With miles upon miles of wide open spaces, The west end of San Miguel County is a remarkable place when it comes to getting out and staying active while social distancing. Now more than ever it’s important to remember to help give your immune system a boost by getting outside, soaking up the sun and breathing in the fresh air. Here are a few ideas to help get you outdoors while maintaining six feet of separation.
Trails, trails, and more trails!
There are numerous trail options on Wright’s Mesa and in the West End for hiking, trail running, horseback riding, mountain biking and dirt biking. From casual strolls, runs and rides at Burn Canyon and the Thunder Trail systems, to spending the day exploring, hunting for petroglyphs or rock climbing in Paradox Valley. To discover the untapped potential for trails in the West End, check out the West End Trails Alliance!
Norwood offers two main trail systems ideal for mountain biking. The Burn Canyon Trails offers friendly, fast and flowing single track riding through juniper, pinion and oak brush forest. The Thunder Trails offer more challenging single track riding through ponderosa and oak brush forests with extensive views of Naturita Canyon. To learn more about Norwood’s trails and to discover why Norwood is Western Colorado’s newest mountain biking destination, CLICK HERE!
Let the water soothe your soul!
If you love being on the water, Wright’s Mesa boasts a variety of options for boating, including motorized watercraft, rafting, stand up paddle boarding, canoeing, kayaking and even windsurfing. Miramonte Reservoir is Norwood’s largest body of water, as well as the private Gurley Lake, both of which are located South of Norwood off Lone Cone Road. For those looking for an adrenaline rush, experienced paddlers can find Class I, II and III whitewater on the San Miguel River between Telluride, Norwood and Naturita, and Dolores River from its confluence with the San Miguel River to Gateway.
Norwood offers numerous fun and exciting fishing opportunities for anglers of all skill levels. Miramonte Reservoir has been labeled one of Colorado’s best fisheries with its abundance of rainbow, brown and Snake River cutthroat trout. Looking for some river action? Tie on a fly, wet or dry, the San Miguel River provides anglers with pools and eddies full of eager trout.
Find solitude under the stars!
In February 2019, Norwood became Western Colorado’s first International Dark Sky Association dark sky community. Norwood is one of 22 International Dark Sky Communities around the world and one of the most ideal places in the country to gaze up at the stars. Stargazers, astronomers and Milky Way photographers can enjoy the night sky from virtually anywhere on Wright’s Mesa. To learn more about Norwood’s dark skies, visit norwoodcolorado.com/visit-norwood/a-dark-sky-community, or share photos, videos and resources with Norwood’s Dark Dky community on Facebook!
Skip the grocery store and go foraging!
Wright’s Mesa offers numerous options for foraging. Every spring, asparagus lovers make their migration to Wright’s Mesa to forage for delicious spears. Wild asparagus can be found growing along fence lines on county roads. Coinciding with asparagus season, morel mushrooms can be found along the San Miguel River between Norwood and Telluride. Not sure how or where to find asparagus? Click here!
Marvel at the masters of flight!
Norwood’s ideal climate and diverse landscape make it home to a vast array of bird species. Wright’s Mesa is a bird lovers paradise as numerous species travel through the area during their seasonal migration. San Miguel Canyon provides views of raptors as they hunt from their perch in the trees above the San Miguel River. Miramonte Reservoir/Dan Noble State Wildlife Area is excellent for birding with waterfowl, loons, gulls, shorebirds, waders, eagles and the endangered Gunnison Sage-Grouse.
Take refuge in the great outdoors!
While camping currently may not be allowed in Colorado’s state parks and state wildlife areas (which includes Miramonte Reservoir), there are still plenty of places to camp this spring on BLM and National Forest land.
The closest camping to Norwood is conveniently located adjacent to Norwood’s Thunder Road Trails, just outside of town. The designated free campsites are located within the first loop of the Thunder Trails and are perfect for tent, van, small RV and trailer camping.
If you’re still looking to head to the lake or into the high country, one of the best places to camp outside of Norwood is at Busted Arm Draw, just a few miles from Miramonte Reservoir. Located off Lone Cone Road (County Road 44ZS), Busted Arm Draw offers intermittent views of Lone Cone Mountain and is a great location for stargazing. Busted Arm Draw offers free camping in designated sites, suitable for tents as well as vans, RVs and trailers.
If you’re looking for the ambiance of the river to put you to sleep, there are two BLM campgrounds along the San Miguel River, located approximately 10 and 20 minutes east of Norwood off Highway 145 between Norwood and Placerville. Lower Beaver and Caddis Flats Campgrounds offer free camping within developed campsites as well as parking areas that are large enough to accommodate RV and boat trailer parking. Both Lower Beaver and Caddis Flats Campgrounds are located.
Did you know San Miguel County boasts thousands of acres of desert and canyon country? BLM’s Gypsum Valley Recreation Site is an ideal desert basecamp, serving primarily as a boat launch for the Dolores River, as well as hiking, bouldering rock climbing and OHV touring. Gypsum Valley Recreation Site features shade shelters and free camping in designated sites, suitable for tents as well as vans, small RVs and trailers. CLICK HERE to check out the best places to camp around Norwood, Wright’s Mesa and in the West End!