Tag: southwest colorado
-
Trail mileage doubling at Baker’s Park, poised to be next mountain biking destination in Colorado
Trails are expanding as part of a mission to make a mountain biking destination in southwest Colorado. A short ride up from Silverton’s main street, the first trail of the Baker’s Park system ー a 7-mile loop opened in 2024 ー has been frequented by local and visiting hikers and runners as well. But from…
-
Power outage hits thousands across Pikes Peak region Wednesday morning
More than 6,500 customers in Fremont, Teller and Park counties lost power Wednesday morning after a transmission line was interrupted, according to CORE Electric. As of 8 a.m., the company said crews are actively working to backfeed and restore service to as many people as possible while they wait for a third-party transmission line to…
-
Effort afoot to revive scenic lake in southwest Colorado
Early this summer in their home mountains of southwest Colorado, Tamara Gulde and Lynn Padgett were visiting a favorite scenic site that was not what it once was. Perched near 9,600 feet off the Million Dollar Highway above Ouray, Crystal Lake was significantly lower. “We saw a couple of fishermen up there. They were sitting…
-
48 hours in Ouray: Exploring the ‘Switzerland of America’
In southwest Colorado, it’s amazing what all can be tucked into a box canyon. Herein lies Ouray, surrounded by craggy walls that seemingly can’t contain the options for shopping, dining and sightseeing. It’s a sight to behold from Main Street: the jagged San Juan Mountains over the canyon, the backdrop of the “Switzerland of America,”…
-
‘Major milestone’ for major trail network in southwest Colorado mountains
Trail advocates are celebrating “a major milestone” toward the creation of a long-dreamed outdoor destination in southwest Colorado. That’s how Silverton Singletrack Society described a $750,000 grant recently announced for the Baker’s Park trail system. The grant was the largest among the latest “community impact” awards from Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO). And the grant was…
-
Colorado’s Blue Lakes trailhead closes, marking ‘first phase’ of broader plan
A scenic destination in southwest Colorado has closed for the summer, marking the start of more changes to come. This month marked the start of a U.S. Forest Service order closing the trailhead for Blue Lakes — the launch point for the chain of turquoise waters high in the San Juan Mountains. The closure is…
-
Colorado mountain towns tap tourists to help address housing, child care for workers
Editor’s note: Today, The Gazette begins publishing stories from the Colorado Network, a new cooperative of freelance journalists focused on covering news from all corners of the state, particularly areas that are undercovered now. DURANGO • Durango and La Plata County have come up with an innovative way to address acute shortages in housing and child…
-
Long-dreamed mountain bike trail system taking shape in southwest Colorado
An envisioned “world-class” mountain biking trail system is taking shape in southwest Colorado’s San Juan Mountains. Nonprofit Silverton Singletrack Society had planned an event in the fall to celebrate the first build-out of the trail system called Baker’s Park. “And then of course we had a snowstorm roll in right on time,” said Klem Branner,…
-
As Colorado’s wildflowers bloom, a return to season of gratitude
Al and Betty Schneider were recently hiking around Lizard Head Wilderness near their southwest Colorado home when tiny pops of white amid tall grass caught their eye. This was Turritis glabra, the couple determined, or the broad-leafed plant commonly called tower mustard. “It’s actually a species that’s pretty common throughout the U.S.,” Al Schneider said.…
-
As Colorado’s wildflowers bloom, a return to season of gratitude
Al and Betty Schneider were recently hiking around Lizard Head Wilderness near their southwest Colorado home when tiny pops of white amid tall grass caught their eye. This was Turritis glabra, the couple determined, or the broad-leafed plant commonly called tower mustard. “It’s actually a species that’s pretty common throughout the U.S.,” Al Schneider said.…