In addition to boating and other outdoor recreational activities available in Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park and nearby Curecanti National Recreation Area, there are plenty of opportunities for hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, off-roading, fishing, camping, cross-country skiing, and snowmobiling on other federal lands in the area. Information is available at the Public Lands Center, 2505 S. Townsend Ave. (tel. 970/240-5300). For camping and fishing gear, bike rentals and repairs, outdoor clothing, and other outdoor recreation items and sporting goods, stop at Jeans Westerner, 147 N. Townsend Ave. (tel. 970/249-3600), with the entrance to its bike facilities around back at 120 N. Selig Ave. Biking There are more than 9 miles of paved off-street walking and biking trails in Montrose, plus numerous areas for mountain biking in nearby lands administered by the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management. A free map of city trails is available at the visitor center, chamber of commerce, and city hall (433 S. First St.); stop at the Public Lands Center for information on where to ride on BLM and Forest Service lands. You can also obtain maps, information, bike repairs, and accessories at Cascade Bicycles, 21 N. Cascade Ave. (tel. 970/249-7375), and Jeans Westerner, which also rents basic mountain bikes at $29 per day. The Tabeguache Trail -- 142 miles from Shavano Valley near Montrose, to No Thoroughfare Canyon near the Colorado National Monument west of Grand Junction -- is a popular and challenging route for mountain bikers. For information, contact the Colorado Plateau Mountain-Bike Trail Association, P.O. Box 4602, Grand Junction, CO 81502 (tel. 970/244-8877). Bikers can also use the Uncompahgre Riverway; it's eventually scheduled to connect Montrose with Delta (21 miles north) and Ouray (37 miles south). Fishing For starters, you can drop a line into the Uncompahgre River from Riverbottom Park, reached via Apollo Road off Rio Grande Avenue. Most anglers seek rainbow trout here and at Chipeta Lake, behind the Ute Indian Museum, south of Montrose. About 20 miles east via U.S. 50 is the Gunnison River, which produces trophy-class brown and rainbow trout. Golf The 18-hole Black Canyon Golf Club, 1350 Birch St. (tel. 970/249-4653), is open year-round, weather permitting. Greens fees are $23 for 9 holes and $36 for 18 holes. The Links at Cobble Creek, 669 Cobble Dr., off Chipeta Dr. (tel. 970/240-9542), is another 18-hole course with fees of $25 to $27 for 9 holes and $37 to $39 for 18 holes. Hiking The best hiking in the area is in the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, but there are also paved paths in town and plenty of trails on nearby national forest and BLM lands. These include the 4.5-mile Ute Trail along the Gunnison River, 20 miles northeast of Montrose; and the 17-mile Alpine Trail from Silver Jack Reservoir in Uncompahgre National Forest, 35 miles southeast of Montrose via Cimarron on U.S. 50. Contact the Public Lands Center for information. |
