Montrose County, Colorado

Looking for the best hiking in Montrose County? We've got you covered with the top trails, trips, hiking, backpacking, camping and more around Montrose County. The detailed guides, photos, and reviews are all submitted by the Outbound community.

Top Hiking Spots in and near Montrose County

  • Crawford, Colorado

    Warner Point Nature Trail

    5.0
    1.52 mi / 279 ft gain
    Warner Point Nature Trail is an out-and-back trail that takes you by a river located near Montrose, Colorado.
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  • Montrose County, Colorado

    Snowshoe in Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park

    2 mi / 377 ft gain
    Winter is a great time to visit Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. Covered in snow, the canyon seems even more dramatic and sheer. The park road is plowed up until the visitor center, and there is no entrance fee in the winter. The rest of the park road is groomed for cross country skiin...
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  • Crawford, Colorado

    Hike to the Painted Wall

    4.5
    1 mi / 25 ft gain
    At 2,250 feet, the Painted Wall in Black Canyon of the Gunnison is a sight that cannot be truly captured in photos. The layers of rock along the cliff's wall resembles a canvas with streaks from a paintbrush. This canyon took eons to create, and this view of the river and canyon walls is the high...
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  • Crawford, Colorado

    Hike the Chasm View Nature Trail

    5.0
    1 mi
    This easy trail is located along the north rim of the canyon and can be completed as either a short loop hike or a shorter out and back to the first overlook. You’ll find the trailhead at the North Rim Campground. The views of the canyon along this trail are fantastic, some of the best in the par...
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  • Montrose, Colorado

    Hike the Gunnison Route

    5.0
    2 mi / 1800 ft gain
    Immediately upon arriving, secure a permit to scramble down 1,800ft in one mile to the Gunnison River. There are no hiking trails below the rim of the canyon, and because of its relentless steepness and rock exposure, the only existing routes are incredibly steep and loose. To protect the delicat...
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  • Montrose, Colorado

    Tomichi Point and Gunnison Point Overlooks

    5.0
    2.3 mi / 354 ft gain
    To access the South Rim of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, take US 50 and CO 347 to the south entrance, 15 miles east of Montrose. There is no bridge between the north and south rims of the canyon - make sure you enter from the Montrose side. After passing through the entrance st...
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  • Montrose, Colorado

    Hike the Oak Flat Loop

    5.0
    2 mi / 377 ft gain
    Black Canyon of the Gunnison is one of Colorado's four national parks. Though not as well known as Rocky Mountain or Mesa Verde, Black Canyon has no lack of views, hiking opportunities, and other must-experience natural features. The Canyon's expanse is far too large to explore in a day, but the...
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  • Montrose, Colorado

    Drive the Scenic loop at Black Canyon of Gunnison National Park

    4.5
    The Black Canyon of Gunnison is know for 2000 foot cliffs and a beautiful raging river below. The south side of the canyon is the most popular and the easiest to get to. The visitor center is also on the south side making it convenient for information and getting souvenirs. The scenic drive also ...
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  • Mesa County, Colorado

    Backpack along the Gunnison River in the Dominguez-Escalante NCA

    5.0
    3.4 mi
    If you're looking to take your first backpacking adventure, but want something that is manageable yet thrilling, this is what you're looking for. Located along the Gunnison River in Western Colorado, the Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation area is easy to access yet full of adventure and be...
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  • Cedaredge, Colorado

    Run the Crag Crest Loop

    4.3
    10.4 mi / 1500 ft gain
    The Crag Crest Trail is a 10-mile loop that takes runners over one of the highest points on Grand Mesa. When traveling in a clockwise direction, the trail traverses a narrow rocky ridge for 5-miles before descending into the dense pine forest below. Grand Mesa's trails are less maintained due to ...
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  • Telluride, Colorado

    Blue Lakes Trail

    5.0
    8.81 mi / 2635 ft gain
    Your adventure begins at the Blue Lakes Trailhead, elevation 9400’, in Uncompahgre National Forest. Take CO-62 from Ridgway toward Telluride, turn left onto Ouray County Road 7, and follow it into the national forest to the end of the road. Just past the trailhead, the trail splits; be sure to ...
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  • Lake City, Colorado

    Backpack to Wetterhorn Basin

    13 mi / 3000 ft gain
    This trip is for the lover of solitude and the appreciator of the unscathed backcountry. Wetterhorn Basin is in the heart of the beautiful San Juan Mountain range in Southwestern Colorado.With a 4WD high clearance vehicle start at the West Cimarron Trailhead at 10,750 feet (38.1117N -107.5533W),...
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  • Ouray, Colorado

    Backpack to Dragon's Back via Horsethief Trail

    5.0
    16 mi / 3520 ft gain
    The Uncompahgre Wilderness stretches out through the mountains and forests of southwestern Colorado, with worn trails lingering beside abandoned 19th-century mines and crossing old alpine sheep pastures. Dragon's Back is the unofficial name for Point 12,968', a small but beautiful summit at the b...
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  • Ouray County, Colorado

    Mount Sneffels via Yankee Boy Basin

    5.0
    1.94 mi / 1581 ft gain
    The most common route, sometimes called the standard route or the Lavender Col route, begins at or near the top of Yankee Boy Basin, just outside of Ouray. Take the Camp Bird Road as far as you can, though be warned that the last few miles of the road are extremely rough and should only be attem...
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  • Ouray County, Colorado

    Climb Mt. Sneffels via the Southwest Ridge

    4.5
    3 mi / 1800 ft gain
    There is a great description of this trailhead here: Hike Mount SneffelsThe SW Ridge route of Mt Sneffels is a Class III scramble in the Mount Sneffels Wilderness area of the San Juan Range located between Ouray and Telluride, Colorado. This route is 3 miles RT with 1,800 feet of elevation gain ...
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  • Ouray, Colorado

    Lower Cascade Falls

    3.0
    0.5 mi
    Located within the picturesque town of Ouray, Colorado, Cascade Falls is what most city parks strive to be. This park and amazing waterfall are located on the edge of town along the longer 5+ mile Perimeter Trail and provides a place for picnics, relaxing, and further days hikes through connector...
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