Things to Do in the Wet Mountains

The Wet Mountains region offers diverse outdoor activities including hiking, touring cycling, and mountain biking. The area features deep river canyons, forested parklands, and trails within the San Isabel National Forest. Routes cater to various skill levels, from easy strolls to challenging climbs.

Popular hiking routes include Apache Falls, Natural Arch Trail, and sections of the Arkansas Riverwalk Trail. More challenging options like the Swift Creek/Lakes of the Clouds loop and the Venable Trail offer alpine lakes and waterfalls. The Royal Gorge Canyon Rim Trail is an easy 3.8-mile (6.1 km) hike with scenic views.

Yes, the Wet Mountains offer family-friendly hiking trails. Trails around Lake Isabel cater to various fitness levels, providing a picturesque setting. For more specific options, consult the Family-friendly hikes in the Wet Mountains guide.

The Wet Mountains provide excellent opportunities for touring and gravel riding. Cyclists can find long, straight roads with mountain vistas on the valley floor or winding, hilly routes through the mountains. Historic routes like the Shelf Road offer scenic rides with significant elevation gains. For more information, see the Cycling in the Wet Mountains guide.

Mountain biking in the Wet Mountains includes adventurous singletrack and forest service roads. Popular trails include Lion Canyon, Tanner-East Bear Gulch, and Stultz. The 100-mile (161 km) Rainbow Trail is also renowned among mountain bikers for its varied terrain. The MTB Trails in the Wet Mountains guide provides further details.

Notable natural features include Greenhorn Mountain, the highest point in the range, and Lake Isabel, surrounded by ponderosa and mixed-conifer woodland. The Royal Gorge Canyon features the impressive Royal Gorge Bridge and the Arkansas River. The dramatic Sangre de Cristo Mountains form a scenic backdrop to the west.

The highest point in the Wet Mountains is Greenhorn Mountain, which reaches an elevation of 12,347 feet (3,763 meters). This summit offers panoramic views of the surrounding landscape. Trails like Greenhorn Mountain via Bartlett Trail provide access to these vistas.

The Wet Mountains region has more than 900 visitors who have shared their experiences on komoot. The routes in the area have an average rating of 4.75 out of 5 stars. This indicates a high level of satisfaction among users exploring the region.

Yes, komoot offers several guides for the Wet Mountains. These include Hiking in the Wet Mountains, Cycling in the Wet Mountains, and MTB Trails in the Wet Mountains. Additional guides cover easy hikes, family-friendly hikes, and traffic-free bike rides.

The primary resource for tourism information in the Wet Mountain Valley, which encompasses a significant part of the Wet Mountains, is the Custer County/Wet Mountain Valley Tourism website. It can be found at visitwetmountainvalley.com.

For tourism inquiries related to the Wet Mountains, the Custer County Tourism Welcome Center can be reached by phone. The contact number for the welcome center is (719) 480-7230.