Population...................................26,600
Elevation.......................6,200-6,993 feet

Airport Service:
Cortez/Montezuma County Airport

Accommodations:
# of hotels........................................20
# of hotel rooms............................1,105

Special Locations:
Mesa Verde National Park
Anasazi Heritage Center
Ute Mountain Tribal Park
Hovenweep National Monument
Lowry Pueblo
Crow Canyon Archeological Center
Trail of the Ancients Scenic Byway
San Juan Skyway
McPhee Lake
Canyons of the Ancients National Monument

Local Agency Phone Numbers:
Police.............................(970) 565-8441
Fire.................................(970) 565-3157
State Patrol.....................(970) 249-4392
County Sheriff..................(970) 565-8452
Road conditions................(877) 315-7623
BLM...............................(970) 882-7296
National Forest................(970) 882-7296
Mesa Verde
National Park...................(970) 529-4461
Hovenweep
National Monument..........(970) 562-4282

Climate (average annual):
Precipitation.........................12.9 inches
Snowfall..................................42 inches
Sunshine days.................................321

Description:
Cortez and Dolores offer a tremendous diversity of landscape, including alpine meadows, jagged red-rock canyons, mesa-top plateaus, and wide vistas ending at majestic mountains. This is also the location for spectacular mountain streams and the second largest lake in Colorado. Known as the archaeological center of America, the prehistoric sites of Mesa Verde National Park and Hovenweep National Monument are only a sample of the archaeological diversity found here. About 75% of the county is federal land owned by the BLM, Forest Service, Mesa Verde and the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe.

Population.......................................800+
Elevation...........................7,700 feet

Airport Service:
Montrose Regional Airport (35 miles)
Grand Junction Walker Field (115 miles)

Accommodations:
# of hotels.........................................31

Special Locations:
National Historic District
The Million Dollar Highway (U.S. 550)
Box Canyon Falls and Park
Mt. Sneffels Wilderness Area
Dallas Divide
Western ranches
Ouray Ice Park
Ouray Natural Hot Springs Pool
Ouray County Historical Museum, recommended by The Smithsonian Museum in Washington, D.C.

Local Agency Phone Numbers:
Police.............................(970) 325-7068
Fire.................................(970) 325-4047
State Patrol.....................(970) 249-4392
County Sheriff..................(970) 325-7272
Road conditions..............1-877-315-7623

Climate (average annual):
Precipitation.......................22.63 inches
Snowfall.............................140.0 inches

Description:
Ouray, the "Switzerland of America," is surrounded by sheer, deep red cliffs, covered with evergreen/aspen groves against a backdrop of 14,000-foot peaks. Within the city limits, two beautiful waterfalls and the Uncompahgre River accent the grand Victorian architecture (many with authentic interiors). A city park with gazebo, sports field and million-gallon hot springs pool are in a serene mountain setting. The surrounding area features ghost towns, mine ruins, waterfalls, lakes, and ancient pine forests. The Million Dollar Highway (U.S. 550) offers spectacular backdrops for auto commercials or driving scenes. Springtime scenery features wildflowers in alpine meadows while the autumn colors are spectacular. Winter scenes include frozen waterfalls and an outdoor city ice rink in deep pines and an ice climbing park in the Uncompahgre Gorge. Ouray is proud to claim the largest man made ice climbing venue in the world!

Population
Town............................................1,700
County........................................12,000
Elevation................................7,079 feet

Airport Service:
Archuleta County Airport (Stevens Field) non-commercial
La Plata County Airport

Accommodations:
# of hotels.........................................16
# of hotel rooms...............................678
# of B&B.............................................7
# of B&B rooms.................................36
# house/condo rentals........................27
# house/condo rooms.........................88
# property mgmt units.....................255+
Wyndham Resort units.......................575+

Special Locations:
Wolf Creek Ski Area
Hot Mineral Springs
San Juan National Forest
San Juan River
Chimney Rock Archeological Site

