Bottom Line: Welcoming and helpful staff, clean bathrooms, water bottle refilling station and…read moreplenty of parking. Upon arriving in Ouray my husband and I stopped at the Visitor Center. For starters, I like that the building seems to be an old train depot. We were immediately greeted by Patty and she was incredibly welcoming and helpful. She was able to answer all of our questions about sites, hiking, parking and stuff to see on our trek back down to Durango. Also, she did an awesome job juggling multiple visitors. After a long drive we also appreciated the clean restroom and place to refill our water bottles. Oh, and there was plenty of parking out back. I can't imagine a better welcoming to Ouray!

Stopped in at the visitor center on our drive through town as he wanted a map of the area. It's a…read morecute building with an upstairs and downstairs. There was a volunteer who got testy with me when I went looking for the locally made goods their signage seemed to advertise. Apparently I was wrong and they don't sell goods there. There's a spot to take a selfie with the landscape of Ouray - they have a picture hung where you can do that. And there's a lovely photo of trees with their fall colors as well. Lots of maps and informational brochures. And a water bottle filler plus restrooms. It's a good place to stop for information and to take a break.

I had an awesome time visiting box canyon waterfall while in Ouray! I came with my husband and…read moretoddler children. They absolutely loved it! Great for all ages. The waterfall was a lot bigger than I thought it would be. It was super loud inside of the canon which made it all the more exciting. Check out both the lower and upper box canon falls trails. The lower falls trail gets very close to the waterfall, we were getting wet from the spray we were so close. The upper trail has a great view of Ouray and a fun bridge to cross that leads into a tunnel. It is $7 for each adult, but super seniors, military, and children under 4 are free! No dogs allowed in the park. I don't think the dogs would want to come anyway with the metal bridges and aggressively loud waterfall. If you are in Ouray in the summertime this needs to be on your itinerary!

Truly magnificent. The lower trail is easy for all levels, it has stable footing and minimal…read moreelevation changes, yet still offers beautiful views of the creek, and waterfalls along steel walkways and short trail. There are also stairs to near bottom of the waterfall. The high bridge trail is much more challenging, although one can opt to only climb the stair portion for a better view of Ouray and a little cardio. At the top of the stairs there is a small shelter, if you're feeling the altitude at this point it's a good idea not to continue further, as the trail continues to climb and there are no stairs/structure. There is a cable above the trail in sections for stability, and cables below some sections for safety. I'd guess the top of the stairs is a little less than half way to the high bridge. The bridge is a very sturdy structure, over a steep narrow gorge, the views of Box Cañon, the creek, waterfall, and town below are breathtaking. There is a hallway-like tunnel on the far side of the bridge, which is part of the perimeter trail. It's low in some spots but walkable, and offers some shade and cooling after the climb. The trail was drub when we went, it would be significantly more challenging/difficult with any moisture or icy conditions.

Love the array of brochures and recommendations and the comfy seating to make a plan. Conveniently…read morelocated on the Main St.

We stopped here before walking around downtown Durango. Great idea! The place is big, with clean…read morebathrooms and plenty of seats for resting or checking out the brochures. The location is perfect--right on Main Street, and the ladies who assisted us were friendly and helpful. We walked out with two walking tour pamphlets, a couple of coupons and a map that included where to find the trolleys. They even told us where we could find a simple lunch. This is the perfect first stop for your trip to Durango.

Where to start? I love a National Park and this is no exception. Black Canyon of the Gunnison is a…read morefairly understated park, as in many folks don't know about it. It's further out west in Colorado so it takes a bit of effort to find yourself here but you will be rewarded if you venture out west. First of all this part of Colorado is gorgeous and a bit less traveled so you'll have more space to yourself which is lovely. The canyon itself is incredible. It reminded me a lot of the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone if you've ever seen that. We did several smaller hikes around the rim as we had little kids in tow. Be sure to hold onto those small hands as I was pretty nervous about them falling in since it's just a big ol' drop around the edges. All that being said, this is a great park and I'd love to return sometimes without kids or when the kids are older to do one of the bigger hikes.

