Southwest Colorado Travel Guide

Tourist Guide

Mesa Verde National Park featuring tranquil scenes and landscape views
Mesa Verde National Park featuring tranquil scenes, landscape views and mountains
Montrose featuring landscape views, a sunset and a gorge or canyon
Montrose featuring landscape views and tranquil scenes
Montrose showing tranquil scenes

Home to national parks, dramatic wilderness, ancient Indian cliff dwellings and abandoned mining towns, this corner of Colorado has seemingly endless sights to see.

Ski, drive, hike or bike your way through Southwest Colorado’s soaring mountains, snowy slopes and rugged rock formations. Focus on its national parks, charming villages or historic Indian sites, or discover all the attractions that the region has in store.

Ski or snowboard the famous slopes of TellurideOpens in a new window, nestled among the highest concentration of 14,000-foot (4270-meter) peaks in the United States. Explore the charming former Victorian mining town, full of historic sites such as the Sheridan Opera House and the Telluride Historical Museum.

Don’t miss other smaller but equally charming resort towns scattered throughout the region. Because of its location, largely enclosed by steep mountains, Ouray is called the "Switzerland of America." Crested Butte, a former mining town, is now known as "the last great Colorado ski town." Take a steam-powered locomotive along the heritage railway between DurangoOpens in a new window and Silverton, a historic mining town.

Explore the famous Pueblo cliff dwellings of Mesa Verde National ParkOpens in a new window. After touring the Cliff Palace, the largest cliff dwelling in North America, learn about Pueblo culture in the Chapin Mesa Archeological Museum. See rock carvings along Petroglyph Point Trail and enjoy panoramic views from Sun Point Overlook.

Experience some of the country’s steepest cliffs and oldest rocks in Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. Hike along the rims or down into the canyon, camp under the stars and look for elk, mule deer and more along the Gunnison River.

Make your way over the fabled Red Mountain Pass between Ouray and Silverton along the Million Dollar Highway. Enjoy breathtaking vistas as you navigate the narrow road’s hairpin turns. Bike or hike along the Colorado Trail, which stretches for 500 miles (805 kilometers) through six national forests and eight major mountain ranges.

Southwest Colorado offers fun in all seasons, but plan accordingly depending on the time of year that you visit. Snow begins falling in early fall and remains on the ground well into spring. Many places in the region are closed or inaccessible during winter. Outdoor activities are highly dependent on the season.

Where to stay in Southwest Colorado

Durango - Purgatory which includes a city, street scenes and night scenes

Historic Downtown Durango

The abundant dining options and stunning river views are top of the list for many visitors to Historic Downtown Durango. A stop by Durango Arts Center or Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad might round out your trip.

Historic Downtown Durango
Default Image

Downtown Salida

You'll enjoy the bars and riverfront in Downtown Salida. You might want to make time for a stop at Riverside Park or Arkansas River.

Downtown Salida
Default Image

Downtown Pagosa Springs

If you're spending some time in Downtown Pagosa Springs, San Juan River and Nathan's Hippy Dip Hot Spring are top sights worth seeing.

Downtown Pagosa Springs
Default Image

Downtown Crested Butte

While visiting Downtown Crested Butte, you might make a stop by sights like Sea Level Spa and Trail 403.

Downtown Crested Butte
Default Image

Columbine Lake

If you're looking for some top things to see and do in Columbine Lake and surrounding area, you can visit Purgatory Resort and Lake of the Pines.

Columbine Lake
Default Image

San Juan River Village

If you're spending some time in San Juan River Village, San Juan River is a top sight worth visiting.

San Juan River Village
Elevation Hotel & Spa

Elevation Hotel & Spa

4 out of 5
500 Gothic Rd, Mount Crested Butte, Crested Butte, CO
The price is ₹11,678 per night from 24 Aug to 25 Aug
₹11,678
₹17,381 total
24 Aug - 25 Aug
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this spa hotel in Crested Butte. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, a full-service spa and 2 bars/lounges. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms in ...
8.2/10 Very Good! (1,019 reviews)
"Great location and staff"

Reviewed on 24 Jul 2025

Elevation Hotel & Spa
Comfort Inn & Suites Durango

Comfort Inn & Suites Durango

2.5 out of 5
455 S Camino Del Rio, Durango, CO
The price is ₹15,866 per night from 10 Aug to 11 Aug
₹15,866
₹18,032 total
10 Aug - 11 Aug
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this business-friendly hotel in Durango. Enjoy free breakfast, free parking and a fitness centre. Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful staff ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (1,962 reviews)
"Shower is very slippery. We had a bad slip and fall inside the shower."

Reviewed on 24 Jul 2025

Comfort Inn & Suites Durango
MTN Lodge Ridgway

MTN Lodge Ridgway

3.5 out of 5
373 Palomino Trail, Ridgway, CO
The price is ₹19,053 per night from 5 Aug to 6 Aug
₹19,053
₹21,920 total
5 Aug - 6 Aug
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 3.5-star hotel in Ridgway. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, free parking and breakfast (surcharge). Our guests praise the restaurant and the helpful staff in their ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (1,016 reviews)
"It would be nice if the restaurant offered breakfast. That was the only drawback to this hotel."

Reviewed on 23 Jul 2025

MTN Lodge Ridgway
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
Cedar Creek Lodging & RV Park

Cedar Creek Lodging & RV Park

1 out of 5
126 Rose Ln, Montrose, CO
Stay at this campsite in Montrose. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, free parking and laundry facilities. Popular attractions Black Canyon Golf Course and Buckley Park are located ...
8.2/10 Very Good! (140 reviews)
"All good"

Reviewed on 17 Jul 2025

Cedar Creek Lodging & RV Park
Hotel Columbia

Hotel Columbia

3 out of 5
301 West San Juan Ave., Telluride, CO
Stay at this 3-star ski aparthotel in Telluride. Enjoy free breakfast, free Wi-Fi and valet parking (surcharge). Popular attractions Telluride Historic District ...
9.6/10 Exceptional! (121 reviews)
"Really liked the location right at the base of the mountain and next to the gondola; just 2 blocks to the main street in town. Didn't like the$35/ day for parking."

Reviewed on 7 Jul 2025

Hotel Columbia
Leland House Suites of Durango

Leland House Suites of Durango

4 out of 5
721 E 2nd Ave, Durango, CO
Stay at this 4-star aparthotel in Durango. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, free parking and free bicycles on-site. Popular attractions Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad ...
9.6/10 Exceptional! (66 reviews)
"Great, great great !!"

Reviewed on 18 Jul 2025

Leland House Suites of Durango
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Popular places to visit

Cities near Southwest Colorado