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!

Summer (almost) Weekend

The calendar still says spring but our Gunnison activities are geared up for the summer season!
The highly successful Gunnison Growler biking events, the Sage Burner Running Races the funky townie takeover and the Gran Fondo to Mt. Crested Butte heralded the start of the summer tourist season last weekend.  The downtown businesses saw a lively weekend with their annual summer sidewalk sales.

And although you may need to batten down the hatches, small children and your pet poodle due to this late springtime wind, this weekend is shaping up to be great Gunnison summertime adventure. 


kayaking the Gunnison



Biking at Hartman Rocks

The kids are officially out of school today, so channel some of their energy and take a hike, fish on the river or Blue Mesa, paddle your duckies or kayaks at the Gunnison Whitewater Park (remember your pfd!), ride the mountain bikes on the fabulous trails at Hartman Rocks Recreation Area or the sublime trails on the VanTuyl Ranch (wear your helmet), visit the history-packed Gunnison Pioneer Museum (don't forget to ring the locomotive bell) and then take a relaxing swim at the Gunnison Community Center's Aquatics Center.

Satuday morning at 10am, head over to Jorgensen Park on East Tomichi Avenue, and have the kids participate in the FREE Youth Fishing Derby and Outdoor Sports Expo.  There's a safe shooting BB Gun Range, Smokey Bear, Wildlife Identification, an Archery Range and exhibits on wildlife and outdoor sports. Catch a lunker trout in PacMan Pond.  Fishing poles are provided or bring your favorite pole with you.   

At noon, get on over to the Gunnison City Shops at 1100 W. Virginia Avnue, for the City's Bike Auction.  It is a silent auction, so select the bike you want and write your bid on the appropriate bid sheet.  The auction closes promptly at 1pm.  No late bids!  You may find your new bike treasure among all of these unclaimed bicycles. Remember and register it with the Gunnison PD so it can be returned to you if you lose it!   


Sundays at 6 Concert at Legion Park

And to end the weekend, take your blanket, camp chair and picnic supper to Legion Park for the  Gunnison Arts Center's first of the summer "Sundays at 6" Concerts.  The Beatles Tribute Band  "Doctor Robert" will be starting off this summer's community concert series.  Kick back, meet and greet friends, and enjoy the retro-music. 

Police Center Groundbreaking

On a warm and beautiful spring morning, the groundbreaking for the City of Gunnison new Police Center took place.  With the assistance of a $650,000 grants for the Colorado Department of Local Affairs, the building will house the City's Police Department, which includes the emergency dispatch center for the entire Gunnison Valley.  The dispatch center currently resides in the basement of the County Courthouse, a building that will be demolished in the near future. 


City Manager Ken Coleman, Mayor Ellen Harriman, Mayor Pro Tem Ed Seymour, Councilor
 Bill Nesbitt and Councilor Sharon Cave at Police Center Groundbreaki9ng

 On hand for the groundbreaking were members of the City Council, City Staff, personnel from the City Police Department and Dispatch Center, County personnel and other local citizens.  The much-needed facility should be complete and occupied by the end of the year.  


Turning Dirt for the New City Police Center



Ana's Plege Bike Safety Event

The 2nd Annual Ana's Pledge Bike Safety Event for children Pre-K through 8th grade will take place this Saturday, May 4th, from 9am to Noon at Lake School, 800 N. Boulevard in Gunnison.

Registration opens at 9am closes at 11:30am.  Kids will ride the course, learn how to ride safely, obey traffic signs, and how to avoid hazards. There will also be a bike inspection station to detect possible bike defects and they can register their bikes with the Gunnsion PD.  ALL Participants must weat a bike helmet! 
Participants will receive a t-shirt, safety information, refreshments and will pledge to ride their bikes SAFELY!. 
Before the summer biking season starts in full-swing, bring the kids out for this fun and educational event.