The bridges on Hwy. 50 between Gunnison and Montrose are now OPEN 24/7 with pilot cars. Learn more here.

Community Values

Small towns. Big adventures.

The community in the Gunnison Valley is small and tight knit. Many of the people who live here are passionate about the outdoors. They want this place and the people who live here to thrive. Living in a rural mountain community has challenges, but much of the community finds it worth it. Learn more about living in the Gunnison Valley with information on cost of living, quality of life, public lands and infrastructure. Read about real estate and rentals to learn more about housing. If you’re looking for a local job or want to attend school, read about the workforce, the public schools and Western Colorado University.

COME FOR THE OUTDOORS, STAY FOR THE COMMUNITY

More Than Just A Ski Town

The people and community are a big part of why many people choose to live here. One way to experience it is by attending a local event. Join the community for costume contests, ski races, live music, art workshops, gallery showings and more. 

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Community Values in Action

Gunnison Crested Butte is the kind of place where people value their community and work hard for it. Volunteering is part of the culture here. From trail work days to events like the Alley Loop or the Gunnison Growler, so much of what we accomplish here is truly a labor of love often powered by volunteers.

Residents, both year-round and part-time, contribute their time and resources to support dozens of non-profit organizations in the Valley. The local public school system is a top-ranked district staffed by caring, engaged teachers. Locals engage with governments at all levels and, especially locally, collaboration and pragmatism tend to be the name of the game.

Arts & Heritage

art sculptors

The Gunnison Valley is teeming with arts and culture. The Gunnison Arts Center and the Center for the Arts Crested Butte are the homes of performing and visual arts scenes in the Valley. There are also private venues, intimate indoor ones to large outdoor venues, throughout the Valley that offer places for acts of all sizes to perform. Museums to visit, music festivals, concerts and an independent film festival every fall round out the arts and culture scene in the Gunnison Valley.

Residents in the Gunnison Valley can enjoy music throughout the year at numerous venues in Gunnison, Crested Butte and Mt. Crested Butte. The music scene really kicks off in summer. In August, the town boasts numerous art galleries and open-air sculptures and is the host of the nationally recognized Crested Butte Arts Festival each August.

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Restaurants, Bars and Eateries

three friends dining inside
The Gunnison Valley is home to some of the best food per capita of any place in Colorado. Restaurants run the gamut from fine Italian dining to farm-to-table food trucks and pretty much anything else you want to sink your teeth into.
Each of our four mountain towns have something unique to bring to the able. 

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More Community Stories

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