Where can I find a rural area with.... (Boulder, Grand Junction: to live, shop)

[City Girl]

My friend wants to move to Colorado. She is looking for a place that is rural,(preferably in the mountains) with lots of trees and a river?

Does any place like that exist?

[Tom Emmerling]

Try looking west of I25 in towns like Livermore, Red Feather, Crystal Lakes, Glacier View Meadows, etc. These towns don't offer much for places to eat or shop but there is lots of mountains and water. Red Feather is about 50 min drive from Ft Collins, and Livermore would be about 30 min. Both have at least one place to eat. Very rural up there. There are many lakes and rivers, and the national forest.

[CoolColoradoDayz]

You're joking right? You're describing a quarter of the state. Please be more specific.

[jazzlover]

And for a property in the mountains with river access on the property, expect to pay a fortune.

[Market Mama]

I posted most of this answer on the "rivers" inquiry, but it bears repeating:

Rivers and trees on private property are in short supply in Colorado, especially anywhere near decent jobs. And the best chance for a decent paying job is in one of the bigger cities (except for Boulder, which on average pays less and charges more for housing because everyone wants to live here). Bigger cities are often near a river, but access can be problematical.

To narrow down your search, please state what kind of river access you are wanting -- whitewater (head for the Arkansas *above* Canon City), bike paths along a pretty creek that dries out in the middle of the summer (just about anywhere on the front range), river swimming (not likely and not very safe unless you're on the eastern high plains of Colorado - where's there's usually not enough jobs but too many tornados), fishing (the Poudre or the Arkansas, but choose carefully!), spectacular scenary (the Arkansas between Salida and Leadville, or just about anywhere on the Colorado River -- with the note that you will also be in a hot and very dry desert environment where the trees are being seriously stressed and ripe for forest fires).

Colorado is a beautiful, dramatic state that is in the middle of a long-term drought, so the rivers are stressed, dammed, and over-managed, and Jasslover is right, you'll pay big time for the privilage of owning river access. I love Colorado, and am an investor in a whitewater rafting company in Buena Vista, so you know I love rivers too. But ... choose very carefully if rivers and trees are your primary reason for moving here.

Best of luck, where ever you end up!

[City Girl]

Thank you all so much for you help. I really appreciate it!

[hsbelovedhandmdn]

Originally Posted by City Girl

My friend wants to move to Colorado. She is looking for a place that is rural,(preferably in the mountains) with lots of trees and a river?

Does any place like that exist?

Beautiful Buena Vista, Colorado. It is surrounded by mountains and sits on the banks of the Arkansas River. No crime, laid back and friendly people make this town seem like "heaven"

[.gif]

snowmass village.

[chilaili]

Originally Posted by City Girl

My friend wants to move to Colorado. She is looking for a place that is rural,(preferably in the mountains) with lots of trees and a river?

Does any place like that exist?

Lyons
Nederland
Townships along Hwy 34/Big Thompson Canyon

[Wyomiles]

Rifle, Grand Junction, Delta area.