I didn't have the highest expectations going into our trip to Black Canyon of the Gunnison National…read morePark. I didn't know too much about the park and was a bit disappointed that we had to nix the plans to do our large hike in the North Rim of the park. That being said, BCGNP far surpassed all expectations on just our very first overlook - Tomichi Point - within minutes of driving into the South Rim. I was not prepared for the sheer beauty of the canyons. The South Rim is so very different from the North Rim, so if you only have time to go to one, make sure to do your research. The South Rim is much more developed, more popular, has plenty of tiny hikes and overlooks, and brings the easy, classic beauty. The South Rim drive is an easy 7 miles and features 12 overlooks with the longest hike to the overlook being about 0.5 of a mile. And most of the hikes are more like walks. Stunning views, perfect for sunset. You'll also find the BCGNP visitor center on the South Rim drive. The North Rim is much more underdeveloped and less visited. We visited in the late afternoon and only ran into one other group of people while driving their scenic North Rim drive. I believe it's about 4.5 miles, and it is unpaved - that being said, we drove it in a Toyota Corolla without any issues. These overlooks are equally gorgeous but give you a different perspective of the canyon. You'll find a lot of the bigger hikes in the North Rim. While we weren't able to fit one into our schedule, we did do part of the North Vista Trail to see Exclamation Point - wonderful hike, wish we had been able to do the full trail. Overall, I wasn't sure what I was expecting when I visited Black Canyon of the Gunnison, but it definitely wasn't how breathtakingly beautiful this park is. 100% worth a stop, and if all you do is stop at their overlooks, you will still get to experience so much beauty.

I want to start by saying this is the only park in the town and it offers tons of amenities. Pool,…read moremultiple jungle gym/playgrounds, soccer field, river to fish, baseball fields and tons of areas to hang out and relax while enjoying the beautiful scenery. The reason for our visit was a baseball tournament and sadly we were quite disappointed by the fields. For being such an expensive and historic town, the fields were amongst the poorest we have seen. There is no actual fence to specify the outfield (on one field), no dugout for the players (it's a park bench) with no covering, infield is all dirt and the backstop is maybe 5 feet from home plate. The park itself is beautiful and has plenty to do and offer other than baseball fields.

Beautiful park in Telluride. It has a river moving through it and I could have stayed there all day…read morelistening to the running water. Honestly forget the high priced restaurants and touristy shops and art galleries and spend a day at the park.

All National Parks are amazing, but it's rare to find one that has such a a fascinating…read moreanthropological history as well as incredible views and landscapes. We visited in Late June, and although it was warm, the heat was very bearable. Definitely recommend registering for a tour (don't wait - they fill up quickly!) while planning your visit so you can get a better understanding of and a close up look at the cliff dwellings. Also, be aware that some of the tours are strenuous so read the descriptions before making your choices. I knew what they were before heading to Mesa Verde, but experiencing it first hand and getting to walk on in the ancient dwellings really made it come alive for me. The scenic drive was incredible as well. So many beautiful vistas and historical stops along the drive. We were here for one full day and saw quite a bit - Cliff Palace, Balcony House (Both guided tours - check the website before booking since you need to account for travel time in between), and scenic drive with stops along the way. Loved it here!

I'm already planning a second visit here just due to the sheer amount of things there are to do and…read moresee. Wetherill Mesa was closed due to construction when I visited, and the season for the pueblo tours was not open yet, so that's already on my to do list. Exploring Chapin Mesa took an entire day to drive the loop, do some hiking, and read about all the different artifacts that were uncovered. I liked how there were displays about the different stages of housing and the evolution to the amazing cliff dwellings that the national park is known for. Definitely bring your binoculars to get a better look at the structures!

This is a huge, beautiful, and modern visitor center. On one end you can glimpse their archival…read moresection that preserves the artifacts found here and the research work going on. The other end has a bookshop and a small museum that gives context to the history of the area. Since the national park is so large, I had to ask a ranger for clarification to see what areas of the park were open. Wetherill Mesa is currently closed due to construction. There's also free wifi (you can use it to download the NPS app and get more information during your visit) and clean bathrooms.

