Gunnison is Colorado's great outdoors
The recipe for adventure couldn't be better – there’s the serrated tops of the Sawtooth Mountain, the roaring whitewater of the Gunnison River, the rock-ribbed walls of the Black Canyon, the colossal widths of Gunnison Gorge, the alpine ski fields of Crested Butte, the tabletops of the Grand Mesa – the list goes on. There are few places in America with such a line-up of adrenaline-pumping activities and breathtaking highland vistas as this. Book your Gunnison vacation rentals to break out into the vast Colorado outdoors this year…
Wonder at the majesty of the Rockies in Gunnison
Gunnison's treasures rise and fall all around the town center. It’s hard to miss the great peaks of Mount Baldy and Fairview soaring on the horizon, and you're sure to pass the Blue Mesa Reservoir on your way into town – a summertime mecca for sailors and water skiers. But that's just a taster because the Crested Butte Mountain Resort also hides in these hills, touting speedy black runs and meandering, tree-lined blues alike. And the iconic Grand Mesa looms just to the north, complete with carved plateaus and scenic byways by the bucket load.
Going wild in Gunnison
Be sure to pack the hiking gear, waterproofs, and walking boots if you intend to hit Gunnison vacation rentals in the summer. Whether it's a cabin hidden in the woods beneath Fossil Ridge, or a riverside hut with roaring rapids on the doorstep, it's likely you'll be enjoying some form of outdoors adventure. Rafting and hiking and mountain biking are uber-popular pursuits, but so are long drives on the West Elk Loop, or camping jaunts into the national forest. And in winter? Monarch Mountain and Crested Butte have powdered runs aplenty.
Seasonal weather in Gunnison
Travelers enjoy Gunnison for its skiing. To make the most of the cold weather activities, you might consider visiting in December, March, February or May, when snowfall averages 9 inches and temperatures average 20°F.
Gunnison is a mountain town
There's no question about it: Gunnison is a mountain town. Hidden in its own small cleft in the heart of the Colorado Rockies, it's surrounded by some of America's most iconic wildernesses. There's the Curecanti National Recreation Area and the Blue Mesa Reservoir to the west, awash with sloshing whitewater rapids and boating jetties. There's the sweeping pine forests and snow-topped massifs of the Gunnison National Forest to the east. And there's the majestic Grand Mesa to the north, where black bears, lynxes, moose, and oodles more creatures tread between the trees.
How to get to and around Gunnison
Fly into Gunnison, CO (GUC-Gunnison-Crested Butte Regional), the closest airport, located 1.1 mi (1.8 km) from the city center. If you can't find a flight that's convenient for your trip, you can also fly into Aspen/Pitkin County Airport (ASE), which is 46.7 mi (75.2 km) away.