Bureau of Land Management
Most of the southern portion of Gunnison County falls under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Land Management, including the singletrack hub of Hartman Rocks Recreation Area. Tons of mountain biking, rock climbing, hiking, OHV and back road exploration are possible on BLM managed lands in the Gunnison Valley.
U.S. Forest Service
The United States Forest Service (USFS) maintains most of the public lands in Gunnison County. Gunnison National Forest is home to a large quantity of singletrack that visitors and locals enjoy. They also steward five Wilderness Areas in Gunnison County: Maroon Bells-Snowmass, Fossil Ridge, the Raggeds, the West Elk Mountains and Collegiate Peaks.
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
The National Park Service manages two large parks in the area. Curecanti National Recreation Area encompasses the length of the Blue Mesa Reservoir, Colorado’s largest lake, and offers excellent boating and fishing.
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park is also in the area. It is one of the deepest/narrowest gorges in the world. From either rim you can stare straight down 2000′ to the roiling waters of the Gunnison River. It has monstrous trout, Class V and VI whitewater, and some of the biggest multi-pitch routes in the west. It’s also one of the most stunning places you could visit. The Park Service also maintains a Visitor Center. You can drive to overlooks on the South Rim and North Rim.
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