Carbondale, Colorado: Colorado’s Base Camp for Adventure

Interested in moving to a place with genuinely friendly residents and a tight-knit community? Carbondale is a town that extends new residents a hearty welcome to its community. With lower altitude, Carbondale’s milder climate offers locals and visitors longer weeks of spring, summer, and fall in which to play in the great outdoors. And play Carbondale does, with endless opportunities to cross-country ski, hike, bike, fish, and explore right in Carbondale’s beautiful backyard.

Touted as one of “The Top 10 Adventure Towns in the U.S.” by National Geographic Adventure Magazine, there is plenty to do including biking, kayaking, and world-class fly-fishing. In winter, excellent cross-country skiing can be found at Spring Gulch. 

At an altitude of 6,181 feet, the Carbondale area is characterized by an average of 295 days of sunshine, low humidity, cold but mild winters, and comfortable summers. Resting in the magnificent shadow of 12,953-foot Mount Sopris, where rocky vistas meet crystal waters.

Carbondale is a great base camp for recreation enthusiasts. The area offers a variety of lodging options including rustic lodges and cabins, rugged yet comfortable campgrounds, a historical landmark inn, quaint bed & breakfasts, as well as several more traditional hotels with modern-day amenities. Head downtown to experience the culinary delights the town has to offer. The city’s art galleries also offer tasteful gifts, including some of the finest ceramics in the region. 

Carbondale also celebrates arts, music, and culture with it's First Friday’s, the annual popular Carbondale Mountain Fair at the end of July, and October mark Carbondale’s heritage with the annual Potato Day Parade and Festival. The town is designated as a Certified Colorado Creative District, and the Powers Art Center is an excellent place to experience why.

For a detailed history of the area, visit the Carbondale Historical Museum, housed in a century-old, two-story log cabin. The Thompson House Museum, also operated by the Carbondale Historical Society, features original furnishings and objects from the home of Hattie Thompson Holland and Oscar Holland, two of Carbondale's earliest pioneers. Free tours of the historic home, one of the only museums in the country to house furnishings owned by its original pioneer family, are offered during the summer.

Fast Facts:
County: Garfield County
Population: 6,820
Mayor: Ben Bohmfalk

Transportation: Roaring Fork Transportation Authority provides bus transit service in Carbondale.

School District: Roaring Fork School District

     Elementary and middle schools:

  • Crystal River Elementary School
  • Carbondale Middle School
  • Carbondale Community School
  • Ross Montessori School
  • Waldorf School on the Roaring Fork

     High schools:

  • Roaring Fork High School (RFHS)
  • Bridges High School (BHS)
  • Colorado Rocky Mountain School (CRMS)

Parks & Recreation:

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