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 and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad or Animas River Trail might round out your trip.

Historic Downtown Durango
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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 Headwaters Recreation Area Visitor Center.

Downtown Salida
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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
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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
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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 Electra Lake.

Columbine Lake
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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 ₹12,096 per night from 3 Aug to 4 Aug
₹12,096
₹17,869 total
3 Aug - 4 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! (1,032 reviews)
"Comfortable and so convenient, with everything you need within walking distance. You can walk to trails (and several bike rental options if you prefer to ride instead of hike) and numerous restaurants, coffee shops and shops. If you want to go into CB, the shuttle bus stops steps away and runs every ..."

Reviewed on 13 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 ₹13,786 per night from 3 Aug to 4 Aug
₹13,786
₹15,668 total
3 Aug - 4 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! (1,940 reviews)
"Staff was very friendly and polite. The room was clean and comfortable. No complaints and would stay here again. We forgot our pillows and they called us to let us know they would mail of we were already out of the area."

Reviewed on 14 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 ₹16,305 per night from 2 Aug to 3 Aug
₹16,305
₹18,759 total
2 Aug - 3 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! (1,012 reviews)
"War rundum angenehm, inkl. Personal!"

Reviewed on 14 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! (135 reviews)
Great tiny home!
"A very nice little tiny home, clean, quiet and had all the amenities that you’d need and had a pullout bed from the couch, location great, price was great, I would definitely stay there again. My only minor issues was bed was firmer than I’d like but that wouldn’t stop me from going there again. ..."

Reviewed on 13 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! (119 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! (63 reviews)
"Loved the rooms and Lola’s next door was great!"

Reviewed on 2 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