Southwest Colorado might not be an area you have ever considered visiting before, but I am here to argue it has some of the best trails in the state and some of the cutest little Western towns!
The San Juan Mountains were the main draw for me, but there is so much to see and do in this region! There are two unique National Parks, scenic drives, and more!
I structured my trip as a loop: fly into Durango—Mesa Verde National Park—Telluride—Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park—Ridgway—Ouray—Silverton—fly out of Durango. You could also add this onto a visit to New Mexico, Arizona, or Utah as they are each super close. Though the Durango airport is small and not super convenient to get to, I would not really recommend flying in/out of Denver as it is a ~7 hour drive from this area and I-20 is notorious for traffic and delays. If you are headed to Denver though, check out my recommendations here!
If you are visiting from outside of Colorado be mindful of the elevation change—most of these spots are several thousand feet above sea level! Stay hydrated and take it slow.
Telluride
Telluride is an adorable mountain town full of small businesses and big views. It is incredibly popular for skiing, but a summer/fall visit is amazing as well! They host a lot of events, so I would recommend checking their festival schedule before booking your trip.
If you are heading to Telluride from the south via Highway 145, be prepared to stop at several overlooks for beautiful views! My favorites are Lizard Head Pass, Trout Lake, and Sunshine Mountain.
Telluride is incredibly walkable, but if you are staying a bit further out or have tired legs, there is a free shuttle in town that you can hop on: The Galloping Goose.
Be sure to hop on The Gondola, which is free! The views on the way up are amazing. Jump off at the middle station, San Sophia, for hiking trails, or head to Mountain Village for what I would deem a fancy ski village.
Telluride Distilling Company is located in Mountain Village with tasty, albeit pricey, cocktails.
Brown Dog Pizza: Fantastic Detroit-style pizzas! This is a popular spot so expect a wait.
The Coffee Cowboy: This aesthetically-pleasing coffee cart is located at the gondola. They have great coffees and breakfast burritos.
StrongHouse Brew Pub: A solid brewery with a full food menu and nice views from outside.
There: A fancy cocktail bar that can be quite popular, so reservations are recommended. They also have a happy hour from 4-5pm with much more reasonable pricing. The free popcorn slaps!
Telluride Brewing Company: This brewery has two locations—a taproom on the way into town with a full food menu and chill vibes, and another spot up in Mountain Village.
The Butcher & The Baker: A solid spot for breakfast, coffee, or cocktails later on. They have a nice patio space as well.
Last Dollar Saloon: A dive bar with a nice rooftop view (but also you are looking at the roof of Brown Dog Pizza). A pretty spot for sunset with the mountains glowing!
Bear Creek Falls via Bear Creek Trail: This trail is 4.5 miles long with 1,054ft of elevation gain and takes about 2 hours to complete. The trailhead is right in town making it very convenient to explore, though popular. It leads out to a pretty waterfall with a couple of nice viewpoints along the way.
Smuggler Union Brewery: This spot is serving up average beers, a full food menu, and cocktails as well. There are pretty views from patio, and you are actually looking at Bridal Veil Falls, the highest waterfall in the state and another popular nearby hike.
Uncompahgre National Forest
Blue Lakes Trail: This beautiful trail is 8.5 miles long with 2,574ft of elevation gain and takes about 4.5 hours to complete. It leads out to three lakes—lower, middle, and upper blue lakes. Lower Blue Lake is the prettiest by far, but it is even better when you climb the ridge behind the lake via the trail to the middle and upper lakes and can look down on the beautiful water from above. Amazing, iconic trail.
I would definitely recommend wearing layers as the climate changes quite a bit throughout your journey.
The road to the trailhead is a bit rough at times but doable. It is 1 hour and 15 minutes from both Telluride and Montrose.
Starting June 1, 2027 you will need a permit for day use or camping here. I found the trail to be pretty quiet, even on Labor Day weekend, but it is getting more and more popular.
San Juan National Forest
Ice and Island Lakes Trail: This trail is 7 miles long with 2,682ft of elevation gain and takes about 4.5 hours to complete. The trail takes you to waterfalls and across meadows, and is absolutely gorgeous throughout. It can be pretty difficult at times, particularly on the final push up to the lake but it is 1000% worth it! Ice Lake is absolutely insanely pretty and probably the best alpine lake I have ever seen. This trail linked is the loop trail that also takes you to Island Lake. There is a little scramble between Ice and Island Lakes that is a bit sketchy, but doable, and Island Lake in itself is also stunning. You could also add on Fuller or Clear Lakes if desired.
