Del Norte

Travel Guide

Del Norte featuring signage
Del Norte featuring signage
Del Norte
Del Norte
Del Norte which includes signage

Opportunities for outdoor adventure sports, including rock climbing, rafting and hiking, abound in the mountainous surroundings of this former stage-stop town. 

The small Colorado town of Del Norte is surrounded on almost all sides by public land encompassing expansive forests, snaking rivers and soaring peaks. Hike along trails, ascend sport-climbing routes and admire views of canyons and river corridors from mountain summits.

During the 1850s and 1860s, Del Norte served as a common stage stop for traders passing along the Old Spanish Trail, which ran between Santa Fe, New Mexico, and Los Angeles, California. The town’s heyday came later in the 1870s, when prospectors uncovered gold and silver in the nearby San Juan Mountains and Del Norte transformed itself into a mining supplies base.

Outdoorsy travelers use Del Norte as a base from which to explore the surrounding region. Climb up the steep 1-mile (1.6-kilometer) trail to reach the summit of the 8,475-foot-tall (2,583-meter) Lookout Mountain in Lookout Mountain Park. From here, admire views down over the San Luis Valley and the rushing Rio Grande River. Rock climbers, meanwhile, can choose between the more than 300 sport-climbing routes in Penitente Canyon, an area which originally served as a sanctuary for the devout Spanish Catholic sect of Los Hermanos Penitentes.

Drive west from Del Norte to reach the Rio Grande National Forest, which features jagged mountains and deep river canyons. Enjoy outdoor fun, including fishing, mountain biking, hunting, hiking and horseback riding. During winter, head for the Wolf Creek Ski Area and hit the snow-covered slopes.

Back in town, learn about this region’s story at the Rio Grande County Museum and Cultural Center. Also worth visiting is the nearby Summitville Ghost Town. These eerie, haunting remains, accessible only by a dirt road, are the surviving remnants of a once-thriving settlement.

Del Norte is warm in summer and snowy in winter. To get here, drive 4 hours from Denver or fly into the San Luis Valley Regional Airport near Alamosa, and make the 40-minute drive from there.

Windsor Hotel

Windsor Hotel

3 out of 5
605 Grand Ave, Del Norte, CO
Fully refundableReserve now, pay when you stay
The price is €132 per night from 12 Aug to 13 Aug
€132
12 Aug - 13 Aug
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 3-star hotel in Del Norte. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and breakfast (surcharge). Our guests praise the helpful staff and the property condition ...
9.6/10 Exceptional! (533 reviews)
"I loved the hotel. Very quaint and pretty. No staff on duty after 8pm. Housekeeping didn’t correct a problem we had in our room. Overall I enjoyed my stay."

Reviewed on 1 Aug 2025

Windsor Hotel
Mellow Moon Lodge

Mellow Moon Lodge

2.5 out of 5
1160 Grand Ave, Del Norte, CO
The price is €155 per night from 10 Aug to 11 Aug
€155
10 Aug - 11 Aug
includes taxes & fees
Book a stay at this golf motel in Del Norte. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and breakfast (surcharge). Our guests praise the helpful staff in our reviews. Popular ...
9.6/10 Exceptional! (212 reviews)
"Everything was wonderful! The rooms are a dream, check-in is so easy, and we loved enjoying the cafe and yummy coffee in the morning. Can’t wait to come back again!"

Reviewed on 24 Jul 2025

Mellow Moon Lodge
Secluded Ranch House on the Rio Grande River

Secluded Ranch House on the Rio Grande River

Del Norte
The price is €185 per night from 19 Aug to 20 Aug
€185
19 Aug - 20 Aug
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this farm stay in Del Norte. Enjoy a garden, laundry facilities, and patios. Popular attractions Rio Grande County Museum and Cultural Center and North ...
9.8/10 Exceptional! (75 reviews)
"The house was well appointed, and we loved the beautiful views at every window (including horses!). The owners were very punctual in answering our questions. We had not planned to tube that they were more than willing to let us borrow the ones in the shed and we enjoyed our time immensely."

Reviewed on 6 Aug 2025

Secluded Ranch House on the Rio Grande River
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
Family-friendly Del Norte Home w/ Stunning Views!

Family-friendly Del Norte Home w/ Stunning Views!

3 out of 5
Del Norte
Stay at this 3-star cottage in Del Norte. Enjoy free parking, patios, and an in-room coffeemaker. Popular attractions Rio Grande County Museum and Cultural Center ...
Family-friendly Del Norte Home w/ Stunning Views!
Grandview Cabins & RV Resort

Grandview Cabins & RV Resort

3 out of 5
0613 Highway 149, South Fork, CO
Stay at this 3-star cabin in South Fork. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and free bicycles on site. Popular attractions Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad ...
9.6/10 Exceptional! (205 reviews)
Would stay again
"Friendly and efficient staff. Very clean cabin with all your basic needs available."

Reviewed on 4 Aug 2025

Grandview Cabins & RV Resort
Chinook Cabins & RV Park

Chinook Cabins & RV Park

3 out of 5
29668 W Hwy 160, South Fork, CO
Stay at this 3-star cabin in South Fork. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and laundry facilities. Popular attractions Wolf Creek Anglers and Rio Grande Club are ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (271 reviews)
"Cheryl & Keith were both extremely friendly and a joy to meet. Although I missed in the e mail that I was supposed to check in by 7:00 on Sunday evening. She called me as I was going over Wolf Creek Pass and waited until I arrived at 7:45. Then Keith was kind enogh to visit with me for an hour giving ..."

Reviewed on 29 Jul 2025

Chinook Cabins & RV Park
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

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