Del Norte

Travel Guide

Del Norte featuring signage
Del Norte featuring signage
Del Norte
Del Norte
Del Norte showing 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 P6,883 per night from 18 Feb to 19 Feb
P6,883
P7,537 total
includes taxes & fees
Feb 18 - Feb 19
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! (493 reviews)
Small Town Getaway
"Beautiful Gem! Fully restored 150 year old hotel. 5 Star eating. Tempura artichokes! Everything was enjoyable."

Reviewed on Feb 10, 2025

Windsor Hotel
Mellow Moon Lodge
Mellow Moon Lodge
2.5 out of 5
1160 Grand Ave, Del Norte, CO
The price is P9,197 per night from 18 Feb to 19 Feb
P9,197
P10,337 total
includes taxes & fees
Feb 18 - Feb 19
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! (197 reviews)
Loved our stay at Mellow Moon Lodge!
"This retro motel isn't what most roadside motels are like. The rooms have been refurbished and updated. The entire place had sort of a hipster mod feel. We stayed in a double Queen suite. Perfect amount of roominess for a family of 4 traveling with snow ski gear. Beds were comfy and clean. Bathroom ..."

Reviewed on Dec 31, 2024

Mellow Moon Lodge
LOGE Wolf Creek
LOGE Wolf Creek
2 out of 5
31042 US Highway 160, South Fork, CO
The price is P5,570 per night from 18 Feb to 19 Feb
P5,570
P7,823 total
includes taxes & fees
Feb 18 - Feb 19
Stay at this lodge in South Fork. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and breakfast (surcharge). Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms in our reviews. ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (560 reviews)
"Perfect lodging for skiing at Wulf Creek ski area. It is just 13 miles away."

Reviewed on Feb 8, 2025

LOGE Wolf Creek
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.
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! (196 reviews)
"The owners were very attentive and pleasant and helpful! The cabin was clean and it had all the amenities we needed, better than most hotels and rentals. The beds were comfortable and sheets were warm and inviting. The cabin was heated when we arrived from a long cold day of driving. It had everything ..."

Reviewed on Feb 7, 2025

Grandview Cabins & RV Resort
Riverside Meadows Cabins
Riverside Meadows Cabins
3 out of 5
2 Dodge City Road, South Fork, CO
Stay at this 3-star cabin in South Fork. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and a 24-hour front desk. Popular attractions Wolf Creek Anglers and Rio Grande Club ...
9.8/10 Exceptional! (188 reviews)
"Friendly people, clean, pretty by the river, close to town. I would definitely stay there again."

Reviewed on Jan 1, 2025

Riverside Meadows Cabins
Chinook Cabins & RV Park
Chinook Cabins & RV Park
3 out of 5
29668 W Hwy 160, South Fork, CO
Stay at this 3-star cabin in South Fork. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and laundry facilities. Popular attractions Wolf Creek Anglers and Rio Grande Club are ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (267 reviews)
"Fun place to stay that was comfy"

Reviewed on Nov 10, 2024

Chinook Cabins & RV Park
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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