Guidebook to Dolores and More
Local Dolores Food and Drinks
Some of my favorite local places to grab a bit, sip a drink, or otherwise enjoy.
DRB is a great place to unwind after a days adventure! Friday - Sunday they have some wonderful wood-fired pizzas. For meat eaters our personal favorite is the neanderthal and there are plenty of veggie options or even GF for those this sensitivities. The beer selections changes a bit seasonally, but in general we have enjoyed all the reds/IPAs/ESBs we have had.
36 Einheimische empfehlen
Dolores River Brewery
100 4th StDRB is a great place to unwind after a days adventure! Friday - Sunday they have some wonderful wood-fired pizzas. For meat eaters our personal favorite is the neanderthal and there are plenty of veggie options or even GF for those this sensitivities. The beer selections changes a bit seasonally, but in general we have enjoyed all the reds/IPAs/ESBs we have had.
This local cider house is a little down the road, but totally worth a stop! They have a variety of ciders made locally by various brewers (they even used some of the apples from the tree at the house last year) and has lovely outdoor seating perfect for a summer day. In the evening they sometimes have music and often light up the fire pits while the food truck serves up a changing menu. Perfect distance for a short bike ride or longer walk or just drive on down depending on how you feel.
10 Einheimische empfehlen
EsoTerra Cider
18390 CO-145This local cider house is a little down the road, but totally worth a stop! They have a variety of ciders made locally by various brewers (they even used some of the apples from the tree at the house last year) and has lovely outdoor seating perfect for a summer day. In the evening they sometimes have music and often light up the fire pits while the food truck serves up a changing menu. Perfect distance for a short bike ride or longer walk or just drive on down depending on how you feel.
This place is the spot for a good margarita and a variety of Mexican food! This spot is my favorite because they have a great view of the river and outdoor seating with horses etc out back and are very cool about bringing a pup along if you sit out back. The tortilla soup is my favorite thing to eat (it's big: you won't likely need more than just that for a meal) and it's always lively on weekends and just a fun place to hang and enjoy the community of Dolores.
12 Einheimische empfehlen
Montezuma Restaurant
1319 Railroad AveThis place is the spot for a good margarita and a variety of Mexican food! This spot is my favorite because they have a great view of the river and outdoor seating with horses etc out back and are very cool about bringing a pup along if you sit out back. The tortilla soup is my favorite thing to eat (it's big: you won't likely need more than just that for a meal) and it's always lively on weekends and just a fun place to hang and enjoy the community of Dolores.
Mama Bears bakery is located just up the street on 5th. They have excellent cinnamon rolls, good coffee, and are located in a fun and quirky old building one block away from the river. They also sell local beef they raise and butcher if you’re into that!
Mama Bears Bakery & Books
Mama Bears bakery is located just up the street on 5th. They have excellent cinnamon rolls, good coffee, and are located in a fun and quirky old building one block away from the river. They also sell local beef they raise and butcher if you’re into that!
Kelly’s is a great breakfast and lunch stop for coffee and delicious food. Come hang at the bar window with a coffee and pasty or stop for a healthy filling lunch: can’t lose either way!
Kelly's Kitchen LLC
Kelly’s is a great breakfast and lunch stop for coffee and delicious food. Come hang at the bar window with a coffee and pasty or stop for a healthy filling lunch: can’t lose either way!
Sightseeing
So much to see near Dolores. A growing list of favorites!
For mountain pass status information (open/closed):
https://www.sanmiguelcountyco.gov/406/Road-Conditions
One of our favorite fall and summer loops is from Dolores, through Mancos, Durango, and Silverton stopping whenever we please for lunch/coffee/snacks and then taking the mining road over Ophir pass, into Telluride for dinner and returning home to Dolores. It's a long day and you need high clearance and suggest 4WD for this route. 4WD more critical if going the opposite direction from Ophir. Stop along the way to see a variety of scenic photo options or nearby lakes and trails.
Ophir Pass
One of our favorite fall and summer loops is from Dolores, through Mancos, Durango, and Silverton stopping whenever we please for lunch/coffee/snacks and then taking the mining road over Ophir pass, into Telluride for dinner and returning home to Dolores. It's a long day and you need high clearance and suggest 4WD for this route. 4WD more critical if going the opposite direction from Ophir. Stop along the way to see a variety of scenic photo options or nearby lakes and trails.
