While driving along the beautiful Blue Mesa Reservoir, be sure to take note of the Dillon Pinnacles on the North shore but as you come the end of the reservoir your detour begins. You’ll turn left onto Hwy 92 and enjoy a short drive along the TOP of the damn. Depending on the time of year, you may witness the power of the water being released from the reservoir as it flows into the Gunnison River and on toward the Black Canyon.
Curecanti National Recreation Area provides no less that three different hiking areas and features a diversity of habitat, scenic vistas, wildlife and wildflowers. Trails are available for all ability levels and you’ll catch glimpses of the Black Canyon as the elevation rises. Surrounded by scrub oak that quickly gives way to lush aspen forests you’ll want to keep your camera handy because deer and bears are often spotted.
Watch for the sign that tells you that you’re in “Crawford Country” and just down the road from Maher you’ll see a sign on your left directing you to the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. This is the NORTH Rim of the park and well worth a detour from your detour. Rugged, with limited services, and ample access to the inner canyon - the North Rim is the quieter, more primitive side of the park. Roads and trails along the north rim have views of the Black Canyon's dramatic drops and the striated Painted Wall cliff, popular with rock climbers in early spring. There are 5 overlooks you can visit by car from the Chasm View Nature Trail (1/3 mile round trip) you have excellent views of Painted Wall and Serpent Point. Be sure to wave to the crowds on the South side of the canyon, they are only 1100 feet away but with a spectacular canyon between you.
Once back on Hwy 92, you’re just a short drive to Crawford State Park. This is a popular playground for the folks in the North Fork Valley. The park provides facilities for camping and picnicking along with the friendly folks at the Ranger Station. Crawford State Park invites anglers, boaters, hikers, and water sports enthusiasts to take advantage of the facilities. In the winter, you could enjoy a nice afternoon of cross-country skiing or ice fishing when the temperatures drop. It is a great place to take a break and enjoy all kinds of recreation and stunning scenery year-round.
As you leave Crawford State Park, heading North, be sure to notice the Needlerock off to your right. Needle Rock is an intrusive of rhyodacite volcanic plug located 3.5 miles east-northeast of the Town of Crawford. There are private property parcels around the base, but there is a 0.8 mile BLM trail that more or less rings the Needle.
Just around the bend from the Needlerock siting you enter the Town of Crawford, the southern entrance to the North Fork Valley. It’s a tiny town, reminiscent of the old West and well worth a stop to stretch your legs. You’ll find lodging at the Stone House Inn and the folks at the Hitching Post Hotel and Farm Store would be happy to offer a room and/or information on the area. They also offer laundry facilities and showers.
If you’re hungry do what the locals do and stop at Diamond Joe's for lunch or dinner. Down-home food, welcoming decor, a friendly staff, and reasonable prices explain Diamond Joe's popularity. Tuck into a Navajo Taco, and don't pass on the pie!
Get a taste of Crawford Country's history in its cemetery, behind the Crawford United Methodist Church. Its spreading trees and beautiful mountain views make it a great place for a stroll. The oldest part of the cemetery, directly behind the church, contains the resting places of the Hermit of Hubbard Creek, Reuben (Rube) Dove (d. 1926) and Dick Wilson, the first man buried in Crawford Cemetery (circa 1890) "after being gored by a bull on a ranch in Smith Fork." Look out for several obelisk-style headstones with doors in their sides that display funeral cards for the deceased. Rock legend Joe Cocker is also buried in this section.
Crawford's municipal offices occupy the former Crawford School, which has been restored in recent years to its original condition. The grounds surrounding the Hall offer tables under the spruce trees where you can enjoy a picnic and a playground where the kids can burn off some energy before you all pile back into the car.
Cell phone reception in Crawford Country can be dicey. The parking lot of the Crawford Library, adjacent to Town Hall, is your best bet for checking the bars on your phone and making a call before you hit the road. You can also access free wi-fi from here, whether or not the library is open.
Once you leave the Town of Crawford, you’re headed toward the “heart of the North Fork Valley”. Hotchkiss and Paonia, the other towns that occupy the Valley, are known for their organic farms, high altitude wineries, The Paonia Creative Arts District and a plethora of healing practitioners that contribute to our healthy lifestyle. You’ll soon realize that there’s much more to explore in our Valley and that the detour that you took might just be…The Best Detour in the West.
