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1. Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Monument
The Black Canyon of the Gunnison is a great gorge with depths of 2,700 feet to the Gunnison River. Incredible views, hiking, camping and fishing.
2. Morrow Point Dam.
Take the exciting Morrow Point Boat Tour through the breath-taking scenery of the Gunnison River Canyon.
3. The Dillon Pinnacles
The majestic Dillon Pinnacles were formed as erosion dug out the softer earth around these cathedralesque volcanic spires.
4. Curecanti National Recreation Area
Curecanti National Recreation Area offers visitors unlimited fishing, boating and scenic beauty. The marina at the Elk Creek Visitors Center is a great place to start. Blue Mesa Lake is 20 miles long, with 96 miles of shoreline. It's the largest man-made lake in Colorado, with great fishing, boating and windsurfing.
5. Powderhorn
Powderhorn, on Cebolla Creek, is surrounded by vast panoramas and provides access to the La Garita Wilderness Area.
6. Lake City
Lake City is the scenic mountain town where Colorado's leading cannibal, Alferd Packer, was tried for eating five members of his mining party in 1874. Home of the manburger.
7. Lake San Cristobal
Lake San Cristobal, in Lake City, was created by the Slumgullion mud slide. It is Colorado's second largest natural lake...and perhaps its most beautiful one.
8. Gunnison
Gunnison has the friendly spirit of the Old West. An important railhead during the mining era, today it's a modern, vital community that boasts a strong ranching community, thriving college and airport with the second longest single runway in the state.
9. Dos Rio Golf Course
Dos Rio Golf Course, in Gunnison, meanders gently around and through two rivers and is a delight to play. Bring an extra sleeve of water balls.
10. The Pioneer Museum
The Pioneer Museum in Gunnison brings back the Old West with authentic Ute Indian artifacts, an old narrow gauge train and early settler recreations.
11. Western State College
Western State College, in Gunnison, is a magnet for learning in the region, know for its excellent teaching and business schools. Students maintain the largest collegiate letter in the world, the huge "W" on the mountain above campus.
12. Ohio City
Take the exciting Morrow Point Boat Tour through the breath-taking scenery of the Gunnison River Canyon.
13, 14. Pitkin and Tincup
Pitkin and Tincup are but two of the county's many historic ghost towns. Slip back in time for an old-time afternoon.
15. The Alpine Tunnel
The Alpine Tunnel, a mammoth project for the time, was constructed in 1880 entirely of hand-cut, mortarless rocks and is almost 500 fee long. At 11.500 feet elevation, it's a miracle of engineering.
16. The Taylor River
The Taylor River runs from Taylor Reservoir through majestic Taylor Canyon. Spectacular granite cliffs (great for rock climbing) tower above you and the endless eddies. Here you'll encounter the best dry fly fishing in America, according to the president of Orvis Fly Rods. Keep your eyes peeled for Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep.
17. Spring Creek
Spring Creek begins at 12,000 feet and flows 20 miles to the Taylor River. Along its banks, folks enjoy hiking, fishing, kayaking and great picnics!
18. The Gunnison River
The Gunnison River is trout city. You've got to fish it to believe it.
19. Almont
Almont is a fisher's paradise where the East and Taylor rivers join to become the Gunnison River. The meeting place of the rivers is also a popular hangout for trout and salmon.
20. Roaring Judy Fish Hatchery
Roaring Judy Fish Hatchery makes rainbow. Free tours daily.
21. Cement Creek
Cement Creek was the site of the very first charlift in Colorado. Here wild water, wildflowers and wildlife convene daily.
22. Skyland Golf Course
Skyland Golf Course, in Crested Butte, is a mountain classic by Robert Trent Jones II. Good golfers insist it's Jones' best effort to date for a mountain design.
23. Crested Butte
Crested Butte is surrounded by National Forest and the Elk Mountains. First a mining supply town, now it's a National Historic District, Colorado's official wildflower capital and the birthplace of mountain biking. (Check out the Mountain Bike Hall of Fame.)
24. Mt. Crested Butte
In Mt. Crested Butte's modern ski village, shops, restaurants and accommodations cluster at the base of Crested Butte Mountain. Hikers can ride the Keystone or Silver Queen lift up the mountain; cyclists can take their bikes up the Keystone and bike back down.
25. Gothic
Gothic is a ghost town, revitalized by the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory, a research and learning center for veteran and budding biologists and folks like you.
26. Emerald Lake
Emerald Lake, nestled at 12,000 feet, is as green as its name implies. Legend has it the lake is deeper than it is wide.
27. Schofield Pass
Schofield Pass is a rocky, rugged road that leads past the grand and treacherous Devil's Punchbowl. Please exercise high caution in this area. The road is rarely open for jeeps, but offers great hiking.
28. Crystal Mill
Crystal Mill, a hydropower source for the mines a century ago, now attracts sightseers for its classic beauty.
29. Marble
Marble from Marble made the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. The quarry reopened in recent years as a source of first-class marble.
30. Somerset
Somerset, originally a coal company town, still produces high-quality black gold.
31. Lost Lake
Lost Lake abounds in waterfalls and wildflowers and is the perfect place to find yourself.
32. Kebler Pass
Kebler Pass road, west of Crested Butte, winds through America's largest aspen forest and the massive Elk Mountains, as part of the West Elk Scenic Byway.
33. Lake Irwin
Lake Irwin, a beautiful, mountain-ringed lake, is a popular family destination adjoining the once-thriving town of Irwin. (Now a ghost town except for a few modern homes.)
34. Ohio Pass
Ohio Pass is a beautiful drive between Gunnison and Crested Butte, especially when the aspen are golden in the fall.
35. The Castles
The Castles, located 12 miles up Ohio Creek Valley, are inspiring spires carved from the West Elk volcano, extinct for thousands of years.