Montrose

The largest town in this part of Colorado, Montrose is a great place to base yourself for a naturalist expedition to the Gunnison Basin, the northern San Juans, or the Grand Mesa or Uncompahgre Mesa. Right in town, the best birding is along the bike trail that follows the river, which winds through some nice riparian deciduous forest that can have numerous migrant birds in spring and fall and breeding species like Black-headed Grosbeak in summer.

County: Montrose

Habitat: Urban/Suburban, Pond/Lake/Reservoir, Lowland Riparian, Stream

Directions: Montrose is along US 50 between Grand Junction and Gunnison. To get to the north end of the river trail, from US 550 (S Townsend Ave) in Montrose, head west three blocks on East Oak Grove Road and turn right (north) onto S Rio Grande Ave. Turn left onto Apollo Drive and follow it to the parking lot at the end.

Delorme: 66 A2-A3
Roads of Colorado: 98 C3

Dates of Access: Open all year
Hours: Any
Ownership: Municipal/private
Admission: Free

Restrictions: None

Parking: Paved parking lots
Lodging: Hotels in town

Handicapped: No
Handicapped Access: Part of river trail is paved, part gravel

Latitude: 38.467585
Longitude: -107.877181