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Around the Ranch
Area guide
Explore the trails just outside your door, an old mining town up the valley, and the mysticism of Mesa Verde only a short drive away.
Our team in Telluride is happy to help plan your days. Just ask.
Priest Gulch Trail
Across the roadFollows Priest Creek for 7.5 miles one way. A short out-and-back makes an easy half day, or take the cutoff for a loop of about five miles.
Bear Creek Trail
Half a mile awayCrosses the Dolores on a footbridge, then climbs. The whole thing runs 15+ miles round trip, but the first mile is a great one to do with kids. Best May through October.
Rio Grande Southern Trail
Easy · 4.7 milesFollows the old railroad grade along the river, from Rico down to the county line.
Cross Mountain Trail
Hard · 7.3 milesStarts near Rico and climbs through meadows and evergreens to above treeline, with big views of the Lizard Head Wilderness.
Petroglyph Point, Mesa Verde
Moderate · 2.4 milesA loop along the cliff edge with a close look at ancient rock art.
Prospector, Rico
Date nightHearty, local food in a historic building in the old mining town.
Fireweed
Breakfast and coffeeGood, local breakfasts before a day outside.
Fenceline Cider
Lunch or dinnerCiders made from heritage apples, plus seasonal farm-to-table plates.
Dolores River Brewery
Family dinnerCraft beer and wood-fired pizza by the river.
Dolores Food Market
GroceriesA family-run market with local produce and homemade baked goods. Stock up here, and grab lunch on the way to the river.
Telluride
Mountain townRide the free gondola, wander the shops, and catch a festival or live music in Town Park.
Durango
Railroad townTake the narrow gauge railroad to Silverton, walk Main Avenue, and ride the Animas River Trail.
Mesa Verde National Park
Cliff dwellingsSome of the most important archaeological sites in the country.
Mancos
Art and wineGalleries and working studios downtown, Mancos Brewing, and Sutcliffe Vineyards.
Dolores and McPhee Reservoir
The closest townBoating and picnics at McPhee, and the Canyons of the Ancients Visitor Center.
Rico
Old mining town19th-century buildings, wildflower hikes, and The Enterprise for a real Western bar.
Boggy Draw
About 15 minutesThe area’s favorite mountain bike trails: 30+ miles of smooth, shady singletrack in four loops above Dolores. Great for families and newer riders.
Circle K Ranch
5-minute driveHorseback rides, just down the road.
Wild West Excursions
43-minute driveGuided trail rides near Dolores and Cortez.
Canyon Trails Ranch
About an hourLonger rides out in canyon country.
Getting here
- Rico: 15 minutes up the valley
- Dolores: 30 minutes down the valley
- Telluride: about 50 minutes
- Cortez: about 50 minutes
- Mesa Verde National Park: about an hour
- Durango: about an hour and 20 minutes
- Durango (DRO) and Cortez (CEZ) are the closest airports, each about an hour and a quarter away
- Telluride (TEX) is about an hour
- Montrose (MTJ) is about two hours, with the most flights
Questions people ask
- How far is Slippery Rock River Ranch from Telluride?
About 50 minutes by car, up and over Lizard Head Pass on Highway 145. Rico is 15 minutes away. - How far is the ranch from Mesa Verde National Park?
About an hour. It makes an easy day trip, with Cortez and Mancos on the way.
- What is there to do near the ranch?
Priest Gulch Trail is across the road, Bear Creek Trail is half a mile away, Boggy Draw has 30 miles of mountain bike trails, and Circle K Ranch does horseback rides five minutes down the road. - Where is the ranch?
In the Dolores River Valley of southwest Colorado, next to the San Juan National Forest, between the towns of Rico and Dolores.
