Gunnison KOA

Tucson/Lazydays KOA
Tucson, AZ
July, 2016

Joe and I spent the month of July at Gunnison KOA and my how the time flew.  Traveling with three pups often presents issues and not one time has any KOA ever denied us our fence (for the pups to sit out with us at the MH) or limited the number of canine dependents we can have.  We found this KOA to be clean, friendly, and a great location for all the places we wanted to explore.  

Jack enjoyed the fenced in doggie park.  Playing ball is the highlight of his day...well, except for eating, cuddling, sleeping, laying in the sun, and aggravating his sisters.












 Dover and Sally, on the other hand, were perfectly content to lay in the cool, green grass at our site enjoying the breeze, the birds and the sunshine.

 Gunnison KOA reminds me of our camping days with our children and grandchildren.  I can't deny there were lots of families enjoying the cool weather just like we were.  

Camp fire smoke filled the evening air, with lots of laughs as families gathered around fire pits roasting hot dogs and marshmallows...all sweet memories for me ! 

RV sites are arranged so that you and your neighbor are facing each other.  Not my favorite, but it turned out that most people set up their seating area in front/back of their RVs.  Joe and I were surprised at how we didn't feel cramped or like we had to "visit" with the neighbors.  Everyone was polite and respectful.  Lots of open space and shade.     

There is a large tent area in the center of the campground.  It was full the entire time we were there.  

 The grounds are well maintained. KOA Dave, owner, is visible and either on the mower or helping someone all day long.  The roads in the park are not paved, but they are sprayed with water several times during the day to keep dust from becoming a problem. 






 Now might be a good time to mention that the KOA is also home to several farm animals.  The animals are old, and well kept.  I shutter to think where they would be if not here.  Not to worry, we did not have to hold our nose while we enjoyed sitting out...not one time did we get a stinky smell.  

Norman's barn is next to the doggie park.  I laughed so hard at Sally the first time she heard him moo.  She stopped dead in her tracks and tilted her head this way and that way trying to figure it out.   In addition to Norman there is Bossie,  a donkey, a mule, shetland ponies, a hog and a billy goat...  all pets of KOA Dave and his family.  A totally great experience for all the kids visiting !

There are also other summer residents here. 

All in all, the pros out weighed the cons for Joe and I.  We were happy and our pups were happy.  Would we stay here again ? You betcha !  

Until next time, let the good times roll !

Our excitement builds as we head into Gunnison on July 1, 2016

HAPPY TRAILS ! 

Gunnison, CO

Tucson/Lazydays KOA
Tucson, AZ
July 2016

Gunnison turned out to be a great place to call home for the month of July.  


The weather was incredible and it's just so dang beautiful here.

Breakfast has always been one of our favorite meals to eat out.  Voted best breakfast 2001-2015, Cafe W serves up fresh eggs, homemade sourdough bread/toast crispy bacon and yummy hash browns with friendly service and reasonable prices.      

Cafe W on Main Street..."Where the Locals Eat"   

Mario's on W Tomichi Ave.

Mario's Pizza & Pasta was our favorite choice for dinner.  It's been around for more that 40 years and the current owners are Western State Alums who worked there in their college days.  The homemade marinara sauce is the best ever !  Aside from pizza, house specialties include Nine Layer Lasagna and Manicotti.  

Speaking of alums, Gunnison is home to Western State Colorado University.  Many students stay throughout the summer to work. 


Our encounters with them were delightful...all smiles, energetic, and hard workers.   

 Gunnison got its name from the first known explorer of the area, John W. Gunnison.   He was searching for a route for the transcontinental railroad in 1853.  

This quaint little town saw its first population increase in the 1870s due to a mining surge. The railroad arrived soon after in the 1880s.

Gunnison is located at the bottom of several valleys.  Due to it's location in the Rocky Mountains, cold air in the valleys settles into Gunnison at night  with sub zero temps in the winter.    

Cattlemen's Days takes place in Gunnison during a 10 day period in July.  It started in the 1800's between calving and summer haying.  Cattlemen's Days features a county fair, parade, carnival, live music, horse shows, horse races, and rodeo events like riding and roping sanctioned by the Professional Rodeo Cowboy's Association.

Our frist real rodeo...  

 My favorite was the women's barrel race...

 One of the things at the top of our list was a National Park  Ranger led boat tour into the Black Canyon of the Gunnison.  Last year we visited the Black Canyon of the Gunnison NP when we were in Montrose.  I was blown away by it's beauty !
Check out the featured post...top right hand column...for our post about our visit there.     


The boat tour is accessed from the Pine Creek Trail (about 25 miles west of Gunnison on Hwy 50).  





The trail has 232 steps down (and yes, back up) and a 3/4-mile easy scenic walk along the old narrow-gauge rail bed that follows the river before reaching the boat dock. 

The National Park Ranger did a great job explaining the geology of the canyon from millions of years ago to today.  It was a 90 minute tour that slowly meandered along the canyon walls.   

 Aside from the sheer beauty of the canyon walls and river,  we floated our way past Chipeta Falls...  

...and Curecanti Needle which is a big A-shaped rock formation about 700 feet tall.  Its picture was used as advertisement on the narrow-gauge railroad line that ran through the Rocky Mountains from 1908 - 1921.  

We also rode through Hartman Rocks. It got it's name from the Hartman Family who were early pioneers in the Gunnison Valley.  Today 160 acres are owned and operated by the City and County while 14,000+ acres are managed by the BLM.  Hartman Rocks offers miles of biking and hiking trails as well as opportunities for rock climbing and horse riding.  


We didn't hike here, but the drive was sure pretty. 

There is an endless list of things to do and places to go in and around Gunnison.  If water entices you, there are lakes and rivers for fishing, rafting and, if you dare, swimming.  If history interests you, there are ghost towns and old mines to explore.  If adventure invites you, hiking/biking trails to mountain mesas lined with wildflowers where you are likely to be rewarded with alpine lakes go on for miles and miles.  Yep, Gunnison sure got our attention !        





 There are two more hikes I haven't posted yet.  It's kinda boring here in Tucson so don't be surprised if you have to read about them.  Also, I have pictures from the KOA I want to share.  

 So, until next time, let the good times roll !

HAPPY TRAILS !