Love the array of brochures and recommendations and the comfy seating to make a plan. Conveniently…read morelocated on the Main St.

We stopped here before walking around downtown Durango. Great idea! The place is big, with clean…read morebathrooms and plenty of seats for resting or checking out the brochures. The location is perfect--right on Main Street, and the ladies who assisted us were friendly and helpful. We walked out with two walking tour pamphlets, a couple of coupons and a map that included where to find the trolleys. They even told us where we could find a simple lunch. This is the perfect first stop for your trip to Durango.

Bottom Line: Welcoming and helpful staff, clean bathrooms, water bottle refilling station and…read moreplenty of parking. Upon arriving in Ouray my husband and I stopped at the Visitor Center. For starters, I like that the building seems to be an old train depot. We were immediately greeted by Patty and she was incredibly welcoming and helpful. She was able to answer all of our questions about sites, hiking, parking and stuff to see on our trek back down to Durango. Also, she did an awesome job juggling multiple visitors. After a long drive we also appreciated the clean restroom and place to refill our water bottles. Oh, and there was plenty of parking out back. I can't imagine a better welcoming to Ouray!

Stopped in at the visitor center on our drive through town as he wanted a map of the area. It's a…read morecute building with an upstairs and downstairs. There was a volunteer who got testy with me when I went looking for the locally made goods their signage seemed to advertise. Apparently I was wrong and they don't sell goods there. There's a spot to take a selfie with the landscape of Ouray - they have a picture hung where you can do that. And there's a lovely photo of trees with their fall colors as well. Lots of maps and informational brochures. And a water bottle filler plus restrooms. It's a good place to stop for information and to take a break.

I had an awesome time visiting box canyon waterfall while in Ouray! I came with my husband and…read moretoddler children. They absolutely loved it! Great for all ages. The waterfall was a lot bigger than I thought it would be. It was super loud inside of the canon which made it all the more exciting. Check out both the lower and upper box canon falls trails. The lower falls trail gets very close to the waterfall, we were getting wet from the spray we were so close. The upper trail has a great view of Ouray and a fun bridge to cross that leads into a tunnel. It is $7 for each adult, but super seniors, military, and children under 4 are free! No dogs allowed in the park. I don't think the dogs would want to come anyway with the metal bridges and aggressively loud waterfall. If you are in Ouray in the summertime this needs to be on your itinerary!

Truly magnificent. The lower trail is easy for all levels, it has stable footing and minimal…read moreelevation changes, yet still offers beautiful views of the creek, and waterfalls along steel walkways and short trail. There are also stairs to near bottom of the waterfall. The high bridge trail is much more challenging, although one can opt to only climb the stair portion for a better view of Ouray and a little cardio. At the top of the stairs there is a small shelter, if you're feeling the altitude at this point it's a good idea not to continue further, as the trail continues to climb and there are no stairs/structure. There is a cable above the trail in sections for stability, and cables below some sections for safety. I'd guess the top of the stairs is a little less than half way to the high bridge. The bridge is a very sturdy structure, over a steep narrow gorge, the views of Box Cañon, the creek, waterfall, and town below are breathtaking. There is a hallway-like tunnel on the far side of the bridge, which is part of the perimeter trail. It's low in some spots but walkable, and offers some shade and cooling after the climb. The trail was drub when we went, it would be significantly more challenging/difficult with any moisture or icy conditions.

Beautiful Facility with a Super Friendly lady at the desk who was also very helpful. Even had a dog…read moretreat for mine. Clean restrooms are a plus. My only concern was the employee who came in and out a few times with no mask and the live in dog who growled at my dog who wasn't even in the building. Also, I have severe allergies to anything other than a very few tyes. Other than that it was really quite nice.

Telluride seems like a nice place but I never got a chance to find out. I was traveling through the…read morearea after 9pm in the between season and there was absolutely no place to stay. Out of a dozen calls, only one live voice. Verrry disappointing. Not even a cheap roadside motel.

We stopped on our 1st visit to town. Greeted by Watson (mascot?) and another helpful employee…read more Got map, suggestions for our 1 day visit and helpful hints about parking and and what was going on in town that day (farmer's market, Jazz festival). Invaluable help and direction for getting your bearings if you're a 1st time visitor, especially.

Great Sand Dunes National Park is otherworldly and honestly one of the most unique landscapes to be…read moreexperiences in North America. It's a bit of a smaller park in terms of trails and not going to be like RMNP so make sure you know what you're getting into. We planned our trip for May when the creek is usually flowing and the dunes are optimal for sledding. Unfortunately for us we hit a patch of bad weather and it was drizzling our whole day spent here. Additionally the park is experiencing a dry spell and the creek that is usually flowing in May was still dry. C'est la vie! We still had a blast climbing the dunes, letting the kids play in the sand, and taking in the views. To be honest the views are the best part - it's incredible to see these dunes and learn more about the history of the landscape in this region of Colorado. We didn't get to sled as the conditions were not ideal for it but we plan on someday returning and doing the full experience. If you're on the fence about coming here it's well worth a visit!

