RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES IN THE SURROUNDING AREA
The view to the east of the resort center is of the verdant "Wet Mountain Valley" with the neighboring communities of Westcliffe and Silver Cliff at the 7800' level, and the Wet Mountains to the east. Long stretches of mountain meadow from the former ski resort lead upward and westward from camp, surrounded by pine forests. The Rainbow Trail, which runs north and south along the Sangre de Cristo Mountains for over 70 miles, is a manageable walk through meadow and forest from the Day Lodge. The Hermit Lake beaver ponds and several high elevation lakes are reachable by 4WD road from the camp. The mountain range is the longest unbroken chain of mountains in Colorado. The area is both a hikers paradise and for the adventurous a significant mountain climber's destination with many 14,000+ foot peaks to conquer. If you like trout fishing, the area has 52 mountain lakes and 370 mountain streams. If you want to fly in, there is a local airport, Silver West Airport. And yes, there is a golf course, a movie theater and all the amenities a small tourist town and ranching community can provide.
If you want to extend your stay and explore the area more fully, the links below will help you locate lodging, services, and adventure destinations unique to this beautiful country. Lots of people come once and get "hooked", and come back time and again, or purchase vacation property here. If you do decide to stay in the area past the end of camp, you would certainly enjoy attending the 9th annual High Mountain Hay Fever Bluegrass Festival in Westcliffe from July 7-10. Bishop's Castle southeast of Westcliffe provides a very unique outing: a full sized medieval castle built over two decades out of local stone by a single man. Two other unique day trip destinations are the Royal Gorge (highest suspension bridge in the USA) and the Great Sand Dunes National Monument (biggest sandpile in the USA). And if you are a history or mining buff or like to visit ghost towns, you will love visiting the local museum, the ghost towns of Junkins and Rosita or the many abandoned mines from the silver boom in the late 19th century.
The Hermit Basin Conference Center is located about six and a half miles from Westcliffe, Colorado. Westcliffe and it's immediate neighbor to the east, Silver Cliff, are small towns with a a combined population of under 1000. Westcliffe is located
· 145 miles southwest of Denver
· 77 miles south west of Colorado Springs
· 51 miles southwest of Canon City
· 56 miles west of Pueblo
· 61 miles northwest of Walsenburg
· 98 miles northwest of Trinidad
Highway 69 passes north and south with a zig-zag through town; north to Cañon City, Colorado Springs and Denver; south to Walsenburg and Trinidad. Highway 96 runs east of town and connects you to Pueblo and Florence. At the eastern-most intersection of Colorado Highway 96 and Colorado Highway 69 in Westcliffe, Colorado, on the southwest corner, you will see Antlers Liquor Store.
http://www.westcliffe-colorado.com
http://www.sangres.com/colorado/custer/westcliffe.htm
http://www.coloradodirectory.com/westcliffe