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In the Vicinity
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park (North Rim) is a half-hour drive from Mirador, and offers views and trails to an amazing chasm, as well as basic campsites with no electricity or hookups. At nearly 3,000 feet deep, the Black Canyon is the third deepest canyon in the US, carved over two million years through 1.8 billion year-old metamorphic rock by the river now called Gunnison. Thousand year-old junipers and huge piñon trees, rare native wildflowers, and abundant wildlife add to the splendor of the park. The North Rim is one of the least visited areas of any US National Park, and offers solitude, awe, and exceptional stargazing: it was certified as an International Dark Sky Park in September 2015.
Grand Mesa
Claimed to be the largest flat-topped mountain in the world, Grand Mesa offers hundreds of square miles of conifer and aspen forests, lakes and fishing, campgrounds, wildlife, history, and stunning mountain views, as well as prime Nordic skiing in winter.
West Elk Scenic Byway
The West Elk Scenic Loop passes through Crawford, Gunnison, Crested Butte, Paonia, Somerset, and Hotchkiss, with a spur through Redstone to Carbondale, and access to the historic town of Marble. Providing access to several each of national forests, rivers, state and national parks, mountain ranges, and wilderness areas, this loop samples the best natural beauty and culture that western Colorado has to offer.
Music and Culture
The North Fork Valley features a homegrown public radio station, a Colorado Creative District, an art theater, numerous galleries, music festivals, wineries, organic farms and orchards, and a dedicated farm-to-table cuisine culture.
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