Curecanti National Recreation Area provides no less that three different hiking areas and features a diversity of habitat, scenic vistas, wildlife and wildflowers. Trails are available for all ability levels and you’ll catch glimpses of the Black Canyon as the elevation rises. Surrounded by scrub oak that quickly gives way to lush aspen forests you’ll want to keep your camera handy because deer and bears are often spotted.
Watch for the sign that tells you that you’re in “Crawford Country” and just down the road from Maher you’ll see a sign on your left directing you to the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. This is the NORTH Rim of the park and well worth a detour from your detour. Rugged, with limited services, and ample access to the inner canyon - the North Rim is the quieter, more primitive side of the park. Roads and trails along the north rim have views of the Black Canyon's dramatic drops and the striated Painted Wall cliff, popular with rock climbers in early spring. There are 5 overlooks you can visit by car from the Chasm View Nature Trail (1/3 mile round trip) you have excellent views of Painted Wall and Serpent Point. Be sure to wave to the crowds on the South side of the canyon, they are only 1100 feet away but with a spectacular canyon between you.
Once back on Hwy 92, you’re just a short drive to Crawford State Park. This is a popular playground for the folks in the North Fork Valley. The park provides facilities for camping and picnicking along with the friendly folks at the Ranger Station. Crawford State Park invites anglers, boaters, hikers, and water sports enthusiasts to take advantage of the facilities. In the winter, you could enjoy a nice afternoon of cross-country skiing or ice fishing when the temperatures drop. It is a great place to take a break and enjoy all kinds of recreation and stunning scenery year-round.
As you leave Crawford State Park, heading North, be sure to notice the Needlerock off to your right. Needle Rock is an intrusive of rhyodacite volcanic plug located 3.5 miles east-northeast of the Town of Crawford. There are private property parcels around the base, but there is a 0.8 mile BLM trail that more or less rings the Needle.
Just around the bend from the Needlerock siting you enter the Town of Crawford, the southern entrance to the North Fork Valley. It’s a tiny town, reminiscent of the old West and well worth a stop to stretch your legs. You’ll find lodging at the Stone House Inn and the folks at the Hitching Post Hotel and Farm Store would be happy to offer a room and/or information on the area. They also offer laundry facilities and showers.
If you’re hungry do what the locals do and stop at Diamond Joe's for lunch or dinner. Down-home food, welcoming decor, a friendly staff, and reasonable prices explain Diamond Joe's popularity. Tuck into a Navajo Taco, and don't pass on the pie!
Get a taste of Crawford Country's history in its cemetery, behind the Crawford United Methodist Church. Its spreading trees and beautiful mountain views make it a great place for a stroll. The oldest part of the cemetery, directly behind the church, contains the resting places of the Hermit of Hubbard Creek, Reuben (Rube) Dove (d. 1926) and Dick Wilson, the first man buried in Crawford Cemetery (circa 1890) "after being gored by a bull on a ranch in Smith Fork." Look out for several obelisk-style headstones with doors in their sides that display funeral cards for the deceased. Rock legend Joe Cocker is also buried in this section.
Crawford's municipal offices occupy the former Crawford School, which has been restored in recent years to its original condition. The grounds surrounding the Hall offer tables under the spruce trees where you can enjoy a picnic and a playground where the kids can burn off some energy before you all pile back into the car.
Cell phone reception in Crawford Country can be dicey. The parking lot of the Crawford Library, adjacent to Town Hall, is your best bet for checking the bars on your phone and making a call before you hit the road. You can also access free wi-fi from here, whether or not the library is open.
Once you leave the Town of Crawford, you’re headed toward the “heart of the North Fork Valley”. Hotchkiss and Paonia, the other towns that occupy the Valley, are known for their organic farms, high altitude wineries, The Paonia Creative Arts District and a plethora of healing practitioners that contribute to our healthy lifestyle. You’ll soon realize that there’s much more to explore in our Valley and that the detour that you took might just be…The Best Detour in the West.