This Is the Highest Point in Montrose County, Colorado

The city of Montrose, Colorado sits at an elevation of 5,807 feet on the doorstep of the Cimarron Ridge, near the San Juan Mountains.

While many who visit the area may check out the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, Montrose also offers some incredible views. In fact, from the highest point in Montrose County, you can see the San Juans Mountains, the La Sal Mountains in Utah, the West Elks, the Uncompahgre Plateau, and even the Grand Mesa. So where is the highest point in Montrose County?

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The Highest Point in Montrose County

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Castle Rock might be a bougie community on Colorado's Front Range, but on the Western Slope, it's an actual peak found on the Cimarron Ridge (North).

The mountain reaches an elevation of 11,457 feet. Castle Rock is located within .4 miles of Storm King Mountain (11,420 feet) on the Southeastern edge of Montrose County. Did you know there are four Storm King Mountains in Colorado? Both peaks can be hard to see from Colorado's Million Dollar Highway (US 550), but a trip to Buckhorn Lakes Park will bring you just below the summit of each of them.

Buckhorn Lakes in Montrose County

Buckhorn Lakes is a city park owned by the city of Montrose, Colorado. Similar to the way Fruita owns Enochs Lake and the Fruita Reservoirs near Glade Park, Montrose offers residents a chance to camp and fish two lakes located at 9,700 feet above the Uncompahgre Valley.

Reach the lakes by taking Buckhorn Road found near Colona, Colorado off US 550. Buckhorn Road travels about 11 miles up to the park. Camping, managed by BLM, is $15 for single-use sites and $50 for large-group sites.

The Difference Between Storm King and Castle Rock

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From Buckhorn Lakes, hearty hikers can follow a primitive ATV track that climbs 1,600 feet toward the summit of Storm King Mountain (above left), then hike the .4-mile ridgeline over to Castle Rock (above right). The hike is a steep scramble at times and requires experience. Summitpost.org offers a great summary of the route here. If you make it to the top of Castle Rock, check the old tree stumps for the hiking register.

Altogether, it's about a 6-mile roundtrip from the Buckhorn Lakes to the highest point in Montrose County.

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LOOK: All the Places You Can Standup Paddle Board Around Montrose Colorado

Looking for places in Montrose to get out and paddle? Stand Up Paddleboards are a fun way to enjoy the sunshine and blue skies over western Colorado. While water levels will be highest early in the season, it is possible that some reservoirs dry up by the late summer.

If you are in Montrose and want to SUP, here are several options for getting out on the water.

Gallery Credit: Wes Adams

KEEP GOING: See for 100 Miles On Top of Colorado's Crag Crest National Recreation Trail

If you are looking for hikes with fantastic views in western Colorado, the Crag Crest National Recreation Trail is one you don't want to miss. A portion of the trail climbs to over 11,100 feet making it one of the highest elevations you can reach in the Grand Valley.

Gallery Credit: Wes Adams

UP NEXT: Colorado's Bear Hotspots: 15 Counties with the Most Sightings

Colorado Parks and Wildlife received 3,526 reports about bears in 2023, with 33 bears relocated, and 63 bears euthanized by the end of the year. Scroll through the gallery below to see the 15 counties that reported the most bear activity in the Centennial State.

Gallery Credit: Wesley Adams