Nice visitor center right at the entrance to Mesa Verde National Parks. Was pleasantly surprised by…read morehow large their visitor center was. Plenty of exhibits and information on the park and the Ancestral Pueblo culture. Perfect starting point to lay some foundation before entering the park. Everyone we interacted with here was so nice and friendly, more than willing to share what they know about the park and the culture. Nice little bookstore. Not the largest I've seen but has a nice selection. Plenty of clean bathrooms. Should definitely be your first stop when visiting the national park.

This brings back fond memories for me…read more My husband and I had taken an outdoor education class here that was offered through Western State College almost 30 years ago. Even though we lived in the area for many years, this is the first time we have been back since. It is a most excellent stopping spot when making the drive along US 50. It is also the main ranger station for Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park and for the Curecanti National Recreation Area. The staff are very helpful and informative (as to be expected from NPS staff). There are public facilities here and a small retail space for the requisite NPS tchotchkes. You can also get your passport stamps for all the area National Park sites. There is a nice restaurant at the Marina, but it is only open during the summer season.

The Elk Creek Visitor Center is part of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. Folks come…read morehere for information and permits. A number of items are for sale: books, maps, and tourist trinkets. Public restrooms are available here, as well as a water fountain - and cold bottled water is available for purchase. The staff here are very friendly, helpful, and professional!

Did the entire Perimeter Trail the other day...clocked 6.2 miles in just under 4 hours…read more Started in the am at the trailhead located in the parking lot across from the Ouray Visitor's Center (which I highly recommend). You'll understand as you begin your final descent. As you start your initial ascent and climb the wood stairs into the hillside, enter the cliff path...a .8 mile slightly narrower trail than I'd prefer and a drop-off...but hey, the views are stunning! You can see the Ouray Hot Springs and more! As you keep on trekkin' on you'll start to "hear" before you make it to the gorgeous Cascade Falls!!! Chill, explore...even hike up behind the falls if that's your thing! I think I was pretty "ok" until we passed through the tunnel after the upper Box Canyon Bridge. We almost took a bail-out trail back into town along the way but persevered. There are actually a few bail-outs along the trail. Anyway, there were some sketchy narrow, steep, rocky-dusty-slidy, drop-off sections along the trail that gave me the heebie-jeebies. If you have a fear of heights, this may not be for you. For the majority of hikers out there I'm sure it's easy, but nonetheless make sure you go prepared. 1. Depending on what time you hike, be sure to eat a healthy meal before you go and bring some extra snacks just in case. 2. Signage isn't the best and is lacking "you are here", so I'd recommend taking a photo of the trail map before you head out. 3. Staying properly hydrated is key along the trail. If you've got a camelback that's great! 4. Take breaks when needed and don't feel pressured by any of your overzealous hiking buddies...it's supposed to be fun, safe and not a competition. 5. A walking stick or trekking poles can prove very helpful! Many people leave sticks at the trailhead(s). If you use one be sure to leave it behind for the next person. 6. Wear appropriate shoes for hiking. Yeah some peeps can hike in Croc's or Chaco's, but not highly recommended. Enjoy the trail, be safe, and take some pix! The views are beautiful! Be Happy Outside!

This is a must do hike, plan to take about 5 hours or more if you take side trips. You will have…read moregreat views of the city, mountain ranges on all sides, Canyon views, waterfalls, an aspen grove, a tunnel, various bridges, some narrow heart pumping areas on the west side, and views of the rock climbers along the via Ferrata

A shout out to Chris (and Cupcake) at Telluride Car Service. From their timely reply to my request…read morefor service, to a quick confirmation and all the communication from booking to picking up. They were prompt both ways and it was so nice to have personable staff who were also very knowledgeable about the area. Thank you for your great service. I will not do it any other way next time we travel to Telluride.

Super friendly, reliable and professional. Would definitely use again. Good communicationread more