau.

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.

Powderhorn Mountain Resort is a ski area located in Mesa County, Colorado. The resort is situated on the western flank of Powderhorn Mesa and offers a variety of terrain for skiers and snowboarders of all levels. In addition to its excellent skiing and snowboarding facilities, the resort also offers a variety of other activities, including hiking, mountain biking, and golf. The resort is situated on over 1,600 acres of land.

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.

The Grand Mesa National Scenic Byway is a 63-mile National Scenic Byway, National Forest Scenic Byway, and Colorado Scenic and Historic Byway located in Delta and Mesa counties, Colorado, USA. The byway traverses Grand Mesa, the most extensive flat-topped mountain on Earth, and reaches an elevation of 10,849 feet . The byway comprises Colorado State Highway 65 from Cedaredge to Interstate 70 Exit 49 and Forest Service Road 100 to the Land's End Observatory.

The Western Slope Conservation Center is a grassroots organization located in Western Colorado. It builds an active and aware community to protect and enhance the lands, air, water and wildlife of the lower Gunnison River watershed.