What is it like to live in the Rocky Mountains on Colorado’s western slope? One might ask, “What is it like to live in Gunnison, Colorado?”
Gunnison County is an outdoor wonderland unmatched in its beauty and outdoor activities. Gunnison County consists of 2.1 million acres of high alpine heaven, with a whopping 1.6 million acres of public land. That’s right. 77% of Gunnison County is public land!
The town of Gunnison is located at 7,703 ft and has a population of 6,500. Gunnison County has a population of 17,000, or 123 acers per person.
The Gunnison Basin experiences long, warm summers that start in late May and end in October, with temperatures peaking around 85 degrees in July. Because Gunnison is a basin, surrounded by magestic 12,000 – 13,000 foot mountains, the cold air settles into the basin on winter nights, which can drop temperature below -20 F
In Gunnison, you will find the friendly welcome of neighbors who greet you when you walk down the street. This family-focused town is also a playground to the children who roam freely through its beauty.
Although remote, Gunnison boasts a number of amenities usually only found in much larger towns. The Gunnison Airport puts Denver within 30 minutes. Gunnison Valley Hospital provides comprehensive care. Gunnison is also the home of Western Colorado University.
Gunnison is a popular destination for a multitude of outdoor activities including camping, mountain biking, fat biking, skiing, snowboarding, fly fishing, ice fishing, elk hunting, rock climbing, dirt biking, atv exploration, and more.
Some of the beauty of Gunnison is captured in our photo tour below.
If you have more questions about what it is like to live in Gunnison, Colorado, our experts are here to answer questions.
Christmas Tree in Gunnison, Colorado
Wildflower Festival in Crested Butte, Colorado
Western Colorado University in Gunnison, Colorado
Mountain Biking in Gunnison, Colorado
Mountain Biking in Crested Butte
Fat Biking in Gunnison, Colorado