Montrose Real Estate and Attractions
Montrose is a town of about 16,000 people located at an elevation of 5,800 feet. Due to its altitude it experiences four seasons of relatively mild weather and a host of outdoor activities all year long.
Montrose was initially founded as the transportation hub for supplies to the nearby mining towns. After mining desisted, agriculture became the main economy for this town located in the fertile Uncompahgre Valley.
The Gunnison Tunnel was constructed in 1909, providing water via a canal to the Uncompahgre River from the Gunnison River, augmenting irrigation and making it possible for a large agricultural community to exist. The canal also provides many recreational opportunities, including kayaking (surfing on the “M Wave”) and swimming.
An abundance of parks and trail systems can be found in the city of Montrose. There are 26 developed parks, 118 acres of open space and 24 miles of paved trails.
One of the more popular amenities is the Uncompahgre RiverWay Trail, a 6.2 mile path (Montrose area only) that is open to biking, inline skating, fishing, horseback riding, hiking, cross country skiing and it has wheelchair access. In the future the trail will run all the way to the town of Ouray.
Montrose is only 15 miles west of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. The Black Canyon is 2,700 feet deep and 55 miles long and offers numerous year-round activities, including fly-fishing, hiking, canyoneering, hunting and rock climbing.
Like in the mining days, the city of Montrose is the commercial and transportation hub of the area. It is where Southwestern Colorado residents go to do major shopping, enjoy cultural events and activities, see movies and appreciate fine dining. Centrally located, Montrose is only 27 miles from the town of Ridgway, 64 miles from Telluride and 47 (road) miles from the City of Ouray.
The Montrose Library, a $6.1 million building, houses 80,000 books. The Montrose Pavilion, a 600-seat convention center and theatre, hosts well-known performances throughout the year. Other draws include the community Magic Circle Theatre, The Valley Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, the Ute Indian Museum, the Montrose Children’s Museum and the Montrose Historical Society and Museum.
Montrose Regional Airport is the airport located closest to Telluride, and open year-round. It sees heavy winter traffic due to its proximity to the world-class skiing in Telluride, and because it offers direct flights from several large metropolitan areas. Another reason Montrose Regional Airport is popular is because flights to Telluride Regional Airport are frequently rescheduled or delayed due to weather conditions, and it is less expensive than flying to Telluride. Grand Junction Regional Airport is also located in nearby Grand Junction, Colorado.
A small town with big town amenities, in Montrose you can have the best of all worlds. Close to innumerable outdoor activities, magical views and reasonable prices, Montrose is the ideal place to purchase real estate and properties in Western Colorado.
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