(GUNNISON COUNTY, Colo.) — If you travel west past Buena Vista and over Monarch Mountain on Highway 50 you'll eventually find yourself in the Gunnison Valley. Sporting a rich ranching history and gorgeous landscapes, this area is an adventurer's paradise with plenty of places to explore and enjoy Colorado's great outdoors. Courtesy: FOX21 Anchor Abbie BurkeCourtesy: FOX21 Anchor Abbie BurkeCourtesy: FOX21 Anchor Abbie Burke "The Gunnison country is famous for having a variety of uses that you can do," said Martin Schmidt, Assistant County Manager for Gunnison County Public Works. "You are welcome to come here and hike, you're welcome to come here and ride a bike, [we have] some of the best mountain bike trails in the state. You're welcome to come here and ride a motorcycle or an OHV or just drive along in your city car and you're going to find an experience that's suited to you that you're going to enjoy and remember for the rest of your life." With more than 800,000 acres of public land, there's plenty of room to get outside. "Access is easy, it's never overcrowded or it doesn't seem overcrowded depending on the weekend," said Robert Weisbaum, EMS & Fire Chief for the Crested Butte Fire Protection District. From Gold Medal Waters full of fish to mountains perfect for biking and skiing, there's something for everyone. Courtesy: FOX21 Anchor Abbie Burke "We've got just about over 60 cabins here at Three Rivers Resort, as far as fun activities go, we've got some white water rafting, a little bit more mellow rafting and then we offer fishing trips," said Adam Engleman, Assistant Outfitting Manager & Fly Shop Manager at Willowfly Anglers at Three Rivers Resort. "During the winter we also do some ice fishing, and then we partner with a couple of other businesses in the area for horseback riding, rock climbing, mountain biking, all that fun stuff." "We are extremely public land-centered out here, 82% of our land is public," said Schmidt. "Being able to come out here and go to a different location miles away, step out of your car, and still be in public land is a really great experience to have." And there's never a bad time to visit. "We actually host the Colorado Wildflower Festival in Crested Butte every summer in mid-July and it gets packed and people come up here to see some of the best blooms of wildflowers in the state," Schmidt said. Courtesy: FOX21 Anchor Abbie BurkeCourtesy: FOX21 Anchor Abbie BurkeCourtesy: FOX21 Anchor Abbie Burke Many come to the area to escape the hustle and bustle of daily life. "It's a slower pace here and we really try to tell people to enjoy that," said Weisbaum. "There's not a hurry, it's not going anywhere." It's a great place to meet some new friends or reconnect with old ones. Courtesy: FOX21 Anchor Abbie Burke "The community is very welcoming and they are more than happy and willing to share the experience of what Crested Butte is and everything it has to offer," said Weisbaum. But he cautions visitors to know before they go and ease into the mountain life. "Do your research when you come to our area, into this beautiful town and city," said Weisbaum. "Make sure that you do know your limitations."