Summer on Wright’s Mesa
Norwood is the hidden gem of Colorado for its abundance of summer activities. Norwood is an ideal location for outdoor recreation with its mild climate giving way to warm summer days and cool nights. With thousands of acres of BLM and National Forest public land, featuring varying terrain from high desert to rugged mountains and everything in between, Wright’s Mesa is the ultimate playground for outdoor lovers and enthusiasts alike.
Photo by Nola Svoboda
Hiking & Climbing
Norwood provides numerous options for hiking, trail running as well as mountain and rock climbing. From casual strolls or quick runs along the Burn Canyon and Thunder Trails systems to all day excursions climbing the 12,614 ft Lone Cone Mountain and the 14ers within the Wilson massif. Spend the day hunting for petroglyphs or rock climbing in Paradox Valley, or spend the weekend backpacking through the Uncompahgre and San Juan National Forests. Norwood’s centralized location between desert canyons and the San Juan Mountains make it an ideal base camp for exploration.
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Photo by Nola Svoboda
Mountain Biking
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. Additional biking opportunities can be found on National Forest roads around Lone Cone Mountain. To learn more about Norwood’s trails and to discover why Norwood is Western Colorado’s newest mountain biking destination, CLICK HERE!
For more information, please visit:
Horseback Riding
The Uncompahgre and San Juan National Forests, as well as BLM land surrounding Norwood provides hundreds of miles of trails ideally suited for horseback riding. The trails surrounding Wright’s Mesa travel through grassy meadows, juniper, pinion and ponderosa, aspen and pine forests, and offer stunning views of Lone Cone Peak and the Wilson Range. Horse camping is readily available and easily accessible along National Forest roads.
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Hunting
Norwood is central to a handful trophy hunting units including the famed big game trophy units 61 & 70, and offers adventures for every level of sportsman. Surrounded by thousands of acres of public and private land, Wright’s Mesa offers hunters trophy elk and mule deer, black bear, mountain lions, big horn sheep, turkey, waterfowl and small game. Local hunting guides and outfitters offer a variety of options for big and small game hunting expeditions.
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Photo by Linda Avery
Paddle Sports
If you love being on the water, Norwood offers a variety of options for stand up paddle boarding, canoeing, kayaking and even wind surfing. Options for paddling on Wright’s Mesa include Miramonte Reservoir, 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 and Dolores Rivers between Telluride and Norwood, Naturita and Gateway.
(US Coast Guard laws requires one PFD per person on board at all times. Children 13 and under are required to wear a PFD.)
For more information, please visit:
- San Miguel River / Dolores River boating info
- San Juan SUP Co.
- Telluride Outside
Camping at Busted Arm Draw. Photo by Nola Svoboda
Camping
There are numerous options for camping near Norwood and around Wright’s Mesa, most of which are designated as free camping areas. Enjoy camping with river access along the San Miguel River, or camping under the wide open sky at Miramonte Reservoir. Other options include camping in designated areas along the Thunder Road trail system, Busted Arm Draw off Lone Cone Road (44ZS), or within the Uncompahgre National Forest. CLICK HERE for a list of best places to camp around Norwood!
For more information, please visit:
- GMUG National Forest
- Miramonte Reservoir/Dan Noble State Wildlife Area
- San Miguel River BLM Camping Information
Audubon & Bird Watching
Norwood’s ideal climate and diverse landscape make it home to a vast array of bird species. Norwood sits along one of 54 Colorado Birding Trails, known as the Uncompahgre Trail. Wright’s Mesa is a bird lovers paradise as numerous species travel through the area during their seasonal migration. San Miguel Canyon provides a 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.
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Photo courtesy of Rimrocker Trail
ATV, OHV & Off-Road
Wright’s Mesa and the area surrounding Norwood offers hundreds of miles of BLM and National Forest roads and trails ideally suited for dirt biking, ATV and OHV, 4×4 and jeeping. Norwood’s Thunder Trails feature fast and flowing singletrack trails. The nearby Rimrocker Trail, which passes by Norwood along the Uncompahgre Plateau, provides 160 miles of 4WD, ATV/OHV and bicycle travel between Montrose, Colorado and Moab, Utah.
