Visit Ridgway CO

Visit Ridgway CO Look closer, stay longer. 🏔️ (This page is managed by a handful of community volunteers and is not managed by any one particular organization).

Ridgway, Colorado is a creative, community-centered mountain town and basecamp to the San Juans — rich Western history, a certified Dark Sky community, and a thriving creative district. Ridgway boasts ideal base-camp positioning in the very heart of Southwest Colorado – the Gateway to the San Juans ! Ridgway is located at the virtual apex of the San Juan Skyway – the most famous and scenic byway i

n America. Our wrap-around views are SPECTACULAR and Ridgway enjoys the clearest night skies possibly in all of Colorado. Ridgway was the birthplace and headquarters of the Rio Grande Southern Railroad and is now the home of the Ridgway Railroad Museum. Located at Hwys 550 and 62. ( Admission is always FREE ). Railroading remains the # 1 hobby in America. Ridgway is also the home to Orvis Hot Springs. Orvis was the historic, sacred hot springs of the Ute Indians. It offers several pools, is “swimsuit optional”, very clean and beautifully landscaped. There are a number of other public, natural hot springs pools in the area as well. Just one mile south of Ridgway on Hwy. 550. Ridgway and its local mountains and valleys have been a favorite setting for Hollywood’s classic western movies. Many film sites, buildings, props and embellishment may still be seen in and around Ridgway. Among those movies filmed in the area were: “Tribute to a Bad Man” and “How the West Was Won” – in which the old RGS Railroad Depot (still standing in Ridgway) was transformed into the “Independence Hotel”. In 1968, Director Henry Hathaway turned Ridgway into Fort Smith, Arkansas for the filming of “True Grit”, starring John Wayne, Glen Campbell, Kim Darby,Robert Duvall & Dennis Hopper. Ridgway boasts the infamous Ridgway State Park and Reservoir – Colorado’s #1 favorite – with year-round camping; yurts available for rent; a swim beach and marina. Deer, elk and bald eagles in the tree tops are a common sight along the reservoir and the Uncompahgre River feeding into it. Entrance to the park is just 9 miles north of Ridgway on Hwy 550 and is disability accessible throughout. Come check us out!

🎨✨ FIRST FRIDAY IS BACK, RIDGWAY! ✨🎨Mark it, circle it, tattoo it on your calendar — Friday, September 4th is First Frid...
08/31/2026

🎨✨ FIRST FRIDAY IS BACK, RIDGWAY! ✨🎨
Mark it, circle it, tattoo it on your calendar — Friday, September 4th is First Friday Art Walk, and downtown Ridgway is about to get delightfully weird (in the best way). 🖼️🍷

Here's the lowdown on where to wander:
🖌️ First Friday Art Walk — Galleries, studios & retail spots throw open their doors downtown starting at 5pm. Bonus: stroll & shop this summer for a shot at a $100 gift card to your fave local biz. 👀💸

🧵 610 Arts Collective — Catch the opening reception for Bonnie Bucknam's "UNSCRIPTED: Fiber Improvisations" — an internationally exhibited quilt art that says "no rulers, no rules, just vibes." 5-7pm.

⚡ Space to Create Gallery — "Electric Badlands" by Spencer Fuller drops neon paint all over the Old West mythology. High-voltage color meets cowboy grit. 5-8pm.

🏺 Rootwings Art at Herran House — Ceramics, oils, ravens, crows, jewelry & fantasy nudes, oh my. Eclectic doesn't even cover it. 5-8pm.

✊ Decker Community Room — The Social Justice Travel Exhibition opens with five artists tackling the big stuff — division, human rights, borders, womanhood — through bold mixed media. 5-8pm.

🎤 The Sherbino — Donny Morales brings his "soul-acousti-funk" to the Living Room stage. Cash bar, cozy vibes, tips encouraged. 6-8pm.

Ridgway in September = tiny mountain town, huge creative energy. Come for the art, stay for the funk, leave with a $100 gift card (fingers crossed).

