Town of Nucla - A Vacation Destination to Trails and Adventure

970-864-7351

Scenic Byways and Drives Fishing ATVing, UTVing, and Offroading Jeeping and Offroad Vehicles Activities, Tourist Attractions Activities and Fun Things to do Hunting Snowmobiling 

Dark-Sky viewing area, Colorado

People hiking up redrock trail in Nucla, Colorado. Photo Credit: Rob Growler
Vacation Destination -- Trails, Wildlife, Solitude - Your Adventure Hub -- Hike, Mountain Bike, Off Road, Snowmobile, Wildlife Viewing, Hunting, Fishing, Rock Climbing
 


NUCLA
Where the Road is Sometimes Blocked by Cattle and Cowboys

Stand-Up Paddle Board, Fish & Canoe The San Miguel River

A secluded little town on the North side of the San Miguel River and nestled in the southwest mountains of Colorado. Explore the San Juan mountain range to the southeast, the La Sal mountain range to the west and the Uncompahgre Plateau to the north. We are an old west frontier where you can ride your horse or your tractor to town and to church and no one blinks an eye.

TRAILS FOR MOTORIZED AND NON-MOTORIZED USERS: The West End boasts hundreds of miles of old and often rough two track trails in a wilderness setting with few restrictions. Motorcycles, E-Bikes, UTVs, ATVs and most off road vehicles will enjoy exploring the rugged West End. Nucla serves as the hub for traveler on the spectacular 160 mile RIMROCKER TRAIL from Montrose to Moab. Miles of single track trails are available for hikers, horseback riders and mountain bikers offering a unique and quiet backcountry experience. The West End is waiting for you to discover its hidden places rich in challenging terrain, stunning vistas and a chance to experience the quiet awe of a Colorado few have seen.

HIKING: We are surrounded by mountains, deserts and public land, so the hiking is amazing! Here are two trails that offer hikers a taste of the area. The Indian Trail (Forest Trail #500) is a primitive trail that travels through the Tabeguache Area. A 9.6 mile trail offers spectacular views of red rock cliffs in the Tabeguache Creek drainage as it descends 800 feet from Pinto Mesa to the creek bottom. The Tabeguache Area Trails is a 7-mile trail system near Nucla and rated moderate. Tabeguache Creek begins on the Uncompahgre Plateau. The trail's main fork slopes down quickly into a steep-walled canyon of red Wingate Sandstone, while the North Fork takes a more leisurely route, winding 5 miles through vibrant aspen forests before it dips into a red sandstone cliff canyon.

SNOWMOBILING: 97 miles of groomed snowmobile trails in UNCOMPAHGRE NATIONAL FOREST with easy access to a large parking lot for trailers. Located on 25 Mesa Road, just outside of Nucla; parking depends on snow levels; West End Sledders, Colorado Snowmobile Association, gives snow conditions.

HORSE BACK RIDING: Easy access to equestrian trails, plenty of parking for trailers or just ride from Town. The newly built, town owned, Nucla Rodeo Arena is complete and ready for open riding and events. There also pens with water and trailer parking on site. Call Town Hall: 970-864-7351 | Spring/Summer Events: Nucla Round Up & Tabeguache Trail Riders Gymkhana Series

ATV-UTV on Rimrocker Trail in Nucla, Colorado. Photo Credit: Rob Growler
Rimrocker Trail -- 160 Miles of Dirt -- the West's Most Stunning Scenery -- Redrock Canyons, Winding Rivers, Desert, Forests
Mountain biker on Shamrock Trail in Nucla, Colorado. Photo Credit: Rob Growler
Trails and Adventure -- Mountain Bike Shamrock Trail to See "Hanging Flume" -- Singletrack Intermediate to Expert -- 9 Mile Loop
 

FISHING: Anglers preferring to fly-fish cast your line in Naturita Creek, San Miguel River, Hamilton Creek, Dry Creek, Big Bucktail Creek, Little Bucktail Creek, Forty-seven Creek, Shavano Creek, Cottonwood Creek, Campbell Creek and North Fork Tabeguache Creek.

HUNTING: Colorado Hunting units 61 and 62 are known for their trophy Elk. So whether you're hunting Elk, Mule Deer, Black Bear or Mountain Lion, plan for an action packed hunt in this remarkable Colorado landscape. Local guides are plentiful and ready to make your hunt a once in a lifetime experience.

