Page 591 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - USA

C OL OR ADO  589

to view ancient rock art. Camping } Ouray Hot Springs Pool Building (see p83). Although the
and wildlife viewing (including US Hwy 550, at the northern end of park’s northern edge is more
foxes, mountain lions, and elk) Ouray. Tel (970) 325-7073. Open isolated, it has a campground and
are among the other activities. Memorial Day–Labor Day: 10am– offers magnificent sunset views.
In winter, cross-country skiing 10pm daily; rest of the year: noon– Climbing is a popular
and snowshoeing are popular. 9pm Mon–Fri, 11am–9pm Sat & Sun. sport in the park, as is hiking,
Closed major hols. & camping, and fishing.
E Chapin Mesa Archaeological ∑ ourayhotsprings.com Among the many trails is one
Museum Y Box Canyon Falls & Park particularly difficult one that
Tel (970) 529-4631. Open Nov–Feb: S of Ouray via County Rd 361 & US descends to the canyon’s floor.
9am–4:30pm daily; Mar & Oct: 9am– Hwy 550. Tel (970) 325-7080. Visitor The park’s varied wildlife includes
5pm daily; Apr–Sep: 8am–6:30pm daily. Center: Open early May–mid-Oct: a variety of birds such as the
8am–8pm daily; rest of the year: 8am– peregrine falcons who nest on the
dusk. Visitor Center: Closed mid-Oct– canyon’s sheer walls. Wildcats and
early May. & bears also roam the vast park.

* Black Canyon of ( Colorado National
the Gunnison Monument
National Park W of Grand Junction via I-70 or 7 miles
(11 km) S of Fruita on US Hwy 340.
E of Montrose via US Hwy 50. Tel (970)
641-2337. Open 24 hrs daily (North Tel (970) 858-3617. Open 24 hrs daily.
Rim Road closed late Nov–mid-Apr). Closed Dec 25. Visitor Center:
& 7 ∑ nps.gov/blca Open summer: 8am– 6pm; winter:
9am–4:30pm daily. & 7
∑ nps.gov/colm
Square Tower House, Mesa Verde Though not as vast as Arizona’s
National Park Grand Canyon (see pp530–33), the Carved by wind and water over
Black Canyon is strikingly deep the last 225 million years, this
with steep sides. The canyon was immense 32-sq-mile (83-sq-km)
& Ouray created by the Gunnison River national monument has been
as it slowly sliced through solid molded into an eerie high
* 1,000. n 1230 N Main, (970) 325-
4746, (800) 228-1876. stone for two million years. Its desert landscape of spectacular
∑ ouraycolorado.com north and south rims have canyons, and red sandstone
completely different ecosystems arches. A driving tour on the
Nicknamed the “Switzerland of and are separated by a crevice 22-mile (35-km) Rim Rock Drive
America” for its resemblance to a 2,400 ft (732 m) at its deepest offers splendid panoramas,
village in the Alps, Ouray lies 80 point and just 40 ft (12 m) at while numerous trails lead into
miles (128 km) north of Durango. its narrowest point. the heart of the landscape.
It was named after the Ute chief The South Rim Road The park’s two geological
whose people hunted in the meanders for about 7 miles highlights are the incredible
area before gold and silver (11 km) past several overlooks, sandstone arches of Rattlesnake
prospectors esta blished the including a fantastic vista of a Canyon, and Miracle Rock,
town in 1876. Today the entire multi-hued rock face known as which is considered to be
town is listed on the National Painted Wall, which is twice the the largest balanced rock in
Register of Historic Places, a height of New York’s Empire State the world.
testament to the number of
well-maintained 19th-century
structures here. Two natural
wonders – the massive
geothermal-powered Ouray Hot
Springs Pool, and the stunning
Box Canyon Falls, which
cascades 285 ft (87 m) down a
natural cliff-side chute – are
easily accessible from the town.
Ouray is also on the San Juan
Skyway, a 236-mile (380-km)
loop that includes the “Million
Dollar Highway” to Silverton.
Its surrounding wild-lands lure
rock- and ice-climbers, four-
wheel-drive enthusiasts, and
other outdoors adventurers. The dramatic desert landscape of Colorado National Monument

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