If you’re in search of a serene mountain town in Colorado that’s family friendly and full of activities minus all the lines crowds, check out Dolores, Colorado. Located in the San Juan Mountain at almost 7000ft elevation this quaint mountain town has a population under 1000 people. Don’t let its small size fool you though, Dolores has a big personality!
Trip Planning
Family Fun in the Colorado Mountains
Enjpy these fun family activities in Dolores, CO!
Where to Stay
We stayed at Dolores River RV Resort and Cabins by R Journey. Here is what we love about it. It’s a 3-minute drive from downtown Dolores in a picturesque setting right on the banks of the Dolores River. We enjoyed beautiful views of the rushing river and the mountains that rise almost straight up out of the water on the opposite bank. Just steps from our RV site, we spend most afternoons fishing from the dock or paddleboarding on the private pond fed directly from the Dolores River. They have full hook up RV sites, tent sites, cabin rentals, and even yurts.
What to Do
The Dolores River begins its 241 mile journey in the San Juan mountains from melted snow pack and runs right through the middle of town eventually joining the Colorado River. If you want a little more adventure than a leisurely paddle on the pond, you can book multi-day white water rafting trips, or kayaking trips with local outfitters. Dolores is only 15 minutes from McPhee Reservoir, the second largest reservoir in Colorado, known for its great hiking, fishing and boating.
If the water sports aren’t your style, there’s no shortage of hiking in the tree-covered mountains. Our favorite hike was a 35-minute drive from Dolores. The trailhead for Ryman Creek Trail is off of the highway up a short single lane road that’s easily accessible and the trail is well marked and accessible for mountain biking too.
It meanders through some of the most beautiful mountainsides on a mostly flat easy trail, meeting up with the creek in several spots. We found a few that were wide and deep enough to take a quick dip in the chilly snowpack fed waters.
There is an abundance of wildlife so keep a pair of binoculars handy. While we visited we saw, deer, elk, eagles, a bear and even heard of a mountain lion in the area. Your chances of spotting something wild are high, especially near the river.
Where to Eat
With such a small population, you would expect the dining options to be limited, but Dolores delivers with a great selection of eateries.
Italian: The Italian, a small, you guessed it, Italian restaurant located just off the main road on the first floor of a historic building. They feature Detroit style pizza, and a selection of homemade favorites like lasagna and chicken parmesan, salads and of course wine, beer, and beverages to accompany your meal.
Burgers: The Depot has been serving since 1982 featuring beef, bison, and even elk burgers with generous portions of French fries or onion rings. If you need to grab a bite before setting out on a hike, stop by for one of their breakfast burritos or breakfast sandwiches to give you more than enough calories to burn while you tackle the high mountains.
Breweries: The Dolores River Brewery serves hand-tossed pizzas nightly and hosts pop up nights weekly with fare from other local restaurants and food trucks. They have a variety of beers on tap and live music weekly, plus their gorgeous beer garden patio is dog friendly.
Day Trips
Town of Rico: Take a scenic 40 minute drive to Rico, Colorado where the town motto “A Slice of Paradise” perfectly describes this tiny historic town. It sits at 8,825 feet in elevation and feels like you’ve been transported into a village in the Swiss Alps. Though the population is only a couple hundred the views are worth a million bucks! There is a unique museum with artifacts detailing the history of Rico as a mining town. If you visit make sure to check out the 6th oldest bar in Colorado, the Enterprise Bar & Grill. Enjoy local Colorado brews and burgers at the historic bar or take in the high country views of the 12,000 ft peaks that surround the town from the outdoor patio. If you visit in the summer take advantage of movie and trivia nights, karaoke and live music.
Four Corners Monument: 51 miles Visit the exact spot where four states meet. Colorado, Arizona, Utah, and New Mexico.
Mesa Verde National Park: 34 miles Visit this National Park that has over 5,000 archeological sites of Native American dwellings, hiking trails and beautiful views.
Telluride: 64 miles Visit to enjoy world class ski slopes in the winter, or breathtaking view and gondola rides up the mountain in the warmer months.
Dolores, CO was truly a spot for our family to relax, reconnect with nature and enjoy a surprisingly wide selection of delicious restaurants. We hope you love it as much as we did!
