About the Roaring Fork Valley

A local’s introduction to the major areas in the Valley.

BASALT

Best known for Ruedi Reservoir and the Gold Medal trout fishing on the Frying Pan River, Basalt is 18 miles down valley from Aspen.

Basalt is a hub for fly fishing in the Roaring Fork Valley. Historic downtown Basalt offers quaint restaurants, shops and boutique hotels along Midland Avenue. Fly fishing cabins and multiple tackle shops offer fly fishing enthusiasts lodging, supplies and boat tours year-round.

Basalt also includes the town annex Willits that serves as another, newer bustling area with shops, restaurants, commercial businesses, a hotel, loft residences and the new performing arts center called TACAW. Whole Foods has become a town staple in Willits, along with the kids water fountain that runs in the summer-time.

Notable neighborhoods in Basalt and Willits include Southside, Elk Run, Old Town (historic downtown Basalt), Holland Hills and Aspen Junction. The Emma and West Sopris Creek areas offer ranchettes and rural living. The Roaring Fork Club is a private golf and fly fishing club with 60 cabins just outside of Basalt.

FRYING PAN VALLEY, RUEDI RESERVOIR & MEREDITH

The Frying Pan Valley is home to the world-famous gold metal waters of the Frying Pan River. Many coveted riverfront homes are sited along 13 miles of river frontage.

Ruedi Reservoir is well-known among boating enthusiasts for it’s deep waters and sailing club. There are a couple of campgrounds at the put in and the end of the reservoir. The annual Basalt Half-Marathon runs from the base of the reservoir all the way to downtown Basalt every June. Ruedi Shores and Ruedi South Shore are communities around the reservoir with cabins owned by locals and 2nd homeowners.

Above Ruedi Reservoir is a small mountain town called Meredith that houses a few cabins, a General Store (only onpen in the summer-time), post office and fire station. Beyond Meredith, there is excellent camping, hunting, fishing and hiking at Chapman Dam, Norrie Colony, Elk Wallow and Lime Creek.

CARBONDALE

The picaresque town of Carbondale is located at the confluence of the Roaring Fork and Crystal Rivers.

Carbondale is 30 miles down valley from Aspen, 12 miles from Glenwood Springs, 171 miles from Denver. The obvious landmark in the area, Mt. Sopris, towers south of Carbondale at an elevation of 12,966 ft. The mountain was named for Richard Sopris who led a party of 14 on a mineral exploration trip to the area in 1860. Carbondale is a community-oriented town that offers a down-to-earth feel. Its milder climate provides a longer spring to fall season that is great for non-skiing activities. Enjoy hiking, biking, golfing and fly-fishing in world-famous Gold Medal waters of the Roaring Fork River, as well as the Crystal River.

THE CRYSTAL VALLEY

The scenic Crystal Valley includes the areas along the Crystal River and small mountain towns Redstone and Marble.

Known as “The Ruby of the Rockies”, Redstone is a tiny mining town nestled 20 minutes south of Carbondale along Hwy 133. There are a couple of shops, restaurants (including Propaganda Pie), and accommodations in this quiet riverfront village. The main attractions here are the historic coke ovens, Redstone Castle and and the Avalanche Ranch inn and hot springs.

Marble is a secluded historic marble quarrying town about 30 minutes south of Carbondale and 10 minutes from Redstone, just below McClure Pass. Beaver Lake offers abundant fishing and paddle boarding. A four-wheel drive road leads to the even smaller ghost town Crystal that is famous for the picaresque Crystal Mill and to Schoefield Pass that links to Crested Butte. The Slow Groovin BBQ restaurant is a locals and tourist favorite that hosts lives music in the summertime.

MISSOURI HEIGHTS

Missouri Heights is a rural hillside area located between Carbondale and El Jebel/Willits.

Originally ranches and farms, Missouri Heights offers a rural setting with ranches, horse properties and small neighborhoods just 10 – 20 minutes from town. Missouri Heights homes are known for their dramatic views of Mt. Sopris and surrounding mountain ranges. Some properties can even see Aspen and Snowmass ski areas, as well as the Sunlight ski area in Glenwood Springs. Locals enjoy walking, hiking and mountain biking the National Forest area called Basalt Mountain year-round. Notable neighborhoods here include the horse communities Ranch at Coulter Creek, Stirling Ranch and Panorama Ranches, as well as the luxury communities Callicote Ranch, Fox Run Meadows and Spring Creek. More affordable tighter-knit neighborhoods Red Table, Aspen Mesa Estates and Kings Row. Missouri Heights also offers access to Cottonwood Pass, a dirt road that connects the Roaring Fork Valley with Gypsum and Eagle in the summertime.

SOUTH GLENWOOD SPRINGS

South Glenwood Springs is an area to the south of downtown Glenwood Springs, just north of Carbondale. It comprises of neighborhoods along the Roaring Fork River, such as Iron Bridge, Teller Springs, and Westbank. The south glenwood area also includes the Four Mile ranching community area near the Sunlight Ski Resort. It also includes areas near the Colorado Mountain College Spring Valley campus, including Pinyon Mesa and one of my favorite neighborhoods in the whole area, Elk Springs. Elk Springs is a newer community with spacious lots and luxury homes that sit on a mesa overlooking Mt. Sopris and the valley below.