📍 Full details, maps & times: OurayRidgwayEvents.com and https://www.ridgwayfuse.org/firstfridays
See you downtown! 🏔️🎨🍻

08/27/2026

An honest look at what this summer has been like for Chipeta Lodge Resort + Spa, and why showing up still matters. "It's wonderful to have people back".

Ridgway, your week just got loaded. 🏔️✨Music people — good news, you don't have to choose just one night. Dave Jordan ki...
08/26/2026

Ridgway, your week just got loaded. 🏔️✨

Music people — good news, you don't have to choose just one night. Dave Jordan kicks off the weekend at Colorado Boy, The Fabulous Blues Tones and Western Medicine keep the groove going at Floating Lotus, and by the time Darrell Scott takes the Sherbino stage Saturday (yes, THE Darrell Scott — Grammy-nominated, Americana royalty), you'll have danced your way through half the town. 🎸🍺

Art lovers, this town is basically one big open gallery right now. Wander into Roots & Rhythms at Space to Create, catch the 610 Arts Photography Invitational before it wraps Aug 28, or let T-Bone's glorious cardboard chaos hit you at the Decker's BIG BOX show. 🎨🖼️ If you like your art hands-on, join the Creative Space: Artist Salon Series.

Prefer your endorphins earned the hard way? Saddle up for Yoga in the Park, sweat it out at Functional Fitness, or toss your way to co****le glory at the Singles Mixer (singles as in not already in a team, not the “What’s your sign” way). 🧘‍♀️

History buffs: channel your inner Rooster Cogburn on a True Grit Walking Tour (Fri, 3pm, free!) or hop the rails on a free train ride at the Railroad Museum. 🚂🤠

Back-to-school jitters? Cure them with clowns. Literally — Final Friday: Clowning Around turns Voyager into certified clown school for the middle & high school crew (Aug 28). 🤡

And because Ridgway apparently never runs out of ways to gather you outside — there's bluebird-spotting and pollinator talks at the State Park too. 🦋🐝

This is the highlight reel, not the whole show — there's a LOT more happening. Get the full scoop, times, and locations at OurayRidgwayEvents.com. See you out there. 👓

08/26/2026

Orvis Hot Springs has long been a sacred place of healing for the Tabeguache band of the Utes, who lived in the Uncompahgre River valley before Mexican and European settlement. Here's what Will wants you to know after the Gold Mountain Fire: Visiting Orvis and the community at large allows us to keep jobs available, and preserve this sanctuary for years to come.

Come visit Orvis Hot Springs, and stay in the beautiful lodging, tent campsites, or RV sites! Learn more at https://orvishotsprings.com/

08/24/2026

Ridgway is OPEN, and we wanted you to hear it straight from the people who run this town's businesses.

The Gold Mountain Fire brought heavy smoke into our valley this summer and kept a lot of visitors away, even though our downtown, our trails, and our shops never stopped being ready for you.

Over the next couple of months, we're sitting down with local business owners to hear directly from them, one conversation at a time. Big thanks to the Ridgway Colorado Area Chamber of Commerce for helping make these happen. First one's coming soon. Follow along.

🏔️Ridgway's Next Ten Days Are Booked, Busy, and Kind of a Big DealTen days, one unmissable Darrell Scott show, and a who...
08/22/2026

🏔️Ridgway's Next Ten Days Are Booked, Busy, and Kind of a Big Deal
Ten days, one unmissable Darrell Scott show, and a whole lot of reasons to not stay home.

🪕Let's start there: Darrell Scott — Grammy-nominated, Nashville Songwriter Hall of Fame-nominated, the guy who wrote "Long Time Gone" — plays a solo show at The Sherbino on August 29. This is the kind of night you build a whole trip around.

🎸 But don't just show up on the 29th. The Colorado Boy Depot's got a live-music streak all week long — Ridgway Wrecking Crew, Dave Jordan, Old Man Polly, and Alpine Jam are all taking the stage. Add the Fabulous Blues Tones getting mojos working at Floating Lotus, plus karaoke at Steps Tavern, and your evenings are spoken for.