Local Dolores Trails
These are all within a 20min drive or less of the house. My favorites I access simply by running out the front door, but you can start at a variety of points depending on your preferences! Most are good for running, biking, and cross country skiing, but Phils world is just a mountain bike destination.
The McPhee Overlook Trail is a beautiful and scenic single track trail that starts at the end of town (right at the end of the Dolores River Trail, which starts about a block from the house if you'd like to start from the house). It follows the rim of the reservoir to House Creek Campground and then goes for miles more up the creek or connect into the Boggy Draw Trail System for more single track or loop back to the house for a roughly 16mi loop and a little more single track connecting the edge of the high school towards boggy draw. Perfect for mountain bikers or distance runners. Looping backwards allows for a ice cold dip in the river before landing back at the house when weather permits. The Overlook does close during winter months.
Trailforks .com has great maps that Airbnb won’t let me link, but it’s under: region/boggy-draw
McPhee Overlook Trailhead
The McPhee Overlook Trail is a beautiful and scenic single track trail that starts at the end of town (right at the end of the Dolores River Trail, which starts about a block from the house if you'd like to start from the house). It follows the rim of the reservoir to House Creek Campground and then goes for miles more up the creek or connect into the Boggy Draw Trail System for more single track or loop back to the house for a roughly 16mi loop and a little more single track connecting the edge of the high school towards boggy draw. Perfect for mountain bikers or distance runners. Looping backwards allows for a ice cold dip in the river before landing back at the house when weather permits. The Overlook does close during winter months.
Trailforks .com has great maps that Airbnb won’t let me link, but it’s under: region/boggy-draw
Don't let the name fool you: Boggy Draw is a beautiful pine forest with a series of single track just up the hill outside town. Many folks access the trail system from right in town via the McPhee Overlook Trail or the single track at the end of town that leads up and fuses with the CR 31 and then either right on CR W to the end parking lot or just past where the trail crosses CR 31 (same road becomes FS 251 after the bend in the road). Lots of wonderful trail to explore any time of year! Map below.
https://www.trailforks.com/region/boggy-draw/?activitytype=1&z=11.7&lat=37.48545&lon=-108.48070
11 Einheimische empfehlen
Boggy Draw
Don't let the name fool you: Boggy Draw is a beautiful pine forest with a series of single track just up the hill outside town. Many folks access the trail system from right in town via the McPhee Overlook Trail or the single track at the end of town that leads up and fuses with the CR 31 and then either right on CR W to the end parking lot or just past where the trail crosses CR 31 (same road becomes FS 251 after the bend in the road). Lots of wonderful trail to explore any time of year! Map below.
https://www.trailforks.com/region/boggy-draw/?activitytype=1&z=11.7&lat=37.48545&lon=-108.48070
All the other trails are more multi use and friendly to hikers: this one is reserved for the MTB enthusiasts. The trail can be accessed on the north end, but most folks drive down towards Cortez to start in. This is a fairly well known area of really great single track mountain bike trails spanning about 26miles. They do ask a small donation for upkeep on the trails and insurance to use state land ($3 at the time this was written). For more info check the MTB project link below.
https://www.mtbproject.com/trail/621788/phils-world
48 Einheimische empfehlen
Phil's World Bike Trail
9450 Rd 30.1All the other trails are more multi use and friendly to hikers: this one is reserved for the MTB enthusiasts. The trail can be accessed on the north end, but most folks drive down towards Cortez to start in. This is a fairly well known area of really great single track mountain bike trails spanning about 26miles. They do ask a small donation for upkeep on the trails and insurance to use state land ($3 at the time this was written). For more info check the MTB project link below.
https://www.mtbproject.com/trail/621788/phils-world
Nearby Ruins, Rock Art, or Archeological Interests
For anyone interested in the puebloan history of the area around Dolores and the greater southwest, this little museum is a surprisingly wonderful visit. Also a must stop if you have time and are interested in hiking the Canyons of the Ancients National Monument. They have a few restored puebloan sites you can see outside the building and some great collections to see inside as well.
