Top of the Pines
Located at the foot of the spectacular Sneffels Wilderness Range, Top of the Pines (TOP) is a short 15-minute drive from the Town of Ridgway, south on CR 5. This public 175-acre beautiful outdoor wilderness recreational area at 8,600-foot elevation offers all season outdoor recreation. Rustic tent camping sites are reservable from May thru October. TOP also has facilities for environmental education and special events such as family and organization retreats, weddings, etc.
Recreational opportunities include seven kilometers of groomed XC skiing and snowshoeing trails in winter, that are great for skate or classic track skiing. In summer explore the easy to moderate hiking and mountain biking trails that meander their way through meadows and ponderosa forests with the Sneffels and Cimarron mountain ranges in the background. Also tucked in the ponderosas is TOP’s newest recreation addition, a 9-hole disc golf course with plans to expand to 18 holes.
TOP is a natural outdoor venue for the enrichment of students and citizens studying the environment, wildlife, photography, and most recently, dark night sky preservation and astronomy. Designated by the International Dark-Sky Association as an International Dark Sky Park in 2021, TOP is far removed from light pollution, so the star-filled night sky shimmers with infinite possibilities for star gazing, astrophotography, or just viewing the Milky Way as the early pioneers and Native Americans experienced it.
TOP is funded by donations and fees so users are asked to become a member or make a tax-deductible donation at https://www.topofthepines.org/donate.html or donation boxes at TOP.