South-Central Colorado is where the Rio Grande National Forest lies…read more I sure did miss this place. Every summer when I was younger, my dad would stop slaving in the oilfield and my mom would take me out of school for two weeks just to go camping up here. This was back before truancy laws became so strict in the New Mexico educational system. I caught my first rainbow trout in the Rio Grande River. I remember how exhilarated I felt. I especially remember how proud my folks were. This is where I learned to *really* listen to nature. Where I learned my dad was resilient when he wanted to be. Where I learned my mom was a whole lot more fun to be around than when she was yelling at us three kids at home. This is where I gained a love of hiking. I would give up a lot of things just to go hiking with my grandad and grandmother in these forests again. This is also where I met my former fiancé. May he rest in peace. Works Cited https://www.fs.usda.gov/r02/riogrande

The Rio Grande National Forest spans over 1.83 million acres in southern Colorado. You can enjoy…read moremuch of its beauty by hopping on and off your drive along Route 160. We were headed from Great Sand Dunes National Park to Mesa Verde and completely underestimated this stunning drive. It seems as though much of this area is untouched and not visited by many as we were the only ones one the road for miles and miles. Some fun facts: -The Rio Grande which obviously runs through this forest with the same name starts its 1800 mile journey down to to the Gulf of Mexico high up in the San Juan Mountains in the western most part of this forest. -The Continental Divide runs for 236 miles along most of the border on the west side of the Forest and the jagged tops of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains on the eastern border. -In between the two mountain ranges, Sangre dr Cristo and San Juan sits the San Luis Valley which is said to be the largest agricultural alpine valley in the US! -The Forest is 7600 ft above sea level and peaks at 14,300 feet Warnings: -The elevation is NO JOKE! I definitely felt it here. The kids didn't mention anything however. Come prepared with a electrolyte fluids and/or electrolyte bands. (I get mine on Amazon) -The roads are curvy and much of them remain without a guard rail. That in combination with the potential weather and slippery roads, and the wildlife...I don't suggest driving on here at night. Plan according to be off the roads before complete sunset, but try to stay on for the beginning of it! Beautiful! -Get gas before entering down this stretch of 160! Not a station is around! -You will have little to no cell reception. The sights are beautiful! Make sure you stop and wander a bit, but don't get lost as it's fairly remote and desolate and you will most likely not have cell reception. There's definitely wildlife as we stumbled upon what I believe was a deer carcass, rib cage and pelt just at the base of the Rio Grande. (There's no school class quite like self exploration for the wee ones) Oh, and if you're an avid hiker and have your filtration water bottle on hand, take some sips of the Rio Grande! How many can say they have? Cool! My kiddos very much enjoyed snowball fights mid April! It seems from the weather reports on their site there's usually snow here even in the summer, just higher up the peaks. So fun! I would come back again to explore and backcountry camp OTG (off the grid) a bit next time. We recommend exploring on your drive through this section of the highway.

Our family spent a glorious morning on day before the 4th with Mountain Man on the RioGrande. About…read more25 years ago when our kids were small we used to take them on the river with MM. Today my daughter Diana is a guide with them on the river so we all went out with her and had a great time. She knows what she's doing and is part of an excellent team. The river was a bit low making for some fun navigation. All their equipment is first class and they do more than just rafting so check it out. We really having everyone with an oar in the water and taking directions as we navigate the Rock Garden, having water fights and stopping for some swimming and snacks. My kids are now in their mid-20's+ but we had as much fun as when they were five. The scenery between Wagon Wheel Gap and South Fork is as good as it gets on any river. So be sure to add it to your to-do list while in the Valley, and ask for Diana!

I live in Creede year-round and always take our friends/family/guests on a rafting trip with…read moreMountain Man! It's always a hit a great way to experience the beauty of the Rio, learn about these mountains towns, and enjoy a peaceful float. I look forward to next time!

Redcloud & sunshine peaks are a pair of 14ers near Creede, CO. They're both class 2 and it's about…read more12 miles with 4.8K elevation round trip. You do not need to do any technical climbing or scrambling for these two! Both are very manageable and beautiful. I came out here to camp and bag a few 14ers; these two and Handies peak. Um compadre and San Luis are also nearby so you could add those to your adventure as well. I camped at the trailhead of redcloud, which was popular but finding a decent spot wasn't hard. There are toilets at the trailhead and a pretty rough and long road to get there. Online is says it's 2WD, but even in my Crosstrek it was a bumpy ride so beware. The coloration and red dirt at the summit of redcloud is truly beautiful. You will have to summit it twice if you decide to do sunshine through an easy traverse, but both are very manageable. Descending was the hardest part because it's very steep and slippery! It's just a short section but take your time. This is a beautiful pair of 14ers with a stunning view of the San Juan mountains waiting for you at the top.

Where to start ? Rick was very good at handling and…read moreconfirming my reservation from last summer Our lesson with Stella- what a sweet girl- very thorough in explaining the fly rod and different knots well worth the 2 hours of our time Then Jeff was our guide 2 half 1/2 day float trips down the rio grande He couldn't control the amount of water flowing down this thing But he could control the boats A great patient man who has obviously dealt with rookies on the water They even supplied lunch which was a wonderful sandwich each day All in all a great learning experience I guess you could say I am hooked !! !

Beautiful country and amazing temperatures for July. Alluring trout fishing in all of the…read moresurrounding lakes.

We were headed up to fish along the Rio Grande river and needed a fishing license. Worker at the…read moregas station in Creede suggested Freemons because the parking lot would be easy to maneuver while pulling our trailer. She told us to be sure to get the ice cream. When we arrived it was a simple log cabin. Inside there was a restaurant serving American food like burgers, soda fountain, ice cream, convenience store items, and fishing area. A little of everything - including a clean bathroom and a place to buy a fishing license! We got the ice cream and it was a hearty portion and definitely delicious! We liked Freemons so much we stopped for burgers and ice cream again on the way home! The staff was great, family owned business. They had indoor and outdoor seating. Outside offered both covered and uncovered areas. The creek was right there and the views were pretty spectacular. They mentioned they close in the winter but it will be on our favorites list forever now!

Look no further... This is the best Adventure rental company in Creede. The knowledge of the staff…read moreis second to none. The machines are great. They will fit you with the machine that is right for you and suggest a ride (trails) to suite your level of comfort and experience. If you are looking for ATV adventure let Kenzie and staff help you. You will not regret it.

This is my 6th backpacking trip in the last two months and while is was not the most beautiful it…read moreis a place of really unique geological beauty. From Denver expect a 4-5 hour drive ( I drive fast so it is more like 4) This is really a place to backpack in setup camp and than hike 1 or 2 days around. A good base camp is roughly 6 miles in and than the Wheeler Geological area is another 5-6 hour day hike. You can also hike to a lake I forget the name. Hiking out you can make a loop which will take you thru amazing valleys with boulder fields, Streams, and Aspen groves. Highly recommend. Definelty have backcountry skills and a Garmin in case of emergencies. Also we came across Elk bow hunters so wear bright colors ...lest you get pierced by Robin Hood