BIRD WATCHING: The Uncompahgre Plateau has some of the best ponderosa pine forest in the state; the Plateau also features aspen woodlands, shrub lands, mountain meadows and coniferous forest. We suggest a drive on Divide Road off of Hwy 141 . . . In pinyon-juniper woodland you will find Juniper Titmouse, Virginia's and Black-Throated Gray Warblers, and Pinyon Jay. As you rise in elevation you will encounter ponderosa woodland featuring Williamson's Sapsucker, Grace's Warbler, Green-Tailed Towhee, and Pygmy Nuthatch. Our aspen forests are next with Purple Martin, Red-Naped Sapsucker, and Flammulated Owl. The Plateau meadows attract Mountain Bluebird, Vesper Sparrow, and Ruby-Crowned Kinglet.

COTTONWOOD & TABEGUACHE CAVES: Tabeguache Cave best known for the archaeological work of Clarence Thomas Hurst in the 1940s. The cave was a rock shelter for the Tabeguache Puebloans long before Europeans settled the area. Cottonwood Cave was occupied as early as 270 BC, this large rock shelter is the site of the earliest dated corn found in Colorado. This cave is about 10 miles northwest of Nucla.

LOCATION: Nucla, Colorado is along the Unaweep Tabeguache Scenic and Historic Byway Highways 141 & 97; it the part if Colorado known as West End.

DRIVE TIMES: Nucla is a 1 hour drive northwest of Telluride; 1-1/2 hour drive east of Moab, Utah; 2 hour drive south of Grand Junction; 3 hour drive northwest of Durango; and a 5-1/2 hour drive southwest of Salt Lake City, Utah. It's about 6 hours from Denver, Colorado Springs, and Pueblo, Colorado along with Flagstaff, Arizona and Albuquerque, New Mexico. Heading out from Fort Collins, expect a 7 hour drive southwest to Nucla.

ADDRESS: 320 Main Street, Nucla CO 81424

PHONE: 970-864-7351 -- For Current Event Dates; and a Visitors Guide: mention the Colorado Vacation Directory.

 

FACILITIES

FUN THINGS TO DO

  • Open Dates For On-Site Activities: All Year

Primarily Year Round Activities

  • National Forests & BLM Lands: On site.
  • Designated Historic District, Site or Plaza: On site.
  • Designated Scenic/Historic Byway: Along the scenic byway.
  • Designated Hiking Trails: Trails start on site.
  • Restaurant(s): On site.

Primarily Summer Activities

  • Fishing in River, Stream or Creek: On site.
  • Jeep Trails: Trails start on site. (off road, back country, 4WD, Jeep, or jeeping).
  • 4-Wheel Drive Sales & Services: On site. (off road, back country, 4WD, Jeep, or jeeping).
  • ATV (All Terrain Vehicles) and/or Dirt Bike Trails: Trails start on site.
  • ATV (All Terrain Vehicles) and/or Dirt Bike Rentals: On site.
  • Mountain Bike Trails: Trails start on site.

Hunting

  • Hunting in Area: On site.
  • Guided Hunts: Yes.
  • Drop Camps: Yes.
  • Rifle Hunting Season: Yes.
  • Archery Hunting Season: Yes.
  • Muzzle Loading Hunting Season: Yes.
  • Bird Hunting (Turkey, Grouse, Pheasant): Yes.
  • Deer Hunting: Yes.
  • Elk Hunting: Yes.
  • Bear Hunting: Yes.
  • Mountain Goat Hunting: Yes.
  • Colorado Hunting Units/Areas: 61, 62, 63, 64

Winter Activities

  • Snowshoe Trails: Trails on site.
  • Snowmobile Trails: Trails start on site.

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Established 1980 | ©Copyright by The Colorado Directory, Inc. This is a directory only; it is not and does not contain a recommendation, warranty, guaranty, inducement or endorsement of any kind. Representations herein were supplied by the individual businesses. The publisher, The Colorado Directory, Inc., does not assume any responsibility for truth, falsity or completeness of any representation made herein or any errors, changes, services rendered, or changes made in the use of this directory. This information was compiled as accurately as possible. Prices and services are frequently subject to change. Errors called to the publisher's attention will be corrected in the future. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form or by any means, without permission in writing from the publisher.