Things To Do in Dolores, CO
- BSHL
- Apr 10
- 4 min read
Dolores is a fun little town along the Dolores River in Montezuma County. It's home to about a thousand residents, and while you might think there's not a whole lot to do, we would beg to differ. Did you know the Dolores is called Colorado's year-round playground? It's perfect for outdoor enthusiasts, local shopping, and dining, and you're just minutes from Fantastic places like the Mesa Verde National Park, Sand Canyon, the Ute Mountain Casino, Canyon of the Ancients National Monument, Summit Lake, Crow Canyon Archeology Center, and much more. Even though it's a small town, its natural beauty and charm are perfect for folks who want to get away, explore Colorado, or even choose a permanent home.
However, there are a lot of folks who choose Dolores for a second home or vacation property as well. There are tons of things to do year-round, such as the boggy draw trail system, hundreds of miles of biking and hiking trails across the country, skiing and snowmobiling in the winter, camping, hunting, and fishing. Here are some of our favorite things to see and do in Dolores, Colorado.
This beautiful display of Pueblo architecture and artifacts is a major landmark in Dolores. Whether you're getting a glimpse into history or simply quietly reflecting on the serenity of the location, this outdoor museum is home to over 6,000 archaeological sites. These historic Treasures are unrivaled throughout the country, spanning over $176,000 Acres. It offers well-preserved remnants of Native American cultures, ruins of homes and shrines, and monuments dating to the era of the ancient Puebloans. Explore the canyon of the ancients to see how ancestral people lived and adapted to the American Southwest. This is also home to gorgeous isolated Canyons with incredible ruins and spans of trails, and it is a great spot for off-roading, biking, camping, and hiking. It's definitely something to explore if you're in Dolores.
The Geyser Spring Trail is one of the hidden gems in the San Juan National Forest. While it's not Old Faithful, it's still extremely impressive. It's the only true Geyser in the state, and if you hang around long enough, you might actually see it erupt as the sides of the pool spill over into the little creek nearby. Take the newly constructed bridge across the river, two and a half miles and 500 FT elevation up the hillside to explore this unique geyser and hot springs.
Now, you might not think that a rock is one of Dolores's main attractions, but surprisingly, it's so big that they just had to turn it into a landmark. This unique feature looks like it has dropped right out of the sky and is quite an unusual focal point in town. In 2019, after thousands of years of freeze and thaw cycles, the wide cracks on the cliff above the road gave way, and a large piece of the rock weighing in at about 8.5 million pounds tore an 8 ft swath in the highway and settled on the shoulder. This Rock was too heavy for explosives to clear it and instead, the Department of Transportation literally just rebuilt the road around it., well it might not be something to sit and Ponder at, it's definitely a landmark to drive by.
Just outside of town, you'll find 75 miles of well-maintained trails ideal for mountain bikers. There are different levels of difficulty as they weave through Meadows and forests. It's ideal for hikers, bikers, motorcyclists, horseback riders, and even off-road vehicles less than 50 in.
The McPhee Reservoir is the largest in the San Juan National Forest and the second largest in Colorado. It offers 50 miles of Shoreline with a campground, boat ramp, fishing options, Trails, and bike routes. This is our place to recoup and recharge on the weekends.
Dolores has a fantastic Train Museum and Gift Shop. It's home of the Galloping Goose number five, the centerpiece of the museum. This is a great way to explore the history of the Rio Grande Southern railroad. There's a miniature train layout of Dolores in the 1940s, special events and exhibitions throughout the year, and a fabulous little gift shop to remember your visit.
Dining in Dolores
Dolores also has a few restaurants such as Lindo Michoacan for fantastic burritos and tacos, Kelly's Kitchen, offering a great breakfast and lunch, the Montezuma Mexican restaurant, with patio seating and fantastic Margaritas, the Italian, for pizza and pasta, and the Dolores River Brewery, a hotspot for locals after a hard day on the river.
So you see, there's a lot of things to do, see, and explore in Dolores. Whether you're here visiting, you've newly moved here, or you're considering a move to the Dolores real estate market, we'd love to show you around. If you're looking for Dolores homes for sale, feel free to contact our office or browse all available listings here.
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