A 3 Day Itinerary for Family Fun & Adventure in Colorado’s West End
For families visiting on a long weekend we have prepared an itinerary for 3 days of fun and adventure! For your utmost enjoyment and safety, please follow these simple rules!
- Stay on designated trails and roadways – no off-trail excursions
- Plan ahead and prepare
- Travel and camp on durable surfaces
- Dispose of waste properly
- Leave what you find
- Minimize campfire impacts
- Respect wildlife
- Be considerate of other visitors
Find more information about Leave No Trace here.
Visit the West End Trash Free Coalition here.
Day 1
Breakfast
Get caffeinated at Genesis Coffee Roasters in Nucla.
Morning Activity
Bike the Burn Canyon Trails
Just a few miles Northwest of Norwood, the Burn Canyon Trail System features four different loops and nearly nine miles of easy to moderate, fun, flowing, and family-friendly singletrack. The smooth, tacky trails bounce and dart through forests of juniper, pinion, and sagebrush. The Burn Canyon Trail System is split into two different sections of loops, connected by a spur. Each loop in the system is between 1 and 2.5 miles long—perfect for young or beginner mountain bikers.
Visit the West End Trail Alliance for more information. Find printed West End Trail Maps and bike gear and services at High Country Bicycles in Norwood.
Lunch
After a morning riding the Burn Canyon Trails, visit The Divid Restaurant for a lunch break.
Afternoon Activity
Paddle Buckeye Reservoir
Grab your paddleboard or kayak and paddle Buckeye Reservoir. Tucked away in the La Sal Mountains of northwest Montrose County, the Buckeye Reservoir is a 109 surface-acre lake north of Paradox, Colorado. At 7,600 feet above sea level, the Buckeye Reservoir offers scenic camping and fishing in a seldom-seen part of the state, directly next to the Utah border
Need a rental? Check out Rimrocker Adventures.
Dinner
Get ready for day 2 with a delicious family meal from Uncle Reeds Restaurant at the Rimrock Hotel.
Evening Activity
Nucla, Naturita and Norwood are all International Dark-Sky Designated Communities. Don’t miss the special night show. Stargaze at the Pioneer Campground at Buckeye Reservoir.
Lodging
Pioneer Campground at Buckeye Recreation Area
Pitch a tent or bring your camper for the ultimate lakeside camping experience at Pioneer Campground. Don’t forget to look up at the dark sky!
Day 2
Breakfast
Start your second day off with breakfast at the Rimrock Hotel in Naturita.
123 E Main St, Naturita, CO 81422
970-865-2500
Morning Activity
OHV the Rimrocker Trail
Bring your own OHV or rent one from 3 Peaks ATV Rentals or Rimrocker Adventures and spend your morning exploring off-road.
The Rimrocker Trail is an off-road and OHV route from Montrose, Colorado to Moab, Utah. The trail traverses terrain from pine and aspen forests to rolling hills of sage and cactus. The road condition varies from regularly graded gravel to rutted dirt roads and one seasonal high water crossing. The trail winds through federal and private land, flirts with cliff sides and rolling prairie. And while some stretches may get you down, the highs are consistently breathtaking.
Lunch
After a nice morning of climbing or bouldering visit Blondies for a lunch break.
120 W Main St, Naturita, CO 81422
970-865-2222
Afternoon Activity
Hike the Dolores River Trail
The Dolores River Trail is located in a Wilderness Study Area near the small Western Colorado town of Bedrock not too far from the Utah border. The trail follows the Dolores River towards its confluence with La Sal Creek where hikers will find numerous boulders with some very old and weathered petroglyphs. The very remote location of this trail lends to its solitude with very few visitors finding their way there on a regular basis.
Visit West End Trail Alliance for more information.
Evening Activity
Play a Round of Disc Golf in Norwood
Catch the craze that’s sweeping across Colorado by giving disc golf a try. Check out Norwood’s new disk golf course, located in a field on the southern edge of town behind Cottonwood Creek Estates and the Lone Cone Library. The nine-hole course is blessed by wide-open space, all-day sun, and very few obstacles, making it a great course for beginners looking to get into the sport and enthusiasts who just want to brush up on their skills.
Day 3
Breakfast
Start your second day off with breakfast at the Rimrock Hotel in Naturita.
123 E Main St, Naturita, CO 81422
970-865-2500
Morning Activity
Horseback Riding
There is more open space in Colorado’s West End than almost anywhere else in Colorado, making it a wonderful destination for riding your horse for hours without seeing anyone else.
The area showcases 30+ trails and countless double tracks and Jeep roads for you to explore on horseback on your own or with an experienced outfitter like STB Stables out of Redvale. If you are more of a spectator, please check out events at the Nucla Rodeo Arena and the San Miguel Fairgrounds in Norwood.
Lunch
After a morning riding the Burn Canyon Trails, visit The Divid Restaurant for a lunch break.
Afternoon Activity
Take a Dip in Rainbow Reservoir
The small and local Rainbow Reservoir in Nucla is ideal for swimming, paddling, or relaxing on the shore.
Dinner
5th Avenue Grill
502 Main St, Nucla, CO 81424
tel:(970)864-2369
Evening Activity
Nucla is an International Dark-Sky Designated Community. Head to Pinto Mesa for unobstructed views of some of the best stars you’ve ever seen.
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