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Mountaineer Village
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Mountaineer Village

Biking, Hiking, and More in Gunnison, Colorado

The Colorado landscape is shaped by snowcapped Rocky Mountain peaks, forests of aspen & pine, iron-rich rivers, and a diversity of North American wildlife. With natural beauty like this, its easy to see why so many people decide to move to Colorado the state provides easy access to the outdoors without ever sacrificing the comforts of city and home.

Here at Mountaineer Village Apartments, we sit right on the edge of adventure in the idyllic mountain town of Gunnison, CO. Our community is in the Gunnison Valley and surrounded by national forest and mountain ranges on all sides. Residents and locals have access to hiking trails, lakes, rock formations, and world-famous 14,000-foot peaks, all within a short distance of town. If youre looking for a rugged mountain spirit, laid-back ethos, and proximity to nature, then Gunnison should be high on your list.

Whether youre a resident, Gunnison local, or just visiting, our team here at Mountaineer Village wants to help you find your next adventure in the Gunnison Valley. Weve come up with a list of our favorite spots so you can get out there and explore. Let the adventures begin!
A rocky hillside with greenery growing on it.

Hartman Rocks

Situated just five miles south of the city, Hartman Rocks in Gunnison is one of the world’s premier mountain biking venues, a sprawling 14,000 acres of high mountain desert terrain marked by granite rock formations and fields of sagebrush. The area is nationally recognized as a mountain biker’s paradise with over 45 miles of singletrack trails winding in and out of the area’s ancient granite slabs. Hartman also plays a special role in the early history of mountain biking as it is one of the first places in Colorado to hold competitive MTB races.

Mountain bikers of all experience levels will find something to enjoy. One rider aptly described the area as a “singletrack feast” due to the web of trails throughout Hartman’s signature rock formations. Like your favorite ski resort, the trails are given creative names like “Rocky Ridge,” “Rattlesnake,” and “The Luge.”

Best of all, Hartman Rocks is a multi-sport environment with opportunities for hiking, trail running, rock climbing, and camping. Over the past few decades, rock climbers have scoured the area and installed easy-to-follow, bolted routes— classics include “Tiger Stripe Wall,” “Super Slabs,” and “Buddha’s Belly.” There are also multiple bouldering spots that range in difficulty. When it comes to camping, visitors can choose from 50 different camp sites and sleep under unobstructed & star-studded skies.

A man in a hat is fishing.

Blue Mesa Reservoir 

In 1966, the small town of Iola was purposely flooded by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, thereby joining the ranks of Dillon, Sopris, Stout, and other small mountain towns that were submerged because of regional river projects. Today, this body of water is known as Blue Mesa Reservoir, and it is the Gunnison Valley’s destination for water sports and summertime recreation.

What can you do at Blue Mesa Reservoir? Just about everything. Camping, boating, windsurfing, waterskiing, hiking, horseback riding, lounging on the beach— these are just some of the reservoirs’ many offerings. Fishermen are particularly keen on Blue Mesa because it serves as the largest kokanee salmon fishery in the United States. This means that the reservoir is always well stocked, so you’re almost guaranteed to catch kokanee salmon, rainbow trout, brown trout, or lake trout regardless of experience level. During the summer months, boats can be heard buzzing throughout the 29-mile-long reservoir, snaking in and out of the cul-de-sac-like canyons. Fishermen and boaters can visit the Elk Creek and Lake Fork Marinas to put in and purchase fishing gear, tackle, and fresh bait.

A mountain range with snow capped peaks and a forest in the foreground.

Colorado Fourteeners

In Colorado, climbing a fourteener is seen as a real badge of honor. Many Coloradans make it their goal to climb all 58 peaks in their lifetime, an ambitious goal indeed. At 7,710 feet, Gunnison, CO’s elevation places it right in the center of Colorado’s most magnificent ranges— the Sawatch Range, the Elk Mountains, and the San Juan Mountains further to the south. Gunnison is in 14er country!

 The county itself contains multiple fourteeners including Uncompahgre Peak, Redcloud Peak, Sunshine Peak, and Handies Peak, but the two most accessible are Shavano and Tabeguache, two separate 14,000-foot peaks that are connected by a saddle ridge. This means hikers can knock two 14ers off the bucket list in one day.

Disclaimer: Climbing 14ers is for advanced hikers only. This is extreme terrain that has serious risks. Less skilled hikers can find very enjoyable routes near Gunnison such as the East River Trail in Gunnison National Forest, Sawtooth Loop, the Neversink Trail, as well as the web of trails inside of the Hartman Rocks area.


Monarch Ski Mountain

Located forty miles east of Gunnison, Monarch Mountain is Colorado’s most popular au naturale skiing destination, a resort that is fully committed to never using artificial snow machines. To be honest though, with an average annual snowfall of 350”, relying on mother nature is a safe bet every winter.

Monarch Mountain offers 67 ski trails spread across 800 acres of primo Rocky Mountain terrain. Visitors can shred their way through easy greens, friendly blues, challenging black diamonds, and extreme double black diamonds— all experience levels are welcome at Monarch.

Best of all, the excitement doesn’t stop after the snow melts. During the summer, Monarch Mountain opens to hikers, mountain bikers, and nature lovers. The summer also offers the Monarch operations team an opportunity to build new runs, remove dead trees, and conduct overall maintenance of the trails.

A brown horse with a saddle stands in a field.

Horseback Riding

The landscape in and around Gunnison looks like something out of an old western film with rolling hills, expansive mesas, shimmering streams, and limitless mountain vistas. Indeed, much of the local culture is built around the stereotypical Western lifestyle, including farming and ranching. There’s no better way to engage with Colorado’s cultural roots than by visiting Raven Rider Stables and experiencing your very own horseback trail ride.

For over 40 years, the family-owned Raven Rider Stables has provided the Gunnison Valley with scenic trail rides led by trustworthy & knowledgeable local guides. Every horse is well-trained and capable of working with riders at all talent levels. Hitting the trails with Raven Rider Stables is also one of the best ways to experience the high mountain desert landscape. Instead of having to pedal your way through Hartman Rocks, or plodding up a 14er, riding a horse is as simple as sitting up in the saddle, lightly gripping the reins, and letting your equine companion do the leg work.

A parking lot with cars and a building with a metal roof.

Outro

Now that you’re equipped with these ideas, get out there and enjoy the many gifts that Gunnison has to offer! Always remember to prepare properly by bringing water & snacks, using a GPS locator, and wearing seasonally appropriate clothing. Most importantly, make sure to let your friends and loved ones know where you’re going and when you’ll be back— this is a safety measure that everyone, regardless of expertise, should employ.

If the valley is calling you and you’re looking for your next home in Gunnison, please visit us here at Mountaineer Village Apartments. Our 2 & 3 bedroom floor plans are designed for the outdoor enthusiast who desires comfort, style, and spaciousness along with easy access to Colorado’s unmatched beauty.

This is what it means to live on the edge of adventure.

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