https://www.archaeologysouthwest.org/explore/anasazi-heritage-center/
43 Einheimische empfehlen
Canyons Of The Ancients Visitor Center & Museum
27501 CO-184For anyone interested in the puebloan history of the area around Dolores and the greater southwest, this little museum is a surprisingly wonderful visit. Also a must stop if you have time and are interested in hiking the Canyons of the Ancients National Monument. They have a few restored puebloan sites you can see outside the building and some great collections to see inside as well.
https://www.archaeologysouthwest.org/explore/anasazi-heritage-center/
This one is a day to itself for most. The visitor center has some great information and artifacts and when it's open it's worth driving out to Long House. Consider planning ahead and booking a guided tour to one of the sites as most are only seen from a distance otherwise. If you do have an interested in a guided tour I suggest Mountain Waters Rafting in Durango who would meet you there or in Mancos. If possible I would also suggest requesting Aaron O'Brien who is a good friend and truly passionate lover of all things southwest: you could not have a better guide.
276 Einheimische empfehlen
Mesa Verde
This one is a day to itself for most. The visitor center has some great information and artifacts and when it's open it's worth driving out to Long House. Consider planning ahead and booking a guided tour to one of the sites as most are only seen from a distance otherwise. If you do have an interested in a guided tour I suggest Mountain Waters Rafting in Durango who would meet you there or in Mancos. If possible I would also suggest requesting Aaron O'Brien who is a good friend and truly passionate lover of all things southwest: you could not have a better guide.
Sand Canyon is the most famous spot here, but for fans of a more remote experience with ancient puebloan history I highly recommend anywhere in this general area to explore. Please be respectful of any artifacts and rock art if you visit these sites: unlike Mesa Verde many are not stabilized and as a result much more fragile. The less fortified look provides a more intimate connection to the past. I hope it goes without saying, but leave all you find undisturbed and in the same condition it was when you found it.
28 Einheimische empfehlen
Canyons of the Ancients National Monument
Sand Canyon is the most famous spot here, but for fans of a more remote experience with ancient puebloan history I highly recommend anywhere in this general area to explore. Please be respectful of any artifacts and rock art if you visit these sites: unlike Mesa Verde many are not stabilized and as a result much more fragile. The less fortified look provides a more intimate connection to the past. I hope it goes without saying, but leave all you find undisturbed and in the same condition it was when you found it.
Water Activities
Rivers, hot springs, lakes etc
The reservoir is a great summer spot to cool down. Doc's Marina rent's SUP's or full boats and tubes depending what kind of adventure you're looking for. I enjoy the reservoir when I have the dogs with me and am not equipped to hit the river or the flows are not right for boating and I just want to get some sun and kick it. There are a variety of campsites near the marina and it's not a bad spot to bring food and picnic.
19 Einheimische empfehlen
McPhee Reservoir
The reservoir is a great summer spot to cool down. Doc's Marina rent's SUP's or full boats and tubes depending what kind of adventure you're looking for. I enjoy the reservoir when I have the dogs with me and am not equipped to hit the river or the flows are not right for boating and I just want to get some sun and kick it. There are a variety of campsites near the marina and it's not a bad spot to bring food and picnic.
The river runs spring to summer and flows dictate the activities available. There are a variety of put ins above town for rafters/kayakers/SUPers and the take out is just past the bridge by the house on the opposite side of the river. Experienced folks will probably already know how to access some of this, but if you are wanting to float the river please reach out: it can be a mellow tube float at lower levels but moves quick and cold in the spring with the snow melt. The same can be said for fishing: there are denoted areas on the river walk where people walk down to flyfish: this can be accessed by walking from the house and is best at lower flows.
Dolores River
The river runs spring to summer and flows dictate the activities available. There are a variety of put ins above town for rafters/kayakers/SUPers and the take out is just past the bridge by the house on the opposite side of the river. Experienced folks will probably already know how to access some of this, but if you are wanting to float the river please reach out: it can be a mellow tube float at lower levels but moves quick and cold in the spring with the snow melt. The same can be said for fishing: there are denoted areas on the river walk where people walk down to flyfish: this can be accessed by walking from the house and is best at lower flows.
MTB and River gear/rental/repair
Bicycle rentals (inCortez only until 2023), gear repair and parts, paddleboard and river tube rentals and a beautiful little storefront!
Kokopelli Bike & Board
315 Central Avenue