Southwest

(includes Montrose, Colona, Gunnison, Salida, Ouray, Durango, Pagosa Springs,
Silverton, Crested Butte, Alamosa, Crestone, Telluride)

For even more listings for Southwest Colorado, see our Free Blog

Map of this Area     Colorado-for-Free Region Map

Alamosa / Monte Vista Area

Crane Festival - festival, nature
Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve - free admission days; free entrance via Mosca, Music, Medano passes
Los Caminos Antiguos Scenic & Historic Byway - 129 miles of "The Ancient Roads" - Information link

Buena Vista

Gold Rush Days - festival, music, Burro races - Festival link

Crested Butte

Crested Butte Festival of the Arts - festival - Festival link
Crested Butte Wildflower Festival - festival - Festival link (only a few activities are free)

Crestone

Energy and Sustainable Energy Fair - guest lectures; strawbale, abobe floor and plaster demonstrations; solar, biodiesel, alternative energy demonstrations, live music - Festival link

Durango Area

Discovery Museum at the Powerhouse - museum in the making - free tours 1st & 3rd Friday of each month - Museum link
Iron Horse Bicycle Classic - bicycle vs. Narrow Gauge train race - Event link
San Juan Skyway drive - 236 miles of some of the most beautiful scenery in the world - Map & Info
San Juan Mountains Assoc. - guided hikes, llama treks, ski & snowshoe tours - Programs link
SnowDown - festival
Vallecito Lake Tour of Carvings - art / self-guided tour

Grand Junction

Free Wine Tasting - 2 to 7 PM on Fridays and Saturdays at Crossroads Wine & Spirit - business link

Gunnison

Curecanti National Recreation Area - free admission, but there is a boat fee to go out on Blue Mesa Reservoir. Camp at Gateway at the extreme south end of the Lake Form Arm of Blue Mesa, and you won't spend a cent either! Enjoy some hiking or even a dip in the cold waters (look for designated wake-free areas, and be careful not to get hypothermic!) Birds and wildlife are plentiful, so bring a camera and binoculars. - National Park link

Mancos

Mancos Old Time Fiddlers' Contest - information link

Montrose / Colona

Harmony Park - music playground
Ray's Good Stuff - free jerky samples (varieties of beef, turkey, buffalo, elk, and other jerky)
Russell Stover Candies Factory Outlet - free candy samples

Ouray

Ouray Ice Park & Ouray Ice Festival - ice climbing; competition
Rotary Park Ice Skating Rink - bring your own skates - Ice Rink link

Pagosa Springs

Colorfest Wine & Cheese Tasting, Balloon Rally, & Community Picnic - Event link

Salida

FIBArk Whitewater Festival - recreation (spectator) - Event link
Salida Art Walk - art - Event link

Silverton Area

Kendall Mountain Recreation Area - free ice skating, XC ski trails, snowshoeing, sledding

Telluride

Telluride Free Box - free stuff in a box
Telluride Gondola - free scenic ride - Gondola link 1, Gondola link 2