20 Attractions to Explore Near Cochetopa Canyon

Tomichi Creek is a relatively small waterway that mirrors US-50 for much of the way between Monarch Pass and Gunnison. The Tomichi Valley is a semi-wide valley allowing Tomichi Creek to meander and split into several waterways creating an excellent livestock range and being largely private ranch lands.Tomichi Creek State Wildlife Area is a gated public access with parking located at the east end of the runway at Gunnison-Crested Butte Regional Airport.

Hartman Rocks has 45 miles of single track trail, 45 miles of roads, 50 designated dispersed campsites, and countless climbing crags. Single track trails are perfect for mountain biking, dirt biking, hiking, and trail running.Views at Hartman Rocks are spectacular especially during sunrise and sunset with the Gunnison Basin to the North and the San Juan Mountains to the south.

Quartz Creek is a stream in Gunnison County, Colorado. It rises in the Rocky Mountains above the town of Pitkin, Colorado. The stream rises in the Gunnison National Forest and is formed by the merger of the North, Middle, and South Quartz creeks. It flows through the Quartz Creek Valley and through the towns of Pitkin and Ohio City. Ironically, most of the land along Quartz Creek in the valley is privately held, so there is little public fishing there.

The Gunnison National Forest is a protected area situated in the western part of the US state of Colorado. It consists of a variety of wilderness terrain, covering vast distances in secluded places like the West Elk Mountains, Raggeds Wilderness, Fossil Ridge, and the La Garita Wilderness. A good trekking destination and also it offers nice views of wildlife and forest.

Tomichi Dome rises north of U.S. Highway 50 west of Hot Springs Creek and south of Waunita Hot Springs Reservoir in the southeast quarter of Gunnison County, Colorado. It is situated within the Gunnison National Forest.Tomichi Dome has been described as an extrusive, volcanic feature where the initial eruptions deposited breccia and tuff that is over 670 feet thick. A flow or dome of topaz rhyolite overlies the tuff.

The Fossil Ridge Wilderness is a U.S. Wilderness Area located approximately 16 miles northeast of Gunnison. Covering 32,179 acres, the area is made up of raw granite that overlooks several shallow high mountain lakes and long valleys carved by ancient glaciers. Pine, spruce, fir, and aspen are found here. The 26 miles of trail within the Wilderness are open to foot and horse travel only.

Henry Mountain is a fairly remote summit located in the Fossil Ridge Wilderness Area. The 13,261-foot thirteener is located in the Fossil Ridge Wilderness of Gunnison National Forest. A good trekking destination and also there are so many things to see and do. It also offers nice views of this area.

Lamphier Lake is a glacial tarn that was scooped out of the surrounding rock during the last ice age. Its trailhead serves as access for Henry Mountain located in the Fossil Ridge Wilderness. The same trail also leads to Gunsight Pass. The lake is 2.77 miles from the parking area. Fossil ridge is behind the lake.

The Gunsight Pass Trail is not only a popular day hike, but is also a very popular 2 to 3 night backpacking opportunity. With backcountry campsites located at Gunsight Lake, Lake Ellen Wilson, and near the Sperry Chalet, you can take your time and really enjoy this beautiful area.

Fairview Peak is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 3.781m above the sea level, located in Gunnison County. The immediate area around Fairview Peak was scorched in a wildfire a few years ago and so there is a ghost forest surrounding the immediate area of the peak. There is not an established trail leading to the summit, however at the top of the peak there is a Forest Service Marker as well as a log book.

Cumberland Pass is a high mountain pass in the Sawatch Range of the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. The pass is traversed by Forest Road 765 and can be accessed from the towns of Tincup to the north and Pitkin to the south. The Cumberland Pass road was built in 1882, connecting the mining towns of Tin Cup to the north and Pitkin to the south. Evidence of past and present human activities can be found at Cumberland Pass.

Curecanti National Recreation Area is a series of three reservoirs along the once wild Gunnison River. It used to be a nice destination for camping and fishing. Now it just seems to be an overnight campground for tourists. The state's premiere lake trout and Kokanee salmon fisheries, Curecanti is a popular destination for boating and fishing, and is also a popular area for ice-fishing in the winter months.

Napoleon Pass is a high mountain pass in the Sawatch Range of the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. The pass is the saddle between Napoleon Mountain to the west and Fitzpatrick Peak to the east and divides the watersheds of Middle Willow Creek to the north and Quartz Creek to the south. Napoleon Pass is traversed by Forest Trail 540 and can be accessed from the towns of Tincup to the north and Pitkin to the south.

Alpine Tunnel is a 1,772 ft narrow gauge railroad tunnel located east of Pitkin, Colorado on the former Denver, South Park and Pacific Railroad route from Denver to Gunnison. It was a 1,772 feet long tunnel built for a narrow gauge rail line that ran from Denver to Gunnison. It opened in 1882, and was the first tunnel crossing of the Continental Divide in the state.

Tomichi Pass is a high mountain pass in the Sawatch Range of the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. It is located in Gunnison County and in the Gunnison National Forest. The pass divides the watersheds of Middle Quartz Creek to the north and Tomichi Creek to the south.The pass was originally traversed by a pack trail connecting the mines and mining camps to the north with those to the south in the 1870s.

Hancock Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.702m, located on the boundary between Chaffee and Gunnison counties, in western Colorado. The pass is on the border between Chaffee and Gunnison counties and between the Gunnison and San Isabel national forests. The road to the summit is totally unpaved. It's called Forest Road 839 and Forest Road 299. It’s moderate difficulty and is very rocky and slow going.

Matchless Mountain is a high mountain summit in the Elk Mountains range of the Rocky Mountains of North America. summit can be reached most easily from the west. A hike to the summit can begin where the road ends at an elevation of 11,000 feet. The summit is a 1-mile, class-2 hike southeast through subalpine forest, meadow, and alpine tundra.

North Pass is located in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains of Saguache County. It is the highest motor pass in Colorado. The pass provides a connection between the town of Saguache on the west side and the Sangre de Cristo range on the east. There are several lakes in the area, including Blue Lake, which lies just north of the pass. North Pass is a popular destination for hiking, fishing, and camping.

Blue Mesa Reservoir is the state's largest body of water, which means abundant recreation and lounge-worthy beaches.It’s 20 miles long and features 96 miles of shoreline to explore. Options for play include sailing, power boating, fishing, and water skiing. Windsurfing is popular among those looking to get a workout on the water.

The Whetstone Mountains are a dry and rugged fault-block mountain range only about 15 miles long. The only access to this mountain range is by a few unimproved four-wheel drive routes that reach some of the lower canyons. There are no roads reaching higher elevations. A single hiking trail into the heart of the mountain range is accessed from Kartchner Caverns State Park.