Gunnison, Colorado

This small town is best known as the gateway to nearby Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park.  Gunnison is the home of Western State College of Colorado, with an enrollment of 2,400.  In order of importance, the local economy is grounded in tourism, education and ranching.  Gunnison has a cute downtown, spacious with broad streets and has a cowboy-like atmosphere.   The town is pedestrian-friendly, with ample benches lining the sidewalks and designated bike lanes.  When we visited, bicycles and motorcycles were plentiful. Gunnison is located at the bottom of several valleys. Due to its location in the Rocky Mountains, cold air in all the valleys settles into Gunnison at night, making it one of the coldest places in winter in the United States, especially when snowpack is present.