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Photo by Nola Svoboda
Fishing
Norwood offers numerous fun and exciting fishing opportunities for all types of anglers. Summer or winter, Miramonte Reservoir has been dubbed one of the best fisheries in the state with its abundance of rainbow, brown and Snake River cutthroat trout. Tie on a fly, wet or dry, the San Miguel River provides anglers with pools and eddies full of eager trout. Just visiting or looking to grow your fly fishing skills, hire a guide and learn the tricks of the trade!
For more information, please visit:
- Miramonte Reservoir / San Migiuel River fishing info
- Telluride Outside
- Ice Fishing At Miramonte Reservoir
Photo by Nola Svoboda
Boating & Rafting
The San Miguel River sits just below Norwood and Wright’s Mesa and offers Class I, II and III whitewater, perfect for experienced rafters. There are several river access points between Telluride and Naturita with Norwood centrally located. Numerous raft companies offer both half and full-day trips during the spring and summer snow melt season. For those looking for a more scenic desert canyon river trip, the Dolores River offers beauty and excitement from the Confluence of the San Miguel all the way to the Colorado River.
(US Coast Guard laws requires one PFD per person on board at all times. Children 13 and under are required to wear a PFD.)
For more information, please visit:
- San Miguel River / Dolores River boating info
- Telluride Outside
- Bootdoctors
Foraging
Wright’s Mesa offers numerous options for foraging. In the spring, wild asparagus can be found growing along ranch fence lines on county roads, while morel mushrooms can be found along the San Miguel River. Summer’s bounty offers a variety of wild plants including; strawberry, raspberry, thimbleberry, chokecherry, gooseberry, elderberry, wild rose, and pine nuts. Mushroom hunters rejoice in the early fall as wild mushrooms, including the prized golden chanterelle can be found covering the forest floors.
For more information, please visit:
The constellation Scorpio over Lone Cone Mountain. Photo by Brady Barkemeyer, courtesy of The Norwood Post
Astronomy & Star Gazing
Norwood is Western Colorado’s first dark sky community. Having been designated an International Dark Sky Community by the International Dark-Sky Association, Norwood is now part 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 can sit back and enjoy the night sky from anywhere on Wright’s Mesa, with the darkest skies and brightest stars being near the base of Lone Cone Peak and Miramonte Reservoir. To learn more about Norwood’s Dark Sky designation, CLICK HERE!
For more information, please visit:
Winter on Wright’s Mesa
Situated on Wright’s Mesa between the San Juan Mountains and Colorado’s canyon country, Norwood Colorado is perfectly poised as a winter wonderland that just so happens to receive plentiful dousings of snow. For all you snow lovers, Wright’s Mesa has plenty of activities to keep you busy all winter long. What makes Norwood a winter wonderland? Click here to find out!
Photo by Nola Svoboda
Nordic Skiing & Snowshoeing
The Norwood Nordic Association grooms and maintains the Busted Arm Draw trail system located 13 miles South of Norwood off Lone Cone Road. With 2.3 miles of groomed trails for classic and skate skiing, and 4.9 miles of non-groomed cross country routes, the Busted Arm Draw trails make for the perfect outing for the whole family, as well as for those looking get their fitness on.
For more information, please visit:
Photo courtesy of Telluride Outside
Snowmobiling
Wright’s Mesa offers riding for everyone! If you’re looking for wide open spaces, expansive meadows and rolling hills, miles upon miles of groomed trails, deep powder and face shots, you will love snowmobiling around the Lone Cone and Beaver Park areas. CLICK HERE to read more about snowmobiling around Norwood.
For more information, please visit:
Photo courtesy of Poison Spider Bicycles
Fat Biking
Looking for a truly backcountry riding experience? Norwood offers ample opportunities for fat biking on Wright’s Mesa with Lone Cone Mountain and Beaver Park being the destination of choice. Trails are maintained and groomed by snowmobile throughout the winter.
Photo courtesy of Telluride Tourism Board
Sleigh Rides
Dash through the woods and fields of snow with Telluride Horseback Adventures. Get cozy under warm blankets and take in the surrounding mountain views. The sleigh holds up to 10 people and is perfect for friends and family. To reserve your sleigh ride in Norwood, visit https://www.ridewithroudy.com/sleigh-rides/