The Gorgeous Canyon has it all: a river, creek with pools, petroglyphs, historic dwellings and…read morewooden bridges plus minimal visitors. The hike is easy and only 3-4 miles.

5/27/2021 thursday…read more arrived at 730 am. was already on the warmish side. You will have a long dirt road to follow to get to the trail head. There is a bathroom at the parking lot. BUT after you park WALK DOWN THE HILL. The trail is actually down the hill from teh parking lot. just a couple of minutes. there is a railroad track and then a little open gate. walk through the gate. the trail is well marked on front end. It is all open and there is absolutely NO Shade so be sure to have sunscreen and a lot of water and probably some snacks depending on how far you plan on going in. The views of the river are lovely. there is also a creek you could go splash in at some points during the hike. a petroglyph rock roughly 3 miles in. be sure not to touch them. it can wreck it. There are some cool primitive type shelters along the way as well. we only did 3 miles in as my friends were getting too warm. The heat is no joke. This really is a desert hike, be sure to be prepared.

Oh.Em.Gee! Love this…read moretrail! It covers largely 3,200 acres of the Uncompahgre Plateau equipped with trails for hikers, snowshoeing, horseback riding, mountain biking, ATV's and even motorcycles. OK, so lets hit the trail! You'll love all of the ponderosa pines as you wind your way through the forest! One of the things we enjoyed most, is that they have numbered "stations" along the trail that entice, educate, and encourage you to use descriptions as clues, sort of like a treasure hunt in the forest! They even say if you look closely, you may see "evidence of multiple ecosystems, traces of past life that swam in an ancient sea, plants that actually communicate with each other, and traces of history that shaped our lives." All in all the trail was filled with timeless beauty, gorgeous views and adventure-seeking fun! I definitely want to go back and explore more of it! Be Happy Outside!

We only stopped to take a peek at the falls. We had already summitted mount sneffels that day and…read moreour legs were tired. But a friend who is a local said we needed to stop there to see it. The falls were beautiful and amazing. It was definitly worth the short stop. The trail was nearby and easy to access. If i was in the area id definitely stop to do the entire hike.

Bear Creek Preserve Trail is a must-do hike when visiting Telluride…read more You access the trailhead at the end of South Pine street, right in town. This beautiful and well-marked wooded trail ends with a waterfall and an unbeatable view of the town of Telluride. The hike is 2.5 miles one way to the Falls, with an elevation gain of 1,050 feet. You should plan between 1 hour and 1 hour 1/2 from the trailhead to the falls depending on your pace. 5 miles round trip, so it's perfect to start the day!

Handies peak is a beautiful and easy class 1 in the San Juan's. My group and I did this one the day…read moreafter Redcloud & Sunshine, so it was nice to have a shorter day. It's less than 3K elevation and I clocked 6 miles round trip, granted the elevation builds quickly during those 3 miles to the summit. It was so beautiful that my two friends declared it was one of their top three favorite 14ers that they've done! The view at the top is stunning, with gorgeous scenery and breathtaking vistas along the way. You can make a very short detour and even visit a lovely alpine lake. The hardest part of the hike is accessing it. We were already parked along cimaron pass at our campsite, but it took an additional 40 minutes or so to drive from Redcloud trailhead to Handies. I made it in my Crosstrek but there were a couple of truly sketchy spots and a very very bumpy ride. No bathrooms at the trailhead and not much coverage to duck into the woods so keep that in mind. A must do for every 14er fanatic or ambitious hiker!

Handies peak! I have dreamed about hiking this one for several years in the summer when…read morewildflowers are blooming but distance kept me away. Planned a 5 day stay up in the lake city/san juan area so we could knock it out. I finally did it and it did not disappoint. We took the Handies via grizzly gulch which is the non standard route and it is longer than the american basin route. The road getting to grizzly gulch from lake city was rough. lots of pot holes and jutting rocks. Also narrow stretches with drop offs on the side. ATVs and jeeps like to zip down the road at the speed of light and there are not a lot of pull offs along the way. I made it with my honda pilot but it was SLOW going. plan extra time for this road. (cimmaron pass) We were initially going to go to american basin but after the long drive to get to grizzly gulch i just didn't have it in me to do another 4-5 miles on even rougher road. There is a bathroom at the Trailhead. There are no trash cans or dog poop bags however so be sure to pack out whatever you pack in (including your dog poop)! This trail is a class 1. Though that does not mean it is "easy" by any means. However we did enjoy the first half or little more of the trail that had dirt trails and step ups. The trail was very well maintained. Currently in july there are fields of lovely wildflowers that are so abundant and in a variety of colors. Also there is a stream for a chunk of it that you will walk near. As you ascend further up, it begins to get rocky and there is scree near the top. As you merge on to the peak, you will meet up with all the hikers from american basin standard approach which is substantially more. So the peak may seem a little crowded. On our trek, we only saw maybe 6 other people. The flowers along the way and then the view at the top was all breathtaking! So thankful to have finally gotten to complete this peak!