Local Agency Phone Numbers:
Police.............................(970) 264-4151
Fire.................................(970) 731-4191
State Patrol.....................(970) 264-2145
County Sheriff..................(970) 264-2131
San Juan
National Forest................(970) 264-2268
Archuleta County
Airport.............................(970) 731-3060

Climate:
Precipitation.......................20.21 inches
Snowfall..............................300+ inches: Wolf Creek typically receives the most natural snow in Colorado
Sunshine days.................................316

Credits:
The Cowboys

Description:
Pagosa Springs is a quaint style community with the San Juan River flowing through the town and the spectacular San Juan Mountains framing the area. Pagosa offers numerous season recreational opportunities within 30 minutes or less including Wolf Creek Ski Area offering "The Most Snow in Colorado". Other recreational activities include snowmobiling, mountain biking, river rafting, kayaking, fishing, ballooning, hiking, hunting, and climbing. Pagosa Springs is also only an hour away from two narrow gauge railroads, each hosting very different yet stunning scenery. Pagosa is also home to two public mineral hot springs facilities: one of the most beautifully designed spas in the state and located along the San Juan River.

Located in the vast playground of Colorado's largest wilderness area, the Weminuche Wilderness, Pagosa Springs is close to some of the most dazzling waterfalls and panorama in the state. A short drive from town is the one-time home of the ancient Puebloan Indians, Chimney Rock Archeological site and Navajo State Park with boating and a wildlife sanctuary. The Fred Harman Art Museum, home to the Red Ryder and Little Beaver comic strip and the Daisy pop-gun, has some of the best history of this area. Stunning mountain peaks, lush ranchland, rushing waterfalls and the high mountain desert along with all the year round variety make Archuleta County and Pagosa Springs a cinematographers dream.

Population....................................2,200
Elevation................................8,750 feet

Airport Service:
Montrose Regional Airport (65 miles)
Telluride Regional Airport (5 miles)
Cortez Municipal Airport (67 miles)

Accommodations:
# of "pillows".................................6,116
(Telluride and nearby Mountain Village)

Special Locations:
Telluride Ski Resort
Trout Lake
Wilson Peak 14,000-foot mountain with snow year-round
Skyline Ranch
Sheridan Opera House, (c. 1914, Victorian architecture and fixtures)
Ingram Falls and Bridal Veil Falls (Colorado’s longest free-falling waterfall)
National Historic District with western store-front Main Street, Victorian-style neighborhoods
The Gondola, an eight-passenger, high-speed gondola (free year-round transportation)
Alta Lakes, abandoned mining town
Rustic to elegant log cabins
Large flat mesas with spectacular mountain backdrops

Local Agency Phone Numbers:
Marshal's Office...............(970) 728-3818
Fire.................................(970) 728-3801
State Patrol.....................(970) 249-4392
County Sheriff..................(970) 728-3081
Road conditions...............(877) 315-7623
BLM...............................(970) 240-5316
Uncompahgre
National Forest................(970) 240-5400
Medical Center................(970) 728-3848
Telluride Regional
Airport.............................(970) 728-5313

Climate (average annual):
Snowfall................................300 inches

Credits:
Coors, Marlboro, GMC, Speigel, Chrysler, Mon Cheri Chocolates, Express Limited, Audi, Honda, Saab, Jeep, Isuzu, Acura, Toyota, Range Rover, Dial Soap, Lysol, Cellular One, Dodge, Cadillac, Oldsmobile, CNN, Showbiz Today, VH1, E-TV, Chevy, VISA, REI, Disney

Description:
Set at the base of a beautiful glacial valley, Telluride is surrounded by 14,000-foot peaks, tapering to red sandstone headwalls and rushing waterfalls. The main street of Telluride looks much as it did 130 years, with two-story buildings lining an extra wide street.

Mountain Village, Telluride’s European-styled sister city, is a year-round resort community of hotels and condominiums accessible by car, chairlift, and gondola (year-round). Mountain Village features panoramic views of some of the most dramatic scenery in the San Juan Mountains.

Telluride has no stop lights, no four-lane highways, and no fast-food restaurants.