Montrose Colorado

Montrose Colorado is a beautiful town in one of the most striking geologic areas of the State of Colorado. It sits as the “gateway” to the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, which is to the east of town, and has the San Juan Mountain range to the south. Nearby is the spectacular Curecanti National Recreation Area and the Blue Mesa Reservoir and Morrow Point Dam. The Blue Mesa is the largest body of water in Colorado as well as the largest Kokanee salmon fishery in the U.S. There is absolute natural beauty and drama in every direction you look. As the county seat, Montrose has enjoyed a long existence and was known as an agricultural hub after the Gunnison Tunnel was constructed to provide irrigation water to the Uncompahgre Valley.

More Town Facts

The town of Montrose was incorporated in 1882 and later that year, the Denver & Rio Grande railroad came through this town, building the railroad line to Grand Junction. That helped the area to become a regional shipping center. Currently, Montrose has a seasonally busy Regional Airport which brings travelers from all over to visit and ski at nearby Telluride. The area of Montrose has a semi-arid climate and doesn’t see much snowfall or precipitation, but has an abundance of Colorado sunshine. The wildlife is abundant and many people enjoy summer camping, biking, hiking, off-road adventures, horseback riding, hunting, fishing and more. Scenic drives are easy to find as the region is full of interesting and historic areas. When the colors of autumn begin, it’s a spectacular show.

A point of interest is the visitor center; located just off Highway 50 on the access road to Morrow Point Dam, 20 miles east of Montrose. Standing at the base of the Morrow Point Dam is an amazing look at a piece of Colorado history. This was the first double curvature (arch) dam built in the United States, standing at 468 feet tall. The dam’s primary purpose is hydroelectric power generation. Other interesting areas include the Old Spanish National Historic Trail, the Ute Indian Museum and the Montrose Botanic Gardens. Come visit Montrose Colorado and see for yourself what you’ve been missing.

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