Montrose, Colorado- Gateway to Adventure!

Montrose is a small rural community located on the western slope of Colorado. Natives describe this location to be on the 'western slope', indicative to mean west of the Continental Divide. Interstate 70 travels east to west across the northern half of Colorado and another highway, Hwy. 550 South, intersects by Grand Junction in a north-south direction approximately 50 miles east of the Utah border. This highway travels the length of Colorado on a scenic route sure to please the traveler bent on a destination as well as those just out for a ride.

Heading south from Grand Junction, one must travel approximately 65 miles in a southeasterly direction through high desert until reaching Delta, a small town with interesting murals depicting Colorado ranch and farm life painted on sides of buildings as you travel down the main street. If you continue on this southern route, you travel by four-lane highway while viewing spectacular glimpses of the San Juan Mountain range.

Reaching scattered farms and onion fields, the town of Olathe passes on your right. One can just about see the Olathe High School when stopped at the stop light at the intersection of the highway and the main road just about in the middle of nowhere. Outdoor county and rock concerts during the Olathe Corn Festival in August is a must-see event, put on by the local Olathe Chamber of Commerce for the community which has grown in popularity during the past six years. Bands such as Loverboy, Credence Clearwater, Starship, and others have been invited to play for the weekend-long Sweet Corn Festival to celebrate the harvest.

About 12 miles further south will find you in Montrose Colorado. No matter what your recreation plans may entail, Montrose and its surrounding area will be sure to please and delight even the most particular tourist.

Montrose, with a population of about 13,000 boasts it's own local airport that brings skiers and snowboarders closes to tthe slopes on a daily basis, with shuttle services running the 75 mile route several times per day. Hotels are not in short supply; locally owned hostels such as Country Inn continue to thrive, as do the more modern facilities such as the Hampton Inn. Restaurants also offer variety for those of particular tastes. Homemade Italian dishes at Garlic Mikes, Chinese at Panda Palace, Mongolian Stir Fry at Genghis Grill, and others are sure to delight. Shopping is also an adventure of 'past meets present'. Contemporary shopping facilities contrast with locally owned shops that have been part of the scenery for 60 years or more.

Bike paths intersect the center of town as well as around the perimeter of the west end of the city, where they wind around the local park and follow the riverbed. This is a great place to walk, bike, run with your pets, rollerblade and feel the fresh air at the same time as listening to the river next to you. If you take Main Street east of town, you will come upon Colorado's very own smaller version of the Grand Canyon, the Black Canyon. Massive canyons and trails abound upon this mesa as well as offer bike trails in summer, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing in the wintertime. Deer and elk meander within whispering distance of hikers and walkers without fear.

Taking highway 550 south out of town will take adventurers about 25 miles toward Ouray and its hot springs and rivers just made for kayaks. Winter finds this area the focus of a world renowned Ice Festival with ice climbing competitions that are world famous. Thirty miles further up the Dallas Divide will find musical artists and enthusiasts in the summer playing folk music in a natural amphitheatre in Telluride during the Summer Festival. These are just the main points one might mention all within one and one-half hours from Montrose.

No matter what the interest, the taste, or the state of your pocketbook, Montrose surely has something to offer anyone, of any age. Come down and see for yourself, you may never want to leave.