Del Norte

Travel Guide

Del Norte featuring signage
Del Norte featuring signage
Del Norte
Del Norte
Del Norte which includes signage
Opportunities for outdoor adventure sports, including rock climbing, rafting and hiking, abound in the mountainous surroundings of this former stage-stop town.

The small Colorado town of Del Norte is surrounded on almost all sides by public land encompassing expansive forests, snaking rivers and soaring peaks. Hike along trails, ascend sport-climbing routes and admire views of canyons and river corridors from mountain summits.

During the 1850s and 1860s, Del Norte served as a common stage stop for traders passing along the Old Spanish Trail, which ran between Santa Fe, New Mexico, and Los Angeles, California. The town’s heyday came later in the 1870s, when prospectors uncovered gold and silver in the nearby San Juan Mountains and Del Norte transformed itself into a mining supplies base.

Outdoorsy travelers use Del Norte as a base from which to explore the surrounding region. Climb up the steep 1-mile (1.6-kilometer) trail to reach the summit of the 8,475-foot-tall (2,583-meter) Lookout Mountain in Lookout Mountain Park. From here, admire views down over the San Luis Valley and the rushing Rio Grande River. Rock climbers, meanwhile, can choose between the more than 300 sport-climbing routes in Penitente Canyon, an area which originally served as a sanctuary for the devout Spanish Catholic sect of Los Hermanos Penitentes.

Drive west from Del Norte to reach the Rio Grande National Forest, which features jagged mountains and deep river canyons. Enjoy outdoor fun, including fishing, mountain biking, hunting, hiking and horseback riding. During winter, head for the Wolf Creek Ski Area and hit the snow-covered slopes.

Back in town, learn about this region’s story at the Rio Grande County Museum and Cultural Center. Also worth visiting is the nearby Summitville Ghost Town. These eerie, haunting remains, accessible only by a dirt road, are the surviving remnants of a once-thriving settlement.

Del Norte is warm in summer and snowy in winter. To get here, drive 4 hours from Denver or fly into the San Luis Valley Regional Airport near Alamosa, and make the 40-minute drive from there.

Windsor Hotel
Windsor Hotel
3 out of 5
605 Grand Ave, Del Norte, CO
The price is €120 per night from 23 Mar to 24 Mar
€120
includes taxes & fees
23 Mar - 24 Mar
Stay at this 3-star hotel in Del Norte. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and breakfast (surcharge). Our guests praise the helpful staff and the property condition ...
9.6/10 Exceptional! (500 reviews)
"This is an amazing place, with a wonderful story of how it was saved from the wrecking ball. They also have great service and food."

Reviewed on 12 Mar 2025

Windsor Hotel
Mellow Moon Lodge
Mellow Moon Lodge
2.5 out of 5
1160 Grand Ave, Del Norte, CO
The price is €142 per night from 26 Mar to 27 Mar
€142
includes taxes & fees
26 Mar - 27 Mar
Book a stay at this golf motel in Del Norte. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and a snack bar/deli. Our guests praise the helpful staff in our reviews. Popular ...
9.6/10 Exceptional! (199 reviews)
"Mellow Moon was cute and quaint, with a retro but modern feel to it. Lauren was very communicative and helpful. Loved the Canteen, with access to a water refill station and anything we might have forgotten. Just a note for those traveling and staying here, due to the nature of the property, there ..."

Reviewed on 11 Mar 2025

Mellow Moon Lodge
Indoor heated pool, hot tub, sauna with mountain views, wildlife and solitude.
Indoor heated pool, hot tub, sauna with mountain views, wildlife and solitude.
Del Norte
Stay at this vacation home in Del Norte. Enjoy free WiFi, private pools, and patios. Popular attractions Rio Grande County Museum and Cultural Center and Voss ...
10/10 Exceptional! (110 reviews)
Absolutely Breathtaking, Cozy Getaway
"We had such a fantastic time! Check-in was super easy, house was beautiful, view was breathtaking! We enjoyed the pool, hot-tub, karaoke machine, fireplaces, & the 360 degree-views! The only reason for my 4/5 stars was because the driveway consists of a curvy road with a huge drop and no guardrails. ..."

Reviewed on 10 Mar 2025

Indoor heated pool, hot tub, sauna with mountain views, wildlife and solitude.
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
Indoor heated pool, hot tub, sauna with mountain views, wildlife and solitude.
Indoor heated pool, hot tub, sauna with mountain views, wildlife and solitude.
Del Norte
Stay at this vacation home in Del Norte. Enjoy free WiFi, private pools, and patios. Popular attractions Rio Grande County Museum and Cultural Center and Voss ...
10/10 Exceptional! (110 reviews)
Absolutely Breathtaking, Cozy Getaway
"We had such a fantastic time! Check-in was super easy, house was beautiful, view was breathtaking! We enjoyed the pool, hot-tub, karaoke machine, fireplaces, & the 360 degree-views! The only reason for my 4/5 stars was because the driveway consists of a curvy road with a huge drop and no guardrails. ..."

Reviewed on 10 Mar 2025

Indoor heated pool, hot tub, sauna with mountain views, wildlife and solitude.
Family-Friendly Del Norte Home w/ Stunning Views!
Family-Friendly Del Norte Home w/ Stunning Views!
Del Norte
Stay at this vacation home in Del Norte. Enjoy a garden, patios, and cable/satellite TV service. Popular attractions Rio Grande County Museum and Cultural Center ...
9.8/10 Exceptional! (33 reviews)
Absolutely incredible!!
"Immaculate, gorgeous, spacious, comfortable, beautiful home you can’t believe you found and you never want to leave! There are no words for how jaw dropping and amazing the property is. Or the views!! Oh my goodness. STUNNING. Our family of 7 enjoyed this house more than any we’ve ever stayed at ..."

Reviewed on 15 Jul 2024

Family-Friendly Del Norte Home w/ Stunning Views!
Grandview Cabins & RV Resort
Grandview Cabins & RV Resort
3 out of 5
0613 Highway 149, South Fork, CO
Stay at this 3-star cabin in South Fork. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and free bicycles on site. Popular attractions Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad ...
9.6/10 Exceptional! (199 reviews)
"Excellent cabin, had everything we needed. Awesome location, close to numerous hiking trails and great access to Wolf Creek ski area."

Reviewed on 16 Feb 2025

Grandview Cabins & RV Resort
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

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