Ridgway, Colorado

Ridgway is located at the point where the Uncompahgre River exits the San Juan Mountains. In the late 1800's, Ridgway was a point on the Rio Grande Southern train route to Durango. Over time, as folks discovered the ranching and farming possibilities here and mineral bodies in the mountains to the south and west, Ridgway morphed into a miner's supply town and cattle ranching hub. The skyline to the east and south is lined with 12,000' to 14,000' mountains. The Uncompahgre National Forest is on three sides of town. John Wayne came here to film True Grit in the 1970's. Since then, Ridgway has turned into yet another beautiful but peaceful and uncrowded tourist mecca on the northern edge of some of Colorado's most beautiful countryside.

2 miles north of town is Ridgway State Park with a 1,000-acre reservoir off the Uncompahgre River. Hiking, fishing, boating, camping, and picnicking are popular activities at the park.

Ouray boasts quite a number of recreational opportunities locally. Town is surrounded by the San Juan Mountains and the Uncompaghre National Forest. The Alpine Loop makes its way into the east side of town from Lake City and Silverton. The San Juan Skyway winds through town following a north-south canyon. Mt. Sneffels, one of Colorado's famous Fourteener's, can be found directly to the west. On the other side of that ridge to the west is Telluride, famous for its' cost of living, its' skiing and its' scenery.

Summer is Ouray's busiest time of year with visitors coming in from all over the world to soak up the views you can only get by driving the 4-wheel-drive mining roads through the ghost towns, old prospector cabins and other relics from Colorado's mining heyday, and then coming back to town to relax in the world-famous hot springs.