This is the most popular trail in the area so I would highly recommend arriving early. The parking lot fills quickly, and then you can park on the side of the road, but that also gets very busy early. The trailhead is only 15 minutes from Silverton which is convenient but leads to crowds.
Columbine Lake Trail: This trail is 6.5 miles long with 2,608ft of elevation gain and takes about 4.5 hours to complete. It is wildly steep at times, gaining 500ft of elevation in the first quarter mile alone, and overall pretty brutal, but leads out a beautiful alpine lake. The water is crystal clear and stunning in the sun.
The trailhead is located right off the Million Dollar Highway which is very convenient, but the short dirt road from the highway to the trailhead is quite sketchy and involves crossing a small river and navigating a steep road of loose rocks. There is no actual parking here and you need to park on the edge of the cliff, which presents another challenge in itself.
Highland Mary Lake Trail: This trail is 5.6 miles long with 1,704ft of elevation gain and takes about 3.5 hours to complete. It leads out to three alpine lakes—small, medium, and large in that order. The lakes are not wildly impressive, but the meadows, canyons, waterfalls, and wildflowers along the way are very nice. It also is insanely quiet in this area, which is delightful. The Continental Divide Trail is here as well!
The road to the trailhead is quite rough. After passing through Silverton it becomes full of potholes and passable but annoying, and then at the end near the trailhead it is very sketchy.
Ouray
This cute little touristy town is full of beautiful views!
Drive the Million Dollar Highway between Ouray and Silverton. This scenic drive is super pretty!
Ouray Brewery: The rooftop here is fantastic for views! They have a solid food menu and average beers.
Full Tilt Saloon: A fun little dive bar that also has food. There are nice views from their patio.
Silverton
Another adorable mountain town with Western charm. There is a train that runs between Durango and Silverton that 1) causes an influx of people at certain times of day and 2) causes most businesses to close for a siesta after the train leaves before dinner, so be sure to plan ahead.
'Dera Deli and Bar: This is a great spot for breakfast, lunch or a beverage. They have a nice patio space and friendly folks.
Lacey Rose Saloon: Classic saloon vibes with a full food menu and solid drink options.
El Bandito: A decent stop for Mexican food.
Off roading is really popular in this whole region and Silverton has several outfitters for rentals and tours.
Ridgway
This small town is between Ouray and Montrose, serving as a great gateway to the area if you are coming from the north.
Stay at Chipeta Lodge Resort & Spa: They have a pretty property located right across from a park and in the heart of town. The pool and hot tubs are nice, breakfast is quite tasty, and the onsite restaurant/bar has great sunset views.
Tacos Del Gnar: A popular spot for tacos and for good reason! Definitely recommend.
Colorado Boy: An average brewery with locations in Ridgway and Montrose. They also have food options at both taprooms.
Durango
Durango is a small city with Southwest vibes. You don’t need to spend a ton of time here, but the largest airport in the area is here so if you are flying in/out of the region it is worth doing a bit of exploring along the way.
Bruin Coffee & Biscuits: This spot has delicious coffee and biscuits from a cute little trailer with a view.
Animas River Trail: A nice walking and biking path through downtown and a few parks.
Carver Brewing Company: Located in the heart of Main Street, this brewery has a good patio, full food menu, cocktails, and decent beers.
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
This national park gives Grand Canyon vibes but on a smaller scale. You can visit the North Rim, South Rim, or both—just keep in mind it will take a couple of hours to travel between the two. The South Rim is just 20 minutes from Montrose and quite easy to explore.
The South Rim Scenic Drive is the best way to see numerous viewpoints and it is the only road through this part of the park. Start at Tomichi Point, check out the Gunnison Point Overlook at the Visitors Center, take a short walk to Pulpit Rock, admire the rapids from Chasm View, and be sure not to miss Painted Wall.
The park is popular for sunset views and Dark Sky gazing, so perhaps plan an evening visit if that fits your itinerary!
There are a few short trails here as well, but they offer the same views as the overlooks.
Mesa Verde National Park
This unique national park sits about 40 minutes west of Durango. It is known for historic cliff dwellings.
The only way to really see the cliff dwellings other than from an overlook is to book a tour through the National Park Service here. Seasonally they fill up quickly, so be sure to book in advance. Cliff Palace and Balcony House are the two most popular options.
Drive Mesa Top Loop Road, and the NPS also has an audio tour you can listen to for context along the way.
Visit Park Point for dramatic, scenic views!
