Ridgway, Colorado

Ridgway, Colorado, USA
3434
Listing Type : Town
State or Province : United States / United States / Colorado
Population : 1000
Visitor Centre/Info Address : 150 Racecourse Road, Ridgway, Colorado 81432
Highway or Route #s : 62, 550
Visitor Info Phone : 800-220-4959
Visitor Info Email : info@ridgwaycolorado.com
Official Website : https://ridgwaycolorado.com
Local Accommodations : Hotel, Lodge, Campground, RV Park
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Ridgway Colorado is a small town of about 1000 residents situated at a junction of valleys on the Uncompahre River in Ouray County southwestern Colorado. Often called Gateway to the San Juans, Ridgway offers beautiful vistas in every direction.

Starting out as a railroad town it served as a supply point for the nearby mining towns of Telluride and Ouray which are now immensely popular tourist destinations. Both Telluride and Ouray are a short drive (37 Miles and 10 miles) from Ridgway making Ridgway an ideal base for visiting them. You can also benefit from lower accommodation prices when staying in Ridgway.

Ridgway offers plenty of things to see and do on its own. Interestingly, the town was slated to be flooded to create a reservoir, but in 1975 it was decided to build the proposed dam further downstream, thus saving the town. 

Today, the land around the reservoir is Ridgway State Park a popular recreation area just north of town. The park has 3 campgrounds, plenty of hiking trails and opportunities for bird watching and viewing wildlife.

At the north end of the reservoir there is a beach and a marina, a perfect area for summer fun and water sports.

The surrounding mountains and nearby towns offer unlimited opportunities for hiking, mountain biking, off-road adventures, kayaking, canoeing and more.

Every July visitors and locals can enjoy the free outdoor Ridgway concert series. These free, family-friendly concerts are held every Thursday on the Western slope.

On a weekend in mid August the Ridgway Rendezvous features bands and other live entertainment on the stage in Hartwell Park located in the center of town.

The town also has a live theatre venue, the Sherbino Theater where bands and musicians and other entertainers perform throughout the year.

The critically acclaimed Western, True Grit, released in 2010, was filmed in the town and surrounding area. You can look for some of the film locations with the help of a printed guide from the Visitor Center or, on Fridays at 11am, you can join a guided walking tour from the same location.

Ridgway has two museums, The Railroad Museum and Ouray County Ranch History Museum where you can learn more about the areas rich history.

Be sure to stop by the Old Firehall across from Hartwell Park on N Lena Street to checkout the antique fire truck parked in front and the giant carving of a bald eagle in the adjacent lot. You will also want to stop by the Hags Ranch Lengends of the West Rodeo film site.

If you are looking for golf, the Divide Ranch 18 hole golf course is just four miles north of town.

Area Activities and Attractions
Aerial Sightseeing
Art Gallery
Beach
Boating
Camping
City Park
Craft Brewery
Cycling
Dancing
Dining
Farmers Market
Fishing
Golf
Heritage Building
Hiking
Historic Site
Horseback Riding
Hunting
Lake
Live Music
LIve Theatre
Mountain Biking
Mountains
Museum
Nightlife
Off-Roading
Picnics
River
Shopping
Sporting Events
Swimming
Viewpoint
Walking
Water Sports
Wilderness Park
Wildlife Viewing
Winter Sports