Gunnison, Colorado, is not a resort town. No boutique hotels, no $18 cocktails, no picture-perfect main street designed to get you to spend money. It's one of the best-positioned towns in Colorado for actually getting outside. And it's why we've based ourselves in the Gunnison Valley for two summers in a row.
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Why Colorado in Summer Makes Sense for Full-Timers
We winter in Yuma. By late spring, the desert is done making suggestions. So we head north.
Gunnison, Colorado, sits at 7,700 feet. That means July feels like what June is supposed to feel like everywhere else. Open windows. Cool mornings. Actual sweater weather at night. After months in the desert, it genuinely feels like a miracle.
Kylie's orthodontist keeps us tethered to the general southern Colorado area through summer, and Gunnison fits that rotation perfectly.
Fair warning, this valley is not a pushover. Thunderstorms show up whenever they want. Fire season is real out here. Last summer, Black Canyon of the Gunnison closed before we ever made it through the gate. And everything worth doing from Gunnison sits about 45 minutes out in every direction, which sounds fine until you're doing it every single day. Mountain highway miles are not freeway miles. Budget the time accordingly.
Gunnison, Colorado: A Real Town That Actually Has Everything
Gunnison has a downtown, but don't expect the polished mountain town experience you'd find in Crested Butte or Telluride. This is a working town with Western Colorado University, real grocery stores, hardware stores, laundry, and a library that Kylie and Lexie basically claimed as their second home this summer.
We stayed at Thousand Trails Gunnison. Good hookups, easy access in every direction, and none of the resort campground nonsense. Tony picked up a workamping gig, which is a bonus. If you're searching for RV parks in Gunnison, Colorado, or a Gunnison campground with full hookups, this is the one worth looking at first.
Blue Mesa Reservoir: Colorado's Largest Body of Water
Blue Mesa Reservoir is the largest body of water in Colorado. 96 miles of shoreline, 14 square miles of open water, and it sits right alongside the highway. Blue Mesa Reservoir camping is available through the National Park Service via Curecanti National Recreation Area.
Blue Mesa Reservoir is a hot spot for anglers wanting to catch the Kokanee salmon and lake trout. You can also kayak, boat, and drive the rim roads for views that belong on a postcard.
Every Adventure You Can Reach From Gunnison
This is what makes Gunnison work as a base camp. You go a different direction every day and never repeat yourself.
Crested Butte — 28 Miles North
Crested Butte is an easy drive up Highway 135, and the scenery the whole way is amazing. We do Crested Butte as a day trip from Gunnison, but camping near Crested Butte is an option. The town itself is worth the effort, with good shops, lunch spots, and ski-town vibes.
Time it for July if you can, the wildflowers up there are next level.
Lake City — About an Hour South
Lake City is quieter, more remote, sitting at the center of some of Colorado's most dramatic alpine off-road country. We've spent a lot of time in the Lake City area across four episodes — Cinnamon Pass, Engineer Pass, San Juan County Road 2.
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park — About an Hour West
One of Colorado's most dramatic national parks, and one that earns its own episode. Some sections of the canyon only get 33 minutes of sunlight per day. We're saving the full deep dive, but it absolutely belongs on your list when you're based in Gunnison.
Off-Roading — The Full Spectrum Is Here
The Gunnison region is one of the most off-road-dense areas we've explored in Colorado. The range goes from approachable — like Rainbow Lake Road, which we've actually mapped for Trails Offroad — to serious 4x4 terrain on the Kezar Loop. And if you're not already using Trails Offroad to plan your routes, use code THEFAIOLAS for a discount, it's the tool we use every single time.
We cover all of this and more in Episode 169.
Been to the Gunnison Valley? We want to hear your favorite spot. Send us a voice message below or at thefaiolas.com/message, and we might feature it on a future episode.
Digging Links from the Podcast
Ninja NeverStick PRO Belgian Waffle Maker: The vertical design heats evenly for thick, fluffy 1-inch Belgian waffles every time. With 5 shade settings, a precision pour cup, and a NeverStick surface that wipes clean in seconds, it even handles high-sugar batters like brownie and cake mixes.
Starlink Mini — Laptop-sized and backpack-ready, the Starlink Mini brings satellite internet anywhere you roam. We have this installed on the Jeep and currently have the $50 subscription.
Tony has been digging the Anker SOLIX C1000 Portable Power Station. He's been using it to power the slow cooker, all the tech in the Jeep, and even the macerator pump when we're boondocking. If you're spending time off-grid, the Anker SOLIX C1000 deserves a spot on your wish list.
Lexie's current obsession is the Kobo Clara Color eReader. She's loving the color option for photos in her books and the speed! It's a lot faster than her old Kindle.