Another "Cool" Weekend

If your brain is starting to melt in Grand Junction, the Colorado Front Range, Texas, Oklahoma or just about anywhere else, Gunnison, Colorado, is the COOL place be!  Not only are our tempteratures pleasant, we have a weekend of great activities for you to enjoy. 

Friday and Saturday heralds the First Annual Gunny Grass Bluegrass Festival.  The Festival is being held at the I-Bar Ranch, located just on the eastern edge of the City.  The venue offers on-site camping, ample crowd capacity, a stunning setting, and most improtant - "Hot" Colorado and National Bluebrass Bands - in this fantastic COOL setting.  If you're not into camping, Gunnison offers a wide variety of lodging availablity.  For more information about the festival, go to http://ibarranch.com/gunnygrass/ 

Farmers' Market

Saturday morning, after grabbing your favorite espresso or latte and a bagel at one of the locally-owned coffe shops, head on downtown for the Gunnison Farmers' Market.  There's fresh produce, delicious and wholesome baked goods, Western Slope Colorado wines, eclectic crafts, 5-minute massages, food, live music and congenial company. The Market happens every Summer Saturday starting at 9:30am at the corner of North Main Street and East Virginia Avenue.


Mountain biking with
the Wildflowers



Saturday afternoon experience why Gunnison is the  "BaseCamp of the Rocky Mountains"  If you want to be in the beautiful outdoors, Gunnison provides just about everything you can imagine in premier outdoor recreation opportunities, from the largest lake in Colorado (Blue Mesa Reservoir) to the granite cliffs-climbing routes of Taylor Canyon to the challenging and scenic singletracks of Hartman Rocks.  If cooling off is your primary objective, kayak or raft on the Gunnison or Taylor Rivers.  You can even drag a fishing line behind your craft.



Kayak the Gunnison



After a delicious dinner at one of Gunnison's fine restaurants, discover that Saturday night is the start of the Summer Astronomy Program Series at the Gunnison Valley Observatory, located south of Gunnison across from the Hartman Rocks Recreation Area.  Saturday, June 29th is "Family Night - Astronomy 101".  Dr. Suzanne Taylor of Western State Colorado University will talk about the constellations of the summer night sky.  The www.gunnisonobservatory.org for details. 

Gunnison Valley Observatory

Observatory opens at dark (you can't see the stars until then :-) No reservations are required and there is a small donation entry fee.  Go to

On Sunday mornng, after having a hearty breakfast at one of Gunnison's fine cafes or restaurants and then playing in the great Gunnison outdoors, finish up the weekend by kicking back, relaxing and listening to the "Sundays @ 6" outdoor live-music concert at Legion Park presented by the Gunnison Arts Center.  By the end of the weekend, you will be cooled off and relaxed! 

Come on Up...We're OPEN for Visitors!

Canoeing on the Gunnison River

That's right, Gunnison is welcoming visitors.  The large West Fork Fire Complex is located well south of the Gunnison Valley - across the Continental Divide and is not affecting all of the great outdoor recreation the Gunnison Valley has to offer! 

Although Gunnison County has implemented a precautionary Stage 1 Fire Ban, effective this morning, Monday, June 24th, visitors are still able to have small campfires in established campgrounds that provide metal and concrete fire rings.  So as of now, you can still make those s'mores and sing songs around the campfire.  We just ask you to be VERY careful.  There are plenty of Forest Service and Commercial Campgrounds in the area.  If camping out isn't your cup of tea, Gunnison has lots of hotels, motels, condos, and cabins, from luxurious to rustic!  

Mountain Wildflowers



Biking in the Wildflowers

The weather is great in the Gunnison High Country.  You can fly fish, stream and lake fish, kayak and raft on the Taylor and Gunnison Rivers, rock climb, boat, swim, sail, and water ski at the State's largest lake - Blue Mesa Reservoir, road bike, trail run, hike, play golf or tennis, climb a mountain, pop some 360's on your skateboard at the Gunnison SkateBowl, mountain bike on scenic and seculded single track trails,  ride your BMX bike on the Jorgensen track, listen to toe tapping Bluegrass or Country Music at the I-Bar Ranch, jeep to ghost towns, crack rocks on old mine dumps, look deep into the night sky after dark at the Gunnison Observatory, shop for eclectic clothes and gifts, munch and slurp ice cream cones downtown, sip microbrews or fine wines, sample delicious food of all kinds from down-home BBQ to juicy steaks and seafood to Nepalese cuisine,  swim, catch a movie, or just slow down the pace and veg-out while looking at the blooming wildflowers.  Go to www.gunnisoncrestedbutte.com for more to do!  It could take you all summer! 

Come on Up - We're waiting for you! 



Blue Mesa Reservoir



Those Darn Mosquitoes!

In response to environmental concerns related to the County's use of aerial spraying to control mosquitoes, County officials have decided to discontinue aerial mosquito control spraying this summer.

However, due to the presence in  Gunnison County of the type of mosquito that can carry and spread the potentially fatal West NIle Virus, the County will redirect mosquito control resources to ground based applications.  Colorado Mosquito Control is the local contractor for this application.  They are focusing on more targeted applications this summer.

Spraying for the current season has begun and will continue until data indicates that it is safe to stop, usually around mid to late August.  To report a problem area or to opt your property out of spraying, call Colorado Mosquito Control at 641-4249. 

Help Break a WORLD RECORD!

Gunnison Parks & Recreation is teaming up the nation's top water safety and training organizations to present "The World's Largest Swimming Lesson!"  This lesson is aimed at setting the Guiness World Record and will help build awareness about the vital importance of teaching children to swim and be water safe! 


Gunnison Community Center - 200 E. Spencer Avenue

 We want YOU to join us to break this world record.  Everyone ages 3 to 100+ is invited to register, this Tuesday, June 28th, starting at 8:30am at the Gunnison Community Center.  Everyone needs to be by the pool at 8:50am.  The World's Largest Swim Lesson will be held simultaneously at aquatic facilities around the globe.  This is 9am Gunnison Time. 
For more information, call 641-8425 or 641-8427.  See you there to BREAK THAT RECORD!