🏃‍♂️‍➡️Rise-and-shiners: lace up for the 11th Annual Log Hill Hustle Sunday morning — 5k, 10k, San Juan views, free breakfast at the finish.

🎭Feeling theatrical? The Sherbino is casting its Rocky Horror Picture Show: Live Shadow Cast Edition— no experience required, just courage. Auditions Sunday.

🪶Hands-on types, don't miss Hands on History: From Quills to Qwerty at the Ranch History Museum — try writing with an honest-to-goodness quill.

🧑‍🎨And creatives should swing by Creative Space: Artist Salon Series at the Decker, where local artist Julia Reid leads a hands-on artist talk and demo. Materials are provided; bring food or drinks to share.

🎪Middle and high schoolers, Voyager's Final Friday has your name on it — free food, games, and a little clowning around (literally).

🦇Ridgway State Park's summer series keeps rolling too — bats, bluebirds, pollinators, and a full-moon deep-dive.

🎨Art lovers: the 610 Arts Photography Invitational, PAWS' Asian-themed gallery show, T-Bone's cardboard wonderland, and Roots & Rhythms — all free to wander.

🌈The full, glorious lineup lives at OurayRidgwayEvents.com — check before you double-book yourself into three good times at once.
See you out there. Bring layers.

🏔️ Ridgway Rundown: Aug 17–23 — Come For One Thing, Stay Them All Summer's still showing off in Ridgway, and this week's...
08/17/2026

🏔️ Ridgway Rundown: Aug 17–23 — Come For One Thing, Stay Them All

Summer's still showing off in Ridgway, and this week's lineup has something for the volunteers, the night owls, the yogis, and the folks who just want a cold beer and good tunes.

🎬 Monday kicks off with a little community sweat equity — grab your gloves for a TOPS Volunteer Work Day, then wind down under the stars at Movie Mondays in Hartwell Park (Top Gun, 8:30pm — bring blankets, snacks, and your best Maverick impression).

🎵 Tuesday brings new energy to Cora Street with live music at Colorado Boy Depot.

🎤 Wednesday is a double dose of zen and grit: Yoga in the Park at the gazebo, followed by Open Mic Night at Floating Lotus Brewery — because nothing pairs better with a vinyasa stretch than a stranger's surprisingly good cover of Fleetwood Mac.

🎸 Thursday the Motel Prophets roll into Floating Lotus with folk-rock grit and mountain-town charm.

🎙️Friday things get loud — Ridgway Wrecking Crew hits the Depot stage.

🪗 And Saturday is a full sensory buffet: The Courtyard at 610 hosts a can't-miss co-headlining night with Flagship Romance + The Rough & Tumble — two duos, one tour, and a whole lot of harmony, Ridgway State Park teaches you the secret lives of pollinators, and the Fabulous Blues Tones bring the mojo to Floating Lotus.

🎨 Meanwhile, the galleries are quietly stealing the spotlight all week: catch the 610 Arts Photography Invitational, the Asian-themed show at PAWS for Art, and Roots & Rhythms at Space to Create.

🏔️ This town doesn't do "slow week."
Get the full scoop — times, locations, and everything we didn't have room to brag about — at OurayRidgwayEvents.com.

Come to the Ouray County Fair August 13-15!🐰🐐🐔🐖 Come see local youth's best rabbits, goats, chickens, and other farm ani...
08/12/2026

Come to the Ouray County Fair August 13-15!

🐰🐐🐔🐖 Come see local youth's best rabbits, goats, chickens, and other farm animals.
🍰🍷🎨Drool over delicious baked goods, wines, needlework, art, and photos in the Open General Projects category.
🥩If you're looking for some locally-raised beef, pork or lamb for your freezer, attend the livestock sale on Saturday, Aug. 15th at 2pm.

Make it a day or weekend and enjoy delicious food, galleries, and time outdoors. Ridgway's door is open. Come on in!

https://events.ourayridgwayevents.com/event/ouray-county-fair-202

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Ridgway, CO
81432

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