Community

Montrose is one of Colorado's best-kept secrets. Situated in southwestern Colorado, it is the hub of the Western Slope of the Rocky Mountains. Picture the scenic mountains, valleys, canyons, mesas, lakes and rivers, plus all the recreational activities that accompany these natural wonders like hiking, biking, horse riding, skiing, boarding, fishing, hunting, camping, boating, sailing, 4-wheeling, snowmobile riding, snow-shoeing, rafting, kayaking, climbing, backpacking, and more, it doesn't take long to discover why people love living here.

Montrose lies at an elevation of 5,794 feet above sea level in the Uncompahgre Valley. The picturesque 14,000-foot San Juan mountains are to the south; 10,000-foot Uncompahgre Plateau, one of the longest plateaus in the world, frames the sunsets in the west; 10,000-foot Grand Mesa, the largest flat-top mountain in the world, looms to the north and The Black Canyon of the Gunnison, with the tallest cliff in Colorado, is to the east. These surrounding mountain barriers protect the valley from violent storms that batter other parts of Colorado. The climate is semi-arid, with low humidity, loads of sunshine and mild summers with minimal snow accumulation in the city in the winter. The growing season is approximately 150 days. With a yearly average of 227 to 274 days of sunshine, the Montrose area is truly a four-season playground.

Many folks who have visited the area return year after year or relocate here to enjoy the small-town friendly atmosphere and relaxing lifestyle Montrose provides. Although small in size (the city of Montrose population is approximately 13,000 and the county has a population of 35,000) there are many amenities typical of a larger city such as The Montrose Regional Airport, The Pavilion auditorium & conference center, Montrose Memorial Hospital, Senior Center, Aquatic Center, athletic clubs, golf courses, driving ranges, many fine dining & casual restaurants, Magic Circle Community Theatre, the new Library, Mesa State College, Vo-Tech Center, drive-in movie theatre, 2 cinemas with 5 screens, bowling alley, Recreation District, city parks, bike paths, hotels, B&Bs, Historic Downtown District, the Ute Indian Museum, Balloon Festivals, County Fairgrounds, great retail shops, big box stores like Walmart & Home Depot, not to mention close-by attractions like the Hot Springs and ice climbing park in Ouray, Telluride's world-class resort, Crested Butte & Powderhorn ski resorts, Colorado's largest body of water - Blue Mesa Reservoir, Ridgway State Park and Reservoir, Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, Curecanti National Recreation Area, numerous festivals in close proximity to Montrose and millions of acres of National Forest and BLM land that are all here for your enjoyment.