The
Wet Mountain Valley, bordered by the Sangre de Cristo Mountains to the
west,
lies in southern Colorado just over the Front Range.
With
peaks rising to over fourteen thousand feet, including the famous Crestone
Needle, the Sangre de Cristos were declared a Wilderness Area in 1993.The range offers spectacular hiking and
climbing opportunities in summer, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing in
winter, and a beautiful vista year round!
Visit during the summer months for one of our
annual festivals: Jazz in the Sangres, High Mountain Hay Fever Bluegrass
Festival, the Westcliffe Stampede, or Western Days.
The Sangre de Cristo Wilderness area offers endless recreation opportunities:
mountain climbing including several 14ers such as the famous Crestone Needle
wilderness backpacking and hunting
fly fishing and ice fishing
mountain biking
family firewood cutting
designated trails for snowmobiles & motorbikes
The Wet Mountain Valley is an ideal place to live, whether as a long-term employee of Greenleaf or a summer intern:
Westcliffe and Custer County are just enough isolated from the big cities to enjoy the mountains and have far fewer people than other parts of Colorado . . .
. . . but close enough to go for an evening or for shopping trips in Canon City, Salida, Pueblo and Colorado Springs--home of Pikes Peak and the Air Force Academy
The school system is small and wonderful, provides close attention to kids, and has brand new facilities with a new high school and new high school gym.
EXPERIENCE THE
COLORADO MOUNTAIN
FORESTRY LIFESTYLE!
Nearby tourist attractions include: Lake DeWeese, Bishop's Castle, Bear Basin Ranch horseback riding, and somewhat further afield, Great Sand Dunes National Park, Monarch and Copper Mountain Ski Resorts, the Salida hot springs pool, 4x4 jeep trails near Buena Vista, the Royal Gorge, and more!
Whether you want to hike, wander through town, attend a cultural event, or just relax, the Wet Mountain Valley has something to offer you!
