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About Ridgway
About Ridgway
Ridgway sits at the base of the San Juan Mountains with about 1,000 residents, close enough to the range that most people here use it as a staging point for everything in it. The peaks are the backdrop for the whole town. It stays small and the recreation is the reason to be here, which suits the people who choose it over the bigger names nearby.
The location gives you easy access to Colorado's alpine terrain. Uncompahgre National Forest is close by with hiking trails, mountain biking routes, and camping, and the lakes and streams in the area cover fishing and the rest of the water recreation.
The historic downtown district is compact, with shops and restaurants in older buildings that carry the area's heritage. Ridgway State Park just outside town handles camping and day use. Staying small and keeping the surrounding land intact has been a deliberate choice rather than an accident.
The Alpine Loop and the San Juan Skyway both run close to here, which puts a good share of the region's scenery within a day's drive. Trail systems around town range from flat nature walks to hard mountain routes, and there are hot springs nearby for the end of a long day outside.
Ridgway has picked up more attention as an outdoor recreation town for people after adventure and quiet in equal measure, and its position makes it a sensible base for the San Juan Mountains as a whole.
- Population
- 1,000
- Elevation
- 6,985 ft
- Best time
- Summer
- Known for
- True Grit Cafe
What's Ridgway like?
Ridgway sits at the foot of the San Juan Mountains and works as a jumping-off point for everything in them. It's smaller and lower-key than the resort towns nearby, which is the point for a lot of people who base here on the Slope.
What is the Alpine Loop?
It's a backcountry route through the San Juans that you need a four-wheel-drive, high-clearance vehicle to handle. The payoff is high mountain passes, old mining sites, and scenery you can't reach any other way. Don't attempt it in a regular car.
What can I do outdoors near Ridgway?
The Uncompahgre National Forest is close by with trails running up into the mountains for hiking and biking. Ridgway State Park sits just outside town with a reservoir, which is where most people head for fishing, boating, and camping.
Is there anything to see in town?
Ridgway's downtown is compact, with a handful of shops and places to eat that locals actually use. It's more a place to stop, eat, and stock up than a sightseeing destination, and that suits it fine.
How do I get to Ridgway?
Take Highway 62 in. It's about 30 minutes south of Montrose, where you'll find the closest airport, and roughly five hours west of Denver by car. Ridgway also makes a handy base if you want to day-trip out to Ouray or Telluride.
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