What to Do / Day Trips

In Crawford: If you have often visited big, busy places on trips than you know that you can easily be tempted into exhaustion in a quest to “do it all”. Well, Crawford isn’t like that. The size of the town and the modest number of diversions will help you to slow down a bit, and allow you to enjoy this place.

Crawford has three restaurants: The Boardwalk Restaurant, right across the street from the Inn, the Branding Iron Restaurant in about the center of town, and the Black Canyon Café just a block from the Inn and housed in the fantastic, old Mad Dog Ranch Fountain & Café building. The Mad Dog was owned and operated for a number of years by Pam and Joe Cocker… yes, that Joe Cocker, the English rock and blues star. The new Café is causing a buzz too – especially amongst the many motorcyclists taking in the stunning local scenery!

For those with any interest at all in art glass, the North Rim Glass Studio, just a block down the hill from the Inn, is a must see. This world-renowned studio turns out some of the most fantastic blown glass work that you could hope to find anywhere. If your timing is right, you might even witness the glass blowing in progress – It’s a sight you will remember. Don’t miss their fine gift shop! (www.NorthRimGlass.com)

Crawford also has a nice shady park, a well provisioned general store, a couple of real estate offices, several service businesses and a wonderful, new public library. In addition, it is interesting to view some of the older historic building… Besides the Inn, Crawford has a quaint old western church and graveyard, a small, historic stone jail building, a large stone Town Hall, several original false front buildings and a few old, original log settler cabins.

In the Valley: Both Hotchkiss (11 miles) and Paonia (13 miles) offer a generous selection of attractions, and both towns have distinct personalities. Hotchkiss, at about 1,000 in population, is the commercial hub of the North Fork Valley and sports a large grocery, a number of gift and antique shops as well as all the service businesses that you could desire. The town has a western feel to it, and is well worth a look. You may want to enjoy some time browsing the interesting shops, at the well-shaded fairgrounds, exploring the Hotchkiss-Crawford museum, or viewing some spectacular art at Creamery Arts Center.

Paonia, at about 1,400 in population, is the cultural center of the Valley. This town has a very sizable bohemian presence with a small independent movie theatre, a funky public radio station (KVNF 90.9FM), some fantastic restaurants, and the Blue Sage Arts Complex. There is also a grocery store, a number of gift shops and service businesses. Paonia also sports one of the nicest shady parks anywhere!

Some highlights well worth checking out…

Hotchkiss National Fish Hatchery - This hatchery, located west of Hotchkiss, produces many of the sporting fish that seem so naturally present in Colorado’s rivers. A sight to see for anglers and non-anglers alike! (970-872-3170)

Needle Rock - this 700 foot high volcanic pinnacle rises above Missouri Flats, about 4 miles east of Crawford. The rock is visually stunning and can give you some fantastic photographic opportunities. A hiking trail at the base takes you part way up, but you need to be part mountain goat to reach the pinnacle.

Young’s Peak (“C” Hill) - This “hill” rises 1000 ft above the northern edge of Crawford to a height of over 7,500 ft. The mile-long trail begins at the fire station on the far east end of town and is moderate in difficulty. The 45-minute hike to the top will reward you with a stunning 360º view. Views of Utah to the west, the San Juan Mountains to the south, and especially Needle Rock and the West Elk Mountains to the east make this a very rewarding trek.

Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park – This is one of the major scenic wonders of Western Colorado. “Our” side of the canyon is more rustic and far less visited than the more developed south side – but the payoff of visiting this side is that the views are more stunning and the surroundings more satisfyingly wild. The canyon plunges over 2,000 feet straight down, and is an astounding experience. The Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park is one of America’s newest National Parks, and is conveniently located 13 miles southwest of Crawford.

West Elk Wilderness – For hunters and outdoorsmen, this is paradise – wildlife is plentiful and there are miles and miles of logging roads and hiking trails that cross this expansive wilderness. You can be out for days without encountering another soul, or you can just enjoy a quiet day in nature. The West Elk Wilderness is accessible at numerous locations east of Town.

The Dobies – These are the “badlands”. The “dobies”, as they are called locally, are a barren and somewhat desolate expanse both west and north of town, a few miles out. This is a very interesting ecosystem and worth a look just to take in the stark surroundings. These badlands, according to local geologists, are ancient “ash fields” that resulted from the volcanic activity that created the mountain landscape of the West Elk Wilderness, millions of years ago. Interestingly enough, if you find the right spot in the dobies, you may even find the petrified remains of sea life – at one time, this was the bottom of a shallow inland sea!