Bridal Veil Falls is absolutely worth the hike and was one of our favorite stops in Telluride. I'd…read morerate the trail as moderate. There aren't any ladders or technical sections, just a steady uphill climb that becomes a bit steeper after the second waterfall. We hiked it with our Labrador, Luna, and she had no trouble at all. Along the way, you'll pass two smaller waterfalls before reaching the main Bridal Veil Falls, which makes for great places to stop, take photos, catch your breath, and enjoy the scenery. The trail is about 2.5 miles round trip. It took us longer than average because we stopped often to take in the views, but it was well worth the time. There is also a decent amount of shade from the trees, which makes the hike more enjoyable on warmer days. It's a popular trail, so while it never felt crowded, there were people hiking up and down throughout the day. That made it feel safe without taking away from the experience. If hiking isn't your thing or you're short on time, you can also drive to the top with a high-clearance 4WD vehicle to see the waterfall without making the hike. Overall, this is a must-do if you're visiting Telluride. Beautiful scenery, dog-friendly, and one of the most rewarding hikes in the area.

Bridal Veil Falls Trail is absolutely amazing...It's not too advanced...making it perfect for most…read morehikers...but still offers a great workout (my legs are sore...but it was worth every step!!!)...The trail is filled with beautiful sights and wildlife -- I spotted several birds and some adorable chipmunks along the way. There are three breathtaking waterfalls that are truly the highlight of the hike...Reaching the top feels so rewarding...and you even have the option to walk back using the road...which we did for an easier descent. I highly recommend this trail for anyone looking for a scenic adventure that's not overly difficult but still feels like a great accomplishment!!!

Hermit's Rest is off of Highway 92 - approximately 17 miles west from its junction with Highway 50…read more There are restrooms here, some interpretive signage, and the trailhead for the Hermit's Rest Trail. From the NPS web site: Zigzagging through oak, pine, juniper, and fir, hikers descend to wooded camp and picnic sites on the shores of Morrow Point Reservoir. Campsites with picnic tables, fire grates, and toilets are provided at the end of the trail. Good shoes or boots are recommended. Carry at least 2 quarts of water per person. Check for ticks frequently during the hot summer months. * Length: 6 miles (round trip) * Difficulty: Very strenuous and little shade. Elevation change is 1,800 ft. Allow 3 hours for round trip. We stopped here to use the restrooms and to check out the scenic vista - we were far above the Morrow Point Reservoir (see the attached pix). Gorgeous area! NOTE: Hermit's Nest does not have a physical address - so I've entered the Headquarters address for the Curecanti National Recreation Area.

Very challenging but very fun hike. I'm a fairly experienced hiker and I struggled to ascend back…read moreup the mountain. It takes approx. 1 hour down and 2 hours up. Beautiful scenery that can't be beat.

The Divide Road Nordic Ski Trail system is the newest addition of winter trails on the western…read moreslope and you're gonna love it! At approximately 9,000 feet in elevation, you're sure to enjoy 8.42 miles of beautifully groomed ski trails...many thanks to all of the volunteers of the Uncompahgre Nordic Association! Once you get up there you'll find ample parking for roughly 20 vehicles, so please park responsibly. This trail is open to snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, snowmobiles and even fat-tier biking! Furry pals are welcome, so grab some free "POO Bags" at the end of the parking lot to clean up after your pets. One of the things we really loved about this trail system were the numbered sign-posts (map included at each) and how well the trail was marked via bright orange tags along the way...no getting lost here! Can't go on without mentioning again what an awesome job the UNA does maintaining the trails! If you get an early start you're likely to hop on some freshly groomed corduroy! Seriously outdoor enthusiasts, you're gonna absolutely fall in love with this new trail system! It's da bomb! Be happy outside!

The Electric Hills Trail System is the newest addition of mountain biking/hiking trails in…read moreMontrose! Located off of CO-90, Electric Hills boasts 18 miles of awesome terrain for beginners to advanced mountain bikers! Here's the lowdown on the routes: #1 Electric Avenue (intermediate) 1.5 miles #2 Linscott Canyon Trail (easy/intermediate) 0.8 miles #3 Cliffline Trail (easy/intermediate) 0.4 miles #4 Shavano Loop (easy/intermediate) 3.0 miles #5 Shock Therapy (intermediate/difficult) 2.4 miles #6 Ohm-Ward Bound (intermediate) 0.9 miles #7 Flux Capacitor (intermediate/difficult) 4.3 miles #8 Rolling Blackout (difficult) 0.5 miles #9 Short Circuit (easy/intermediate) 0.9 miles #10 Power Bill (intermediate) 1.0 miles #11 Power Up (intermediate) 0.4 miles #12 Upper Access to Power Up (intermediate) 1.8 miles We did the 3 mile Shavano Loop which was pretty easy. Can't wait to go back and hit up more advanced trails! Be happy outside!

The 17.5 mile trail system was purpose built for intermediate to advanced mountain biking, but it's…read moregreat for hiking .

Bathroom at trail head. This trail is essentially a walk along the river. It is beautiful…read morescenery. The trail is very open however with no shade so you will want to come prepared for that. The road coming down to this trail is very rough though, very rutted and some pot holes. My friend who is local says that BLM will usually grate the road but its something to be aware of before you go. The road is narrow and has steep portions.