Our growing, diverse population has brought fantastic cultural and lifestyle opportunities to our quaint western Colorado town! You'll also find many amenities you'd expect only in a much larger city, including ballet, gourmet dining, art galleries, trendy coffee houses, arts and activities, and much more.

Fun for Kids & Family

The Montrose Library boasts a $6.1 million building, completed in 1998 and containing over 80,000 offerings.

The Montrose Recreation District (MRD) manages the brand new state-of-the-art Community Recreation Center (CRC).  This $29M, 82,000 square foot facility opened in January 2017.  It offers something for every age and interest.  Additionally, MRD manages the indoor turf Field House, a 23,000 square foot facility that opened in mid-2017. These recreation facilities are available for drop-in use and are the sites for an extensive year-round sports recreation program for children and adults and seniors.  The City of Montrose and MRD also manage and program an extensive parks and trails system, the crown jewel of which is the 282 acre Baldridge regional park, which boosts river access, a Water Sports Park, ballfields, playgrounds,sports fields, a skate park, an inline hockey rink and several ponds. The library, the CRC, the Field House and the Parks and Trails system are of very high quality which substantially adds to the wonderful Montrose quality of life.

The Montrose County Event Center, a 93,000 sq. ft. facility, opened the end of April 2018.  The 78,750 sq. ft. arena has 1,780 permanent seats available and portable bleachers to allow for up to 4,000 seats.  There are three 900 sq. ft. meeting rooms and a 5,400 sq. ft. banquet room. This will be the largest facility of its kind between Denver and Salt Lake City.

Climate

The Montrose Pavilion, our performing arts center, features a 600-seat theater and 4,000 square-foot reception hall. The Pavilion regularly hosts many well-known national artists including George Winston, Michael Martin Murphy, R. Carlos Nakai, and principal dancers from the Joffrey Ballet, the American Ballet Theater, and the New York City Ballet, as well as local productions, with over 40 events a year for local school children. 

Montrose also boasts the Magic Circle Theater, a community theater now in its 42nd season and winner of the Governors Award for Excellence in the Arts. Montrose is the home of The Valley Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, as well as the Ute Indian Museum, the Montrose Children's Museum, and the Montrose Historical Society and Museum.

Dining

Montrose restaurants offer diverse settings and menus, with everything from casual burgers and pizza to fine dining featuring entrees such as a grilled to perfection Colorado steak, Alaskan Halibut with toasted macadamia nut and crumb topping, garlic-crusted New Zealand mussels, and Elk Tenderloin with wild mushroom sauce.

Fine dining includes in-town restaurants with lush outdoor seating areas and innovative cuisine, and nearby restaurants set in the Colorado mountains with stunning views and creative menus. Unique gourmet coffee houses offer garden spots where you can relax and enjoy fresh, roasted coffee or a frozen specialty drink.

Recreation

Montrose's natural setting is breathtaking. Snow-capped peaks, cascading clear rivers, and alpine forests surround us. People travel here from all over the world to experience the majestic Rocky Mountains. The stunning San Juan Mountains are just a few miles from downtown Montrose.

The newest national park, the dramatic Black Canyon of the Gunnison, is east of town. Telluride is just over an hour away. Vail, Aspen, and Crested Butte are all accessible for a day of skiing, golfing, or a spa visit. Within a short driving distance are the Colorado National Monument, Moab, Arches National Park, Canyonlands National Park, and Curecanti Recreation Area.

Anglers can try their luck on a multitude of rivers and creeks, including the Gunnison River, one of Colorado's elite Gold Medal Trout Streams. You can bike miles of trails in Western Colorado, from alpine trails through National Forest to desert trails with views of dramatic canyons and the Colorado and Uncompahgre Rivers.

• Bureau of Land Management
• Colorado State Parks and Wildlife
• Colorado National Forest
• Colorado National Parks