We stopped at Great Sand Dunes National Park during a scenic drive to Durango and were impressed by…read moreits unique landscape. The massive dunes set against the surrounding mountain range create spectacular views unlike anything else in Colorado. The visitor center was well maintained, with clean restrooms, an informative museum, and had a short film highlighting the dune ecosystem. There is also a large gift shop, though prices were on the higher side. While I would not consider it a destination on its own, it is absolutely worth a stop if you're traveling through this part of the state. Note: No vehicles of any type are allowed on the dunes.

This brings back fond memories for me…read more My husband and I had taken an outdoor education class here that was offered through Western State College almost 30 years ago. Even though we lived in the area for many years, this is the first time we have been back since. It is a most excellent stopping spot when making the drive along US 50. It is also the main ranger station for Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park and for the Curecanti National Recreation Area. The staff are very helpful and informative (as to be expected from NPS staff). There are public facilities here and a small retail space for the requisite NPS tchotchkes. You can also get your passport stamps for all the area National Park sites. There is a nice restaurant at the Marina, but it is only open during the summer season.

The Elk Creek Visitor Center is part of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. Folks come…read morehere for information and permits. A number of items are for sale: books, maps, and tourist trinkets. Public restrooms are available here, as well as a water fountain - and cold bottled water is available for purchase. The staff here are very friendly, helpful, and professional!

Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park is absolutely worth visiting. The canyon is stunning,…read moreand there are numerous overlooks that provide incredible views without requiring a hike. If you do enjoy hiking, there are several trails to choose from as well. One thing we really appreciated was that the park is pet-friendly. Dogs are allowed on all overlooks and on select trails, which are clearly marked, making it easy to plan your visit if you're traveling with a pet. The park has a visitor center, restrooms, and drinking water fountains, but they do not sell bottled water, so be sure to bring plenty with you--especially during the summer. Many of the trails are fairly short, but there is very little shade, so you'll be in direct sunlight for much of your visit. We visited shortly after a wildfire, so there were some burned trees and shrubs throughout the park. Even so, the scenery was still incredibly beautiful and well worth the trip. If you don't have an America the Beautiful National Parks Pass, admission is $30 per vehicle. Overall, this is a fantastic park with breathtaking views, whether you're stopping at the overlooks or spending the day hiking.

Where to start? I love a National Park and this is no exception. Black Canyon of the Gunnison is a…read morefairly understated park, as in many folks don't know about it. It's further out west in Colorado so it takes a bit of effort to find yourself here but you will be rewarded if you venture out west. First of all this part of Colorado is gorgeous and a bit less traveled so you'll have more space to yourself which is lovely. The canyon itself is incredible. It reminded me a lot of the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone if you've ever seen that. We did several smaller hikes around the rim as we had little kids in tow. Be sure to hold onto those small hands as I was pretty nervous about them falling in since it's just a big ol' drop around the edges. All that being said, this is a great park and I'd love to return sometimes without kids or when the kids are older to do one of the bigger hikes.

Did the entire Perimeter Trail the other day...clocked 6.2 miles in just under 4 hours…read more Started in the am at the trailhead located in the parking lot across from the Ouray Visitor's Center (which I highly recommend). You'll understand as you begin your final descent. As you start your initial ascent and climb the wood stairs into the hillside, enter the cliff path...a .8 mile slightly narrower trail than I'd prefer and a drop-off...but hey, the views are stunning! You can see the Ouray Hot Springs and more! As you keep on trekkin' on you'll start to "hear" before you make it to the gorgeous Cascade Falls!!! Chill, explore...even hike up behind the falls if that's your thing! I think I was pretty "ok" until we passed through the tunnel after the upper Box Canyon Bridge. We almost took a bail-out trail back into town along the way but persevered. There are actually a few bail-outs along the trail. Anyway, there were some sketchy narrow, steep, rocky-dusty-slidy, drop-off sections along the trail that gave me the heebie-jeebies. If you have a fear of heights, this may not be for you. For the majority of hikers out there I'm sure it's easy, but nonetheless make sure you go prepared. 1. Depending on what time you hike, be sure to eat a healthy meal before you go and bring some extra snacks just in case. 2. Signage isn't the best and is lacking "you are here", so I'd recommend taking a photo of the trail map before you head out. 3. Staying properly hydrated is key along the trail. If you've got a camelback that's great! 4. Take breaks when needed and don't feel pressured by any of your overzealous hiking buddies...it's supposed to be fun, safe and not a competition. 5. A walking stick or trekking poles can prove very helpful! Many people leave sticks at the trailhead(s). If you use one be sure to leave it behind for the next person. 6. Wear appropriate shoes for hiking. Yeah some peeps can hike in Croc's or Chaco's, but not highly recommended. Enjoy the trail, be safe, and take some pix! The views are beautiful! Be Happy Outside!

This is a must do hike, plan to take about 5 hours or more if you take side trips. You will have…read moregreat views of the city, mountain ranges on all sides, Canyon views, waterfalls, an aspen grove, a tunnel, various bridges, some narrow heart pumping areas on the west side, and views of the rock climbers along the via Ferrata