MINTURN: Gateway to the White River National Forest
Named after Robert Bowne Minturn, Jr. the town’s founder and one-time vice president of the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad, Minturn is one of those small communities that you’ve probably dreamed of living in one day: funky, western, cozy & eclectic. Minturn is all that and more: it’s just minutes from world-class ski resorts, Vail and Beaver Creek, with an ambiance a bit more laid back than many of the surrounding areas.
Dubbed “Gateway to the White River National Forest” by the U.S. Forest Service, Minturn is surrounded by the most accesses National Forest in the country. During the winter, after a day at Vail Mountain, expert skiers can ski the Minturn Mile, stop at the Minturn Saloon, après ski and then head over to the Minturn Country Club – where, by the way, you cook your own food, for
dinner. And, for thrills, you can enter the annual skijoring event, where horses, running at full speed, pull skiers on a jump filled course through town! In summer, hiking trails are right out your door from Two Elk to Meadow Mountain – and just up Tigiwon Road there is easy access to spectacular hikes including Notch Mountain, Cross Creek and Lake Constantine, just to name a few.
Beginning in June the weekly Minturn Market runs through September and fills the streets with locals and guests alike.
Housing is a diverse combination. Charming single-family homes line the river – some very colorful. Others are tucked up the hillside. There are a few condos sprinkled through the quaint downtown buildings and in some more just off main street. While some folks live here part-time, Minturn is historically considered a year-round locals’ community. So, whether you choose to live smack dab in the middle of town, on a mountain overlooking the magnificent area, or on the rushing Eagle River –the little town of Minturn will not disappoint.