Bozeman-like town in CO

[Shuffler]

Avg home price in Bozeman is now >$800K
Flathead County median sales price >$600K
Whitefish median sales price $945K

MT is rapidly becoming a beautiful place to go broke for the working & middle class ... just like every other amenities economy in the West.

[NW Crow]

Take what info is useful to you. Ask other questions if you want. Look into the options further reading more threads here and / or using other resources (newspapers, magazine articles, videos, Google Streetview, etc.) Visit again when ready for closer consideration / action.

[COcheesehead]

Originally Posted by DOUBLE H

Yes!

Two things different about Montrose to Bozeman would be population as Montrose is a little over 20,000. And Montrose isn't a college town.

But Montrose is right up with Durango regarding scenic. Going north is nothing special but going east you have the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. Going south you have Ridgway, Ouray, and one of the most photographed mountain ranges in the States going over the Dallas Divide on your way to either Telluride or Norwood. going west you have Spring Creek Mesa.

And going southwest you go through some rugged country over Owl Creek Pass. Don't forget--a good portion of the movie True Grit (the John Wayne one) was filmed in the area of Owl Creek Pass. you reach it on 550 a little south of Colona and comes out just east of Cimmaron, maybe 15 miles or so east of Montrose. An amazing stretch of mountains there as well, particularly Courthouse Mountain.

Going north from Montrose can be pretty spectacular too, if you are willing to venture a bit off Hwy 50.
To the west is Dominguez Escalante National Wilderness area with the historic Spanish Trail, ancient structures and petroglyphs galore. Great hiking in Big Dominguez Canyon. To the east are the Adobe’s, the Grand Mesa with its 300 plus lakes and Colorado’s second wine region, the West Elks with plenty of scenery in the North Fork Valley including Needle Rock pictured below. Photo credit to my wife.

[DOUBLE H]

Ewww!! What was I thinking? And I LIVE in Mesa County for crying out loud!


Also don't forget Unaweep Canyon where 141 exits of U.S. 50 south of Whitewater, a beautiful drive as well. I might have been thinking about Grand Junction and roads north instead of Montrose. 139 out of Loma is an interesting drive too, good views on Douglas Pass. 40 miles north of that is Rangely, which always has been an energy related town. A good place to visit THERE would be Dinosaur National Monument, maybe 30 miles north of Rangely. Very interesting place.

[Ruth4Truth]

Originally Posted by Colorado Rambler

Durango - small town with a college; close to the mountains and all kinds of great outdoors recreation spots; lots of interesting things going on in town as well. Durango is also more scenic than Bozeman is, plus there are no grizzlies. What's not to love?

Durango is in a beautiful location, plenty of outdoor recreation opportunities, spectacular mountains nearby. Ouray, about an hour and a half away, winding through the mountains, has a huge public swimming pool that's fed by hot springs.

I don't know what size town the OP is looking for, though. Durango is less than half the size of Bozeman. Glenwood Springs is 1/5 the size. Be sure to check out rents or RE prices in these places, before you plan a drive there; you may find that the proximity to major ski resorts (Aspen, in the case of Glenwood Springs) takes the rents beyond your budget.

[pikabike]

OP didn’t say what budget he/she had.

[COcheesehead]

Originally Posted by DOUBLE H

Ewww!! What was I thinking? And I LIVE in Mesa County for crying out loud!


Also don't forget Unaweep Canyon where 141 exits of U.S. 50 south of Whitewater, a beautiful drive as well. I might have been thinking about Grand Junction and roads north instead of Montrose. 139 out of Loma is an interesting drive too, good views on Douglas Pass. 40 miles north of that is Rangely, which always has been an energy related town. A good place to visit THERE would be Dinosaur National Monument, maybe 30 miles north of Rangely. Very interesting place.

141 is one of the most gorgeous roads in Colorado and few ever experience it. Douglas Pass is pretty cool and the whole national historic district on the other side, Canyon Pintado and all the Native American artifacts contained within.

[Techy02]

I would say

Durango, and Montrose. They are half the population probably but otherwise similar.

Gunnison would be about the smallest version possible.

Grand Junction it's similar in size and amenities, but not the same look.

Fort Collins on the front range maybe?