Crawford State Park – Less than a mile south of town, you will find a fine spot for fishing, boating and sightseeing. The Crawford State Park features an 80 acre lake and boasts many new facilities, including a ranger station, a boat ramp, a swim beach, hiking trails and a large number of upgraded tent and RV camping spots. One of the best views in western Colorado is visible from the far side of the lake: You can stand amongst the aspen and view Needle Rock backed by the West Elk mountains with the lake in the foreground – take your camera!

Grand Mesa – This is the world’s largest flattop mountain and is a big draw for outdoor enthusiasts. There are expansive aspen forests, hundreds of miles of hiking and off-road trails and over 100 natural lakes - and all at above 10,000 ft. in altitude! Grand Mesa is about an hour drive northwest of Crawford.

Day Trips (see map on “getting here” section)

There are many, many sights to see within an easy drive of Crawford, here are some suggestions:

Ridgeway: About an hour and 45 minutes from Crawford you will find Ridgeway. This town may not take a full day to see, but it could if you decide to enjoy the wonderful Orvis Hot Springs just south of town. The Town itself has interesting western architecture, some great shops and a nice town park. Several westerns were filmed there, including “True Grit”.

Ouray: About a 2 hour drive from Crawford, past Ridgeway, you will come to Ouray, known as the “Switzerland of America” for its setting. This town is chock full of interesting shops and fine western architecture. The streets can be teeming with tourists in the summertime, but don’t let that put you off. Other attractions nearby are the Box Canyon Falls on the south edge of town, the Ouray Hot Springs Pool, and the Bachelor-Syracuse gold mine just north of town (tours available in the summer). Ouray is also a jumping-off point for jeep tours of the surrounding San Juan Mountains.

Silverton: About a 2 ½ hour drive from Crawford, past Ridgeway and Ouray. This might be pushing it for a day trip unless you get an early start, but this old mining town is fascinating and offers a strong hint of the old days. You will be fascinated by the wonderful western architecture and entertained by the many interesting shops. This town is “touristed”, but not nearly as heavily as Ouray. Very enjoyable, and the trip between Ouray and Silverton, through the San Juan Mountains, is about as beautiful as you will encounter anywhere in Colorado – especially around the end of September and the beginning of October, as the aspen leaves are showing their golden colors.

Crested Butte: Crested Butte is a rehabilitated mining town and offers one of the best selections of shops and restaurants to be found in western Colorado. This is an upscale area in one sense, but has retained a very strong bohemian feel. This would be a wonderful day trip that you would certainly remember. The drive from Crawford to Crested Butte, over Kebler Pass, is an astoundingly beautiful one. Equally beautiful is the route to Crested Butte south via Gunnison. Here you will follow the winding highway along the Black Canyon to Blue Mesa Lake, then on to Gunnison and north to Crested Butte. The views along the canyon are breathtaking!

Aspen: This is a “must see” for many, and can make for a remarkable day. Aspen is located about a 2 ¼ hour drive from Crawford and will be everything you imagined. The shopping and window-shopping is well worth a day’s trip. Be prepared to double or triple your budget for the day.

Redstone/Marble: On your way toward Aspen, take the time to stop at Redstone and/or Marble. Both are roughly an hour’s drive from Crawford. Marble, though barely a town, is interesting for its abandoned “marbleworks”. An expanse at the edge of town is covered with marble shards and marble pillars from the original marbleworks. Marble from this quarry was sent to Washington D.C. and used in the construction of some of our Nation’s prominent monuments. Redstone is a very small and pleasant town with a handful or two of fine shops and cafés. A nice tree-lined street and the Crystal River running through town create a very relaxing environment. If you have time, check out the “Redstone Castle” – tours are given periodically. The drive over McClure Pass to get to these towns is especially rewarding with some fine mountain scenery along the way.

Carbondale/Glenwood Springs: Though not normally destination towns, both towns are not out of the way on a trip to Aspen, and feature some fine attractions. Carbondale’s “old town” has a nice small downtown with historic buildings while Glenwood Springs is known for its hot springs pool, The Hotel Colorado and the “Fairy Caves”. Whitewater rafting trips on the Colorado River are also popular with visitors to Glenwood Springs.