Rico, Colorado

Top Spots in and near Rico

  • Ophir, Colorado

    Mountain Bike Galloping Goose

    The Galloping Goose Trail near Telluride, Colorado is a bike ride along what once was a historic train route. Plus it’s family friendly and the scenery is phenomenal.The starting point is at the top of Lizard Head Pass at an elevation of 10,200 feet. The scenery, from wildflowers to colorful moun...
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  • San Miguel County, Colorado

    Stand Up Paddle at Trout Lake

    5.0
    Trout Lake is large enough to provide a good cardio workout without getting crowded and small enough to tour around for hours. It's a perfect lake for SUPing with friends, SUP games, SUP yoga and even SUP fishing.
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  • Durango, Colorado

    Columbine Pass via Purgatory Flats

    5.0
    34.52 mi / 6932 ft gain
    This hike begins at the Purgatory Flats Trailhead across from the Purgatory resort. The register is about a hundred yards from the Trailhead and is located next to a trail map. From here you will begin your descent down into the flats, which is roughly a 600-700 foot descent over the course of ju...
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  • Placerville, Colorado

    Hike Wilson Peak aka Coors Peak

    4.0
    The mountain peak that turns blue when Coors and Coors Light bottles and cans are ice cold is real. No, it is not called Coors Peak. But it is in Colorado, where Coors was born. The snow-capped mountain in the Coors logo is really Wilson Peak near Telluride, Colorado.If you want to crack a Coo...
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  • Durango, Colorado

    Engineer Mountain via Cold Bank Pass

    5.0
    5.85 mi / 2293 ft gain
    We were vacationing in the San Juan Mountains for 2 weeks.  A local resident suggested the hike as a great place to see wildflowers. The "Engineer Mountain" sounded a bit too technical to be a scenic hike but we decided to hike like a local and this was one of the best hikes we did in 2 weeks. Ac...
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  • San Miguel County, Colorado

    Mystic Falls

    4.2
    2.39 mi / 138 ft gain
    I've been visiting Telluride, CO for the last 20 years, and I'd never once heard of this place. Mystic Falls is not marked on any map I've ever seen. And even some locals seem to have never heard of it. So I feel like I lucked out on this last trip to Telluride when a friend found a blog post and...
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  • Durango, Colorado

    Adrenaline Falls

    5.0
    0.43 mi / 279 ft gain
    Adrenaline Falls is a popular spot for the locals to swim and relax during the warm summer months.  The pool at the bottom of the falls is deep and popular for cliff jumping.  To get to the waterfall, turn onto the North access to Lime Creek road.  A high clearance 4x4 vehicle is recommended to ...
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  • Ophir, Colorado

    Drive Ophir Pass

    4.5
    8 mi / 2500 ft gain
    Ophir Pass (el. 11,114’), officially known as Forest Service Road #630, is one of the easiest of the high alpine trails in the San Juan mountains, but still can provide trouble to the inexperienced or when bad weather is present, particularly on the western/Ophir downhill side. The pass and road ...
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  • Hesperus, Colorado

    Summit Centennial Peak in the La Plata Mountains via Sharkstooth Trailhead

    6 mi / 2162 ft gain
    From the western end of the town of Mancos, follow CR 42 north until it enters the national forest and becomes FR 561. Go right on FR 350 and keep right at any junctions (there are two of them) until you reach the signed Sharkstooth Trailhead about 19 miles from Mancos.  Enjoy your drive through ...
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  • Durango, Colorado

    Camp at South Mineral Campground

    4.8
    Some general notes: South Mineral Campground does not take reservations - all sites are first come first served. There are an assortment of designated areas along South Mineral Road where dispersed camping is allowed so there is plenty of camping in the canyon on all but the busiest days, but y...
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  • Durango, Colorado

    Climb Fuller Peak

    3.0
    Begin by hiking the Ice Lakes Trail for 3.5 miles, which will take you to Ice Lake. From here, you can identify the obvious, delta-shaped mountain to climber's left, known as Fuller Peak (13,761ft). Hike cross country, directly toward the base of the North Ridge (right skyline), walking past Full...
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  • Durango, Colorado

    Backpack to Island Lake

    5.0
    8 mi / 3000 ft gain
    From the Ice Lakes basin Trailhead, this 8 mile round trip trail with 3000 feet of elevation gain will bring you to the Ice Lakes Basin with an abundance of beautiful lakes, especially Island Lake and Ice Lake. We camped on a little shelf above Island Lake, but you can camp anywhere you find a ni...
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  • Durango, Colorado

    Upper Ice Lake

    5.0
    6.74 mi / 2464 ft gain
    From the Ice Lakes trailhead begin hiking through a meadow that quickly enters the forest and begins to climb. The trail will climb ~1,600 feet in the next two miles. As the trail climbs there is a scenic waterfall just over .5 miles, it is worth it to scamper up for a closer look (at ~1.0 miles ...
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  • Durango, Colorado

    Explore Clear Lake

    5.0
    The road to Clear Lake offers wonderful views of the South Fork Mineral Creek, and the San Juan Mountains. Some people make the 9-mile round-trip hike with 2,600 feet of elevation gain, others drive as far as their vehicle will allow and hike from there, and some make the drive all the way up. It...
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  • Telluride, Colorado

    Explore Alta Ghost Town

    5.0
    0.5 mi
    Alta Ghost Town is located about 10 miles from Telluride on Alta Lakes Road. Take the rugged dirt road approximately 2 miles until the ghost town appears on the left. Hike up the short trail to view the remnants of the old mining town with many of the buildings still standing, including the impre...
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  • Telluride, Colorado

    Alta Lakes Dispersed Camping

    4.7
    Note: Camping is permitted around the lake. There are approximately 20 undeveloped campsites. For more information, head to the US Forest Service website. Camping Facilities20 campsites that are completely undevelopedCamping is permitted at only the designated campsitesPortable toilets are avail...
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Camping and Lodging in Rico

Cayton Campground
Rico, Colorado

Cayton Campground

Matterhorn
San Miguel County, Colorado

Matterhorn

West Dolores Campground
Rico, Colorado

West Dolores Campground

Mavreeso Campground
Dolores, Colorado

Mavreeso Campground

Haviland Lake Campground
Durango, Colorado

Haviland Lake Campground

Target Tree Campground
Dolores, Colorado

Target Tree Campground

Guides, Insights and Stories from Rico

​72 Hours in Telluride: Summer & Fall Edition

​72 Hours in Telluride: Summer & Fall Edition

Josiah Roe

The Quietest Ski Town: Silverton, Colorado

The Quietest Ski Town: Silverton, Colorado

Holly Mandarich

My Final Backpacking Trip of the Year: Blue Lakes, Colorado

My Final Backpacking Trip of the Year: Blue Lakes, Colorado

Sonja Saxe

Ouray, Colorado: A Tiny Town With a Giant History of Ice Climbing

Ouray, Colorado: A Tiny Town With a Giant History of Ice